Deja Kono, FACES Class of 2006, currently is Business Operations Manager at the National Equity Project (NEP) in Oakland, CA. Deja joined the National Equity Project in October 2015 to provide support for the organization’s internal business operations. Her experiences growing up in Oakland and attendance at local public schools fostered a longing to see equity and justice across the city, and inspired a commitment to working toward that reality. Most of her work has focused on collaborative engagement to buttress quality education, housing, and economic opportunities that support healthy communities. Prior to joining NEP, Deja worked as project coordinator for the Center for Youth Wellness and for Alameda County Public Health Department, and focused on program development, management, and community engagement at both organizations. She holds a BS in Biochemistry from Notre Dame de Namur University and currently serves as an Advisory Board Member at the Center for Community Health and Engagement at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland.