Staff
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Alex Karson is a hip, energetic firecracker who is a youth activist and social justice cheerleader through and through. Prior to her work at LYRIC she worked as a youth advocate for youth experiencing violence in their homes, as a comprehensive sexuality educator, and ran groups for young women in the juvenile justice system. Alex graduated with a BA in Feminist Studies from The University of California, Santa Cruz, where she not only spent her time hugging trees but immersing herself in theories of anti-oppression. On her free time she enjoys teaching yoga, scuba diving and cooking delicious dinners. Alex can be reached at (415) 703-6150 x 12, or email her at alex@lyric.org. |
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Denny David is the Deputy Director here at LYRIC. He grew up in Seattle, WA and became involved in social justice issues at a young age, learning about labor issues, urban poverty, economic globalization, and U.S.-Mexico border policy. He attended Grinnell College, where he earned a B.A. in Religious Studies, continued to do work around globalization issues, and became involved in anti-sexual assault work. In 2002, he interned with LYRIC's Health and Wellness Team and was hired as a Program Coordinator shortly after graduating from college in 2003. Since 2006, he has served as LYRIC's Program Director, supporting the work of the agency's program staff. He is passionate about anti-oppression issues and seeks to support young leaders who work for social justice. You can reach Denny at 415.703.6150 x28 or denny@lyric.org. (top) |
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Derrick Miller-Handley has been actively involved in the queer youth community since 1996, having been involved in community work that includes school safety for queer youth and families, HIV prevention, and the development of specialized skill-building programs for bay area youth communities. The belief that all communities must be granted the opportunity to thrive drives the passion and commitment of Derrick's work. As a Program Coordinator at LYRIC, Derrick supports the LYRIC Youth Space, Queer Educators, Event Planning internships and LYRIC's Community Education program, providing workshops to San Francisco schools and community organization. Derrick can be reached at 415.703.6150 x15 or derrick@lyric.org. (top) |
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Erik Schnabel is thrilled to be returning to LYRIC as the Interim Development Director. He first came to LYRIC as a participant, where he served as a facilitator for the Young Men's Group and with the Youth Leadership Project. Soon after, he became the Director of the Queer Youth Training Collaborative when it first moved to LYRIC. He served for 3 years in the position from 1999-2002. After leaving LYRIC, he served as the Development Director for the SHARE Foundation working on social justice issues in El Salvador from 2002-2005. While finishing his M.A. in Social and Cultural Anthropology program at the California Institute for Integral Studies, Erik worked as a non-profit consultant on fundraising and organizational development issues, particularly with international grassroots organizations. Prior to joining LYRIC this time, he was working as the Membership Coordinator of Grantmakers Without Borders and the Development Director at SOUL. Erik brings over 12 years of experience with social justice non-profit organizations, including work with global justice movements, international development, queer youth, community organizing, human rights and immigrant and refugee rights issues. When not working for social justice, Erik spends time with his partner and their small zoo of birds, saltwater fish, and lizards. Erik can be reached at 415.703.6150 x 24 or developmentdirector@lyric.org. (top) |
| [photo forthcoming] | Jay Maldonado is a transgender, bi-cultural, Latino transplant from the east coast. A native of New Jersey, he started his career as fundraiser. After years of wine and cheese events, he was moved by the need to connect with clients. In August of 2005, Jay began to work for a small community based organization in Newark, New Jersey where he found his calling managing programs for recently emigrated families. After four years directing Family Literacy programs in Newark, NJ, Jay decided it was time for a change of scenery and moved to San Francisco. Since arriving to the bay area Jay has coordinated Summer Reading, Parenting, and After School Programs in the San Francisco's Mission District. Jay received his Master's in Public Administration and brings extensive experience in program development to his role as Director of Social Change at Lyric. He prides himself on creating culturally sensitive programs that aim to build confidence, responsibility, and life skills in youth. In his free time Jay enjoys his yoga practice, attending art events, and expanding his circle of fierce trans folk trying to make a difference! Jay can be reached at 415.703.6150 x 25 or via e-mail at jay@lyric.org. (top) |
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Jess Arevalo is a multi-cultural bilingual queer Latina woman. Born and raised in California, she grew up in a very political and socially conscious home, making her aware of identity and social justice issues at a young age. She brings her passion for dismantling social constructions and combating oppression through non-violent activism and ally-ship to her work as a Program Director of Community Building at LYRIC. Her talents include being fluent in both English and Spanish, creating art as activism and providing services in an open and supportive manner. Jessica graduated from U.C. Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Sociology. Her previous experience includes supporting women in their survival against domestic violence, providing sex-positive health education at Good Vibrations and building healthy and happy queer communities as a Youth Advocate. Feel free to contact her at (415) 703-6150 x16 or jessica@lyric.org. (top) |
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Jodi Schwartz had the honor of becoming LYRIC’s Executive Director on October 1, 2005, bringing over 20 years of experience of nonprofit work and an ardent commitment to social justice. Before joining LYRIC, Jodi was the Managing Director of Resource Development Associates (RDA), and the Executive Director of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ). Throughout her career, Jodi has worked with youth and their families in their struggle to disengage from the juvenile justice system, has teamed with youth in need of support in and out of school, and has supported youth in serving their peers and the broader community through civic activism and youth philanthropy. Jodi began working for social justice as a teenager, during which time she was fortunate to have mentors of all ages. These relationships solidified her belief that every generation’s contribution to social justice is crucial for its survival. Stemming from her life experience and personal values, Jodi believes that sustained achievement of positive social change must be built as a collective community effort, where everyone shares in leadership and visionary roles and is supported in their fulfillment of those roles. She works to ensure that youth, in particular, are afforded opportunities to give voice to their stories and are supported in their role as community leaders, now and in the future.
