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. Our staff holds the collaboration and drives shared progress towards our goals.

LPT Meeting (via Zoom), January 2022

LPT Gift Exchange, December 2019

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. The Lead Planning Team sets the direction for our work and facilitates strategic connections and partnerships.

Kym Johnson, Co-Chair
Christie Herrera, Co-Chair

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Our committees include:

• Executive Committee
• Data Committee
• Communications Committee
• ROCK Committee
• Policy & Advocacy Committee
• Early Learning Symposium Committee
• ​Oakland/Alameda County Family Child Care Policy Program

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Lead Planning Team Members (as of 3/10/23):

​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)

Erika Takada
Engage R+D

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

Pecolia Manigo
Bay Area PLAN

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

Susan Jeong
Alameda County Office of Education

Tanisha Payton
Parent Voices Oakland

Trisha Barua
Oakland Starting Smart & Strong

Vanessa Cedeno
First 5 Alameda County