Our Leadership

Brooke Briggance is the Deputy Director for the FACES for the Future Coalition at the Public Health Institute where she provides professional support for current FACES programs across California, oversees program development, program implementation and stakeholder engagement in new communities seeking a FACES program and manages special projects such as curriculum development and evaluation. She also provides administrative support for the Coalition including in the areas of development, management, and coordination of all summer programming.

Brooke comes from a multi-sector background in health, direct impact programming for children, youth and families, and public education non-profit work. She began her career in healthcare in the Department of Neurology at SUNY Stony Brook in New York, and continued as Lead Administrator for a private practice in Neurology. She has experience in administrative leadership and public education advocacy and reform, and served as the Executive Director of the Alameda Education Foundation where she oversaw a nationally recognized public awareness campaign highlighting the impact of cuts to public education in California. She has worked as a consultant assisting in projects ranging from school district redesign, community engagement, best practices for non-profits and development strategy. She most recently served as the Program Manager for the FACES for the Future program at Children’s Hospital Oakland before moving with the FACES for the Future Coalition to its new home at Public Health Institute in 2011.

Brooke became passionate about cultural competency when she completed her undergraduate work at SUNY Stony Brook in World Religions, and her graduate work in World Religions and Systemic Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. Originally from Michigan, she moved to California in 1999.

Karen Lane is the Program Administrator for the FACES for the Future Coalition and the Alameda County Care Alliance, two programs at the Public Health Institute.  She graduated from Cal State East Bay with a BA in Human Development.

After many years assisting low-income clients with job readiness through a federal workforce development program, she sought to expand her business skills through work in the private sector, but with the long-term goal of returning to work in the nonprofit community.  That led her to work for a financial corporation where she ultimately found her way into coordinating the company’s philanthropy budget and volunteer recognition program.  After the company was sold, Karen went to work for Samuel Merritt University as a program manager with the nurse anesthesia graduate program, where she first learned about and was inspired by the FACES for the Future program.  After more than eight years at the university she yearned to realize her goal of working with a community-based program and found the ideal opportunity at the Public Health Institute.

Community involvement has been a big part of Karen’s life and has included work as a volunteer crisis counselor, baker of birthday cakes for foster youth, and her newest role as a hospice volunteer.

Vanessa Tat is the Program Assistant for FACES for the Future. She graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics.

During her time at CSU Long Beach, Vanessa was a cadet in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, where she received leadership training and served as Color Guard Team Captain. She also has three years of training in communication, active listening, and conflict mediation through the Peer Listener Program in Temple City. Vanessa went on to connect her passions for nutrition and mental health by working at Reasons Eating Disorder Center. Here, she enjoyed fostering connections with young adults through cooking and sharing meals with them. Most recently, she has been working with various school districts to ensure they are meeting the nutritional needs of each age group, as well as volunteering at a local wildlife rescue.

 

Jackie Penate is an AmeriCorps VISTA Community Health Development Program Coordinator. She graduated from UC Merced with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Public Health with a minor in Writing Studies. During undergrad, Jackie had the opportunity to serve as a mentor for local high students in Merced, work as a writing tutor on campus, and work as Peer Navigator for the SSHA Academic Advising Office where she advised and supported undergraduate students in service of their academic and personal goals. Her interest in public health and locally led health initiatives started by her work as a social media advocate for Building Health Communities, Boyle Heights. With a career interest in community work, health promotion, and education, Jackie hopes that her work at FACES will allow her to continue making a positive impact on the communities she serves.