[CLICK HERE FOR FULL BIO] You can reach Jodi at 415.703.6150 x 19 or jodi@lyric.org. (top) |
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Julia Eden Ris is thrilled and honored to join a fierce community committed to LGBTQQ youth! She is a queer woman whose family hails from Ireland and Spain, and today happily calls Oakland home. Julia believes in the brilliance and creativity of all youth. She is dedicated to using the arts to create and sustain community, and to building power to transform our communities towards collective liberation. She has a background in community organizing around racial justice and LBGT issues, young women's leadership development, arts and political education, and youth-led advocacy. Julia holds a BA in American Studies/Ethnic Studies from the University of Michigan and studied visual art at the California College of the Arts. She is passionate about building community, the beach, cultivating self-love and her friends and family. Feel free to contact her with questions about LYRIC's internship program, or any ideas and giggles at julia@lyric.org and by phone at (415)703-6150 Ext. 22 |
| [photo forthcoming] | Lisa Chandler is thrilled to come on board at LYRIC as the new Operations Manager. Lisa has been working, volunteering and creating change in sexuality education and youth development since 1997. Lisa started out working as a peer sexuality educator while she studied Psychology and Sexuality Studies at San Francisco State University. Her journey has taken her from organizing sexual health promotion events at SFSU to teaching sex education in the high school classrooms in San Mateo County and continuation schools of East LA, South Central LA and the Hollywood areas. Lisa believes that empowerment comes from challenging privilege and assumptions about sexuality and gender. When she isn't shattering cultural norms about sexuality, you can find her throwing a dinner party, exploring a Farmer's Market, making wine or seeing live music. You can reach Lisa at 415.703.6150 x14 or lisa@lyric.org. (top) |
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Mercedes Gibson, Program Assistant hails from East Oakland, Ca as a multi-cultural Virgo. Priorities: ending child sexual abuse in all forms, fighting oppression and for the rights of young folks, positive sexuality, encouraging harm reduction and community healing. Loves: radical and alterative education, gender bending and questioning. Believes: in youth being empowered, educated and informed so that they may make their own decisions. Extensive experience with: positive sexuality, STI/HIV/AIDS prevention, social politics, working with youth of color and the decriminalization of the street economy, including sex work. Police Brutality is infuriating. Education from a place of love is gratifying. As a self-proclaimed pan-sexual, hell-raiser and thrift store shopper, Mercedes enjoys weird stuff and weirder people. Call her at 415.703.6150 x 21 or e-mail at mercedes@lyric.org. (top) |
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Myra Levy, Fiscal Manager, is proud to be a member of the LYRIC team. A native San Franciscan, she grew up riding bikes, marching against wars, and walking precincts for candidates who were just a bit to the left of electable. In college, she found a political home in the direct action movement against nuclear power. Myra came to bookkeeping out of organizational necessity (i.e. nobody else wanted to do it), and has worked for more than 25 years in Bay Area social change groups. In recent years, she has worked at Maitri Residence and the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. She believes that dealing with issues of power and privilege is central to making real change. When not crunching numbers, Myra likes to paint, hike, study Italian, and spend time with friends. She and her partner, Charlie, are raising two teenage sons. Myra can be reached at 415.703.6150 x 17 or via e-mail at myra@lyric.org (top) |
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Valentin Aguirre is LYRIC's Development Associate, joining the organization in January 2006. He has many years of experience working in the arts, HIV, social justice and social service organizations. In previous incarnations he's made short movies, poetry, and news articles on stories and people that move him. Fundraising for him is primarily about relationship building and community change. He also serves as Executive Producer for Juana, an opera in development by Carla Lucero that focuses on the persecution of Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz during the Spanish Inquisition. He can be reached at 415.703.6150, ext. 27, or via email at valentin@lyric.org. (top) |
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Staff