Staff
Jay Calcagno is the Policy Associate at the Alliance, bringing diverse experience from both the education and policy spheres. He supports the Policy Team in its tireless advocacy efforts through engagement with Alliance members, legislators and state agencies, partner organizations, and policy research. Click HEREHERE for full bio
Paige comes to the Catalyst Center with a background in program management and direct service in a K-12 educational setting. Click HERE for full bio
Corina Dubon is the Alliance membership and outreach manager. Corina is an experienced program manager with a demonstrated history of working with nonprofit organizations. Click HERE for full bio.
Elveena Fareedi, M.A. Elveena Fareedi brings her blended clinical psychology and research expertise to the Alliance and the Catalyst Center serving in the role of Director of Research and Evaluation. Click HERE for full bio.
 Tamara Fleming
Catalyst Center Program Analyst Tamara has travelled a lifelong journey seeking knowledge, love for self, spiritual guidance, and ways to positively impact society. Throughout this journey, Tamara has worked collaboratively and individually with a number of community organizations and agencies with the intent to implement positive and lasting changes in the public service systems that serve our communities. Click HERE for full bio.
Max Geide is the California Alliance communications and events manager, responsible for member and external communications for the California Alliance and the Catalyst Center, database maintenance and organizational duties related to member services. Click HERE for full bio.
Ari Gonzalez Since 2016, Ariana had the privilege of working with youth and families at Casa Pacifica. Ariana held many roles from direct care staff to a Program Manager in the STRTP. Ariana’s love and passion to serve and provide care for the most vulnerable youth led her to the Catalyst Center, where she is devoted to continuing her advocacy and promoting positive change. Email Ari at [email protected]
As operations director, Kim Janoe oversees all Alliance and Catalyst accounting, Human Resources, and supervises communications and membership functions. Click HERE for full bio.
Cornelle Jenkins, the director of strategic initiatives for the Catalyst Center, is dedicated to making a positive impact in the community by advocating for those who historically have been rendered voiceless.
Click HERE for full bio.
Hope Kamer Hope Kamer is a Policy Advocate over Family-Based Services. In this role, Hope is the primary staff to the Foster Family Agency (FFA) and Adoption Committees of the Alliance and works on public policy issues impacting FFAs, Adoption Agencies, and Wraparound providers. Click HERE for full bio.
Dr. Kelsie Tatum Martinez is a licensed psychologist with over 15 years of experience serving youth and families with experiences of complex, intergenerational trauma and significant unmet needs. She has delivered direct care and clinical services as well as provided clinical, training, and special projects leadership to programs serving young people in California’s public systems of care. Click HERE for full bio.
Senior Policy Advocate Danielle Gabri has been with the Alliance since 2011 and is the senior policy advocate staffing education and prevention services committees along with a workgroup on commercial sexual exploitation. Click HERE for full bio.
Rhonda Okonkwo is a program analyst for the California Provider Helpline. She has over 12 years of experience in social services, particularly child welfare services and medical social work. Click HERE for full bio.
Faith Pulido is the latest addition to the Alliance, coming directly from the California State Senate where she served as a director under Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles) and previously as a consultant with the Senate Democratic Caucus under Senate Pro Tem, Toni Atkins. Click HERE for full bio.
Selena Liu Raphael
Catalyst Center Training Coordinator
Selena Liu Raphael has spent most of the last 20 years working in child welfare for several FFAs in Los Angeles County. She is excited to bring her passion for a more liberatory system for children and families and her love of training into her work with the team at the Catalyst Center and all member organizations of the CA Alliance. Click HERE for full bio.
Leisa Rattray
Catalyst Center Program Analyst
Leisa joins the Catalyst Center with a background in informal education and case management. She has experience working for non-profits, bringing public awareness to the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations. Her passion for child welfare is enhanced by her experiences as a resource and adoptive parent. Leisa holds a Master's of Science in Environment, Culture, and Society from the University of Edinburgh. Click HERE for full bio.
Alina Sanchez Alina joins the Catalyst Center as a project coordinator and executive assistant after several years of working directly with youth in a nonprofit setting. She graduated from Sacramento State with a Bachelors in Psychology and Counseling. Click HERE for full bio.
Adrienne has been serving as our Senior Policy Advocate for Behavioral Health. She now will be taking on a larger role at the CA Alliance, overseeing the work of the Policy Team. Click HERE for full bio.
Christine Stoner-Mertz, CEO, leads the Alliance and the Catalyst Center and with the Board of Directors, drives the mission and vision for the organization. A licensed clinical social worker, Chris most recently led Lincoln, an Alliance member organization, before taking this position. Click HERE for full bio.
Alex Volpe was the executive director of Bay Area Youth Center/Sunny Hills Services and interim chief operating officer at Unity Care Group Click HERE for full bio. |
Jay Calcagno
Paige Clark
Corina Dubon
Max Geide
Kim Janoe
Cornelle Jenkins
Kelsie Tatum Martinez
Rhonda Okonkwo
Faith Pulido
Adrienne Shilton
Christine Stoner-Mertz, LCSW
Alex Volpe