“My name is Melissa Renteria and I am an alumna of the University of California, Merced with a Bachelors of Art in Sociology and a minor in Public Health. Currently, I hold two positions at Breathe California of the Bay Area (BCBA) as the Marketing/Development Coordinator and Health Coordinator. I work on tobacco and asthma related issues and policies… [Read More]

Janderra Landry, FACES Oakland Class of 2004, obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Grand Canyon University. Janderra then began a Master of Social Work (MSW) program through Welden University. “I have obtained my Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Grand Canyon University. I am currently working on my Masters degree in Psychology…. [Read More]

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… [Read More]

My name is Jessica Abella, and I graduated from San Lorenzo High School and FACES Hayward in 2014. As a first-generation college student and the first in my family to consider a career in the health professions, I didn’t know where to begin. By participating in the FACES program in high school, I was able… [Read More]

Diana Maravilla, FACES Oakland Class of 2008, was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and raised in East Oakland.  As an immigrant and a first generation student pursuing her educational goals, she joined the FACES for the Future program during her sophomore year of high school.  What inspired Diana to explore the field of healthcare and medicine… [Read More]