Shakeel Ali • Co-Founder
Amro Radwan • Co-Founder
Norma Guerrero • Development Consultant
Sheeri Pelayo • Mentor Coordinator
Shon Buford • Board President
Joseph Padua • Director of Education
Dr. Patricia Sullivan • Executive Director
Otis Bess Jr • Department Chair: Art's & Media
Joseph Padua, Director of Education
Joseph has a Masters degree in Education with a concentration in career development and counseling from San Francisco State University. He has over 30 years experience as an instructor and counselor at City College of San Francisco (CCSF) and Skyline College in San Bruno. He has dedicated his profession to helping students of all ages set and achieve academic, career and life goals. He has a gift for inspiring, encouraging and motivating students.
Developed and taught courses in:
Decision-Making and Competency Development, Life/Career Planning, Academic Achievement, and Personal Success.
Lead Counselor with the School of Math and Science:
Disseminated information to faculty and students to ensure student success in Math and Science majors. Also coordinated and taught in the Math Bridge Program to assist students under-prepared in math.
Faculty Advisor for Pre-Med Students:
Counseled pre-med students on how to adapt, succeed and cope with the challenging science curriculum.
Transfer Center Coordinator:
Coordinated all activities and services to ensure student success when transferring to 4 year universities.
Joseph has been a popular and sought after counselor and instructor. He has received numerous awards and acknowledgements from his students and from CCSF. Joseph finds great joy in assisting others, which fuels his passion to help and encourage students.
Joseph is a Qualified MBTI practitioner and a member of the American School
Counselor Association.
Shakeel Ali
Shakeel Ali is a Revolutionary Educator, Social Entrepreneur, and Conscious Entertainer.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Mr. Ali is familiar with the diverse needs and services available to Bay Area youth of varying socioeconomic backgrounds.
Beginning with his senior year in high school he has served as volunteer, staff member, teacher, consultant, and associate with over 30 service agencies:
(The San Francisco Unified School District (for 18 years), The Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families, Juvenile Probation Department, Youth Guidance Center, Log Cabin Ranch Detention Facility, the YMCA, SFLEARNs, Bayview LEARNs, Instituto Familiar De La Raza, Experiment In Diversity, Real Alternatives Program, Visitacion Valley Community Center, SAGE Girl’s Program, United Playaz, San Francisco Women Against Rape, Literacy For Environmental Justice, Green Action, Youth Speaks, Rhythm In Motion, African School of Knowledge, The Moorish Sports Club, Straight Forward Club, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, International Dj Academy, Community Justice Network For Youth, Oakland Unified School District, WaldenHouse, Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center, University of San Francisco Upward Bound, Glowworms Education Foundation, Seneca Center, Pathways For Kids, Juma Ventures, and numerous other agencies and individuals.)
Through his work with these organizations, he has had the opportunity to influence and also learn from Youth and Adults of many backgrounds. He has seen that our young people rely on us to model positive action.
Services provided to the youth have emphasis on Leadership Skills, Presentation & Facilitation, Multi-Media Production, Financial Intelligence, Economics and Entertainment, Higher Academic Achievement and One To One Mentoring.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/shakeelali
http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/profile/ShakeelAli
http://www.twitter.com/shakeelali
Amro Radwan
Amro Radwan is a technologist, social entrepreneur and youth mentor. His work for the past 10 years has been centered on his vision of positive social change through the use of technology and economic empowerment. Currently Amro heads a growing technology consulting and staffing firm that focuses on bringing quality technology services to Community Based Organizations. In his spare time, Amro engages at-risk youth around the San Francisco Bay Area as a grassroots activist, helping them tell their stories through the use of film, music and other forms of media.
Otis Bess Jr., Director of Multimedia Production
Otis has been involved with entertainment since the age of 7. An accomplished musician he began by playing the piano then later took up the trumpet. Simultaneously, what started as a fascination with commercials as a child developed into a career in the motion pictures industry spanning 27 years. His gift is his ability to share his multitudes of life experiences and to inspire greatness in those around him.
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN
Pianist, Trumpeter, Composer and Arranger
Played professionally for 17 years beginning at age of 13.
MOTION PICTURE PROFESSIONAL
Assistant Cameraman
Prepared and maintained various 16mm and 35mm film cameras. Worked extensively with Arriflex, Panavision and a variety of other camera systems.
Director of Photography/Camera Operator
Directed all technical aspects of transferring the story from written form into a theatrical visual medium.
iCATCHER COMMUNICATIONS (Owner)
Otis utilizes his listening skills to truly gain a clear understanding of his clients desired outcome and limitations. Once a clear understanding is made he provides his expert opinion of possible options to achieve the most efficient and cost effective communication solution.
BROTHERWOOD FILM FOUNDATION
In 1990 Otis founded the BROTHERWOOD FILM FOUNDATION whose main purpose was to unite and expand the ranks of film, video and sound technicians for people of color. By creating this collaborative our hopes were to support the production of more positive and realistic representations of people of color.
You will receive concrete tools and utilize them in a number of ways. Your presentation will be Relevant, Impacting and Interactive. You will share and learn techniques and materials to make the lives of our youth better. You will learn effective mentoring strategies. You will learn to show our youth the value of multimedia technology in a classroom setting.
You will exchange and implement ideas for working with young people and making a difference in the lives of others. You will be given real steps for success as a facilitator and mentor. You will learn how to gain the admiration and respect of the youth that you mentor and by your professional colleagues.
You will gain understanding of the challenges that our youth face. You will learn how to develop ideas and programs for organizations and individuals in our communities. You will learn to serve our youth in ways that are relevant to their needs and their interest.