Lead Planning Team

Oakland Starting Smart and Strong is made up of community groups, early childhood educators, school district, city and county leaders, all connected by a shared commitment to create a strong foundation for Oakland’s youngest children. The Lead Planning Team represents the wide range of organizations and community leaders working to create high-quality health and early learning opportunities for every Oakland child. They set the direction for our work and facilitate strategic connections and partnerships.

LPT Retreat. August 2019

Members of the Lead Planning Team during a Zoom meeting in January 2022

LPT Meeting (via Zoom), January 2022

Members of the Lead Planning Team gather in front of a presentation screen in a meeting room in December 2019

LPT Gift Exchange, December 2019

Our Committees and Working Groups drive our programmatic and policy work:

Executive Committee
Data Committee
Communications Committee
ROCK Committee
Policy & Advocacy Committee
Early Learning Symposium Committee
Oakland Family Child Care Policy Program

Lead Planning Team Members (as of 6/5/23):

Aleja Rambonga
Oakland Unified School District, Early Childhood Department

Alisa Burton
Human Services Department, City of Oakland

Angela Louie Howard
Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center

Anna Gruver
Alameda County Public Health Department

Anna Luna
Hirsch & Associates /The Hellman Foundation

Bernadette Sangalang
Children, Families, and Communities Program, David and Lucille Packard Foundation

Bethtina Woodridge
Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center

Carla Keener
First 5 Alameda County

Christie Herrera
Early Childhood Education, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Clarissa Doutherd
Parent Voices Oakland

Dana Cilono
The Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Dawn Edwards
Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center

Diveena Cooppan
City of Oakland, Head Start

Drew Giles
Early Childhood Department, Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Isobel White
Lightbox Collaborative

Jackie Jimenez-Subrata
Oakland Starting Smart & Strong

Jennifer Cabán
City of Oakland

Joci Kelleher
Brilliant Baby

Julie Hadnot
ALL IN Alameda County

Katie Harkin
David and Lucille Packard Foundation

Kristin Spanos
First 5 Alameda County

Kym Johnson
BANANAS

Lisa Erickson
Center for Healthy Schools & Communities, Alameda County Health Care Services Agency

Lisa Forti
First 5 Alameda County

Maria Sujo
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Melanie Moore
Oakland Thrives

Page Tomblin
Oakland Starting Smart & Strong

Pedro Arista
Hirsch & Associates /The Hellman Foundation

Priya Jagannathan
Oakland Starting Smart & Strong

Robyn Levinson
City of Oakland, Head Start

Sanam Jorjani
Oakland Literacy Coalition

Savitha Moorthy
Tandem, Partners in Early Learning

Starr Britt
Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center

Trisha Barua
Oakland Starting Smart & Strong

Vanessa Cedeno
First 5 Alameda County