Our Leadership

Jasmine Nakagawa-Wong is the Program Manager for the FACES for the Future Coalition. Previously, she served as Program Coordinator for the FACES Program at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, California. She holds a BA in Studio Art from Mills College, an MBA from the Lorry I. Lokey Graduate School of Business, and an Education Specialist teaching credential from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Jasmine has volunteered and worked with underrepresented youth for over 15 years. She moved to California from her hometown of Kaneohe, Hawaii. She took the first step to merging her passion with her profession in 2009, when she left her position in the book publishing industry to spend a year traveling and volunteering with youth in the Bay Area, across the United States, as well as in Japan and Costa Rica. Upon her return, Jasmine joined the Teach for America national teacher corps in its effort to end educational inequity in the United States. She taught Special Education in the West Contra Costa Unified School District, differentiating instruction for students with a wide range of learning disabilities and psychosocial challenges.
Jasmine remains committed to building thriving communities by providing first-hand educational opportunities, wellness support, and job skills preparation to youth nationwide.

Kelly Salazar serves as the Program Administrator for the FACES for the Future Coalition program at the Public Health Institute. She holds a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Education from California State University, Chico.

Kelly‘s journey in public health began during her undergraduate years when she immersed herself in community health education through internships in local schools, community support centers, nonprofits, and volunteering at Napa State Hospital. Over the past decade, Kelly has focused her career on health promotion, grant management, and peer health education initiatives within Higher Education. She has successfully developed and managed health promotion programs, many of which were funded by grants or established through community partnerships, to address campus needs and enhance campus health education and promotion efforts.

In her current role with the FACES for the Future Coalition program, Kelly applies her expertise in grant and project management, capacity building, and strategic planning to support the team in various aspects of their work. Outside of work, Kelly enjoys spending time with her family, taking long walks with her dog while listening to podcasts, and pursuing creative hobbies.

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.

Jennifer Mejia Nieto is the Project Coordinator for FACES for the Future in South Alameda County and FACES Alumni Programs. She graduated from California State University, East Bay with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. As a proud Bay Area native, Mexican-American, and first-generation college graduate, Jennifer has focused her efforts on addressing the mental health needs of diverse communities.

Jennifer quickly identified a significant gap in mental health services, particularly for monolingual families seeking to support their youth. To bridge this gap, she utilized her bilingual skills to host Spanish-speaking parent groups, offering psychoeducation and fostering a sense of community to better support their children. During this time, Jennifer also played a crucial role in helping youth explore career paths, apply to college, secure jobs, and navigate mental health challenges, all while empowering them to pursue their own growth.

Reflecting on her own experiences, Jennifer’s passion for her work deepened, as she has expressed, “I want to be someone I wish I had during my adolescent years.” Her commitment to youth extends beyond her role at FACES; she also contributed to the creation of a new 24-hour crisis facility for adolescents in Alameda County and volunteered as a mentor for BUILD, a nonprofit that empowers underserved youth through entrepreneurship, helping them become CEOs of their own lives.

During her time at FACES for the Future, Jennifer aims to mentor students aspiring to careers in public health by emphasizing the critical importance of cultural attunement and diversity in all healthcare professions. She is dedicated to building bridges that connect these students to their goals, ensuring they are well-equipped to serve diverse communities effectively. Her core values include: Authenticity, Creativity, Respect, Humility, Community, and Resiliency.