OUR 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.

STAFF

Priya Jagannathan
​MPH, Director

BIO

Jackie Jimenez-Subrata 
​MA, Program Specialist

BIO

​Andrea Youngdahl
​Technical Assistance 

​BIO

Trisha Barua
PhD, Policy Analyst

BIO

LEAD PLANNING TEAM

2019 Retreat

2018 Retreat

 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
 
Our committees include:
Executive Committee
Data Committee
Communications Committee
ROCK Committee
Policy & Advocacy Committee
Informal Care Committee
Early Learning Symposium Committee
 
Lead Planning Team Members:
Alisa Burton
City of Oakland, Head Start

Amanda Feinstein
City of Oakland, Mayor's Office, Brilliant Baby

Andrea Bustamante
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Andrea Youngdahl
Technical Assistance Liaison

Angela Louie Howard
Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center

Betsy Merzenich
The Hellman Foundation

Carla Keener
First 5 Alameda

Christie Herrera
OUSD Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Clarissa Doutherd
Parent Voices Oakland

David Silver
City of Oakland, Mayor's Office

Dawn Edwards
Lotus Bloom Family Resource Center

Erika Takada
Engage R+D

Jeff Sunshine
David and Lucile Packard Foundation

Julie Hadnot
Alameda County Interagency Children's Policy Council (ICPC)

Kiko Malin
Alameda County Public Health Department

Kristin Spanos
First 5 Alameda County

Kym Johnson
BANANAS

Kyra Mungia
City of Oakland

Lisa Erickson
Center for Healthy Schools and Communities

Lisa Forti
First 5 Alameda County

Maria Sujo
Oakland Unified School District (OUSD)

Neva Bandelow
Alameda County Office of Education

Paula Ambrose
Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Pecolia Manigo
Bay Area PLAN

Pedro Arista
The Hellman Foundation

Priya Jagannathan
Oakland Public Education Fund

Sanam Jorjani
Oakland Literacy Coalition

Sandy Taylor
Oakland Fund for Children & Youth

Tanisha Payton
Parent Voices Oakland

Sara Bedford
City of Oakland, Department of Human Services

Tonya Love
Assembly Member Rob Bonta

TASK FORCE

The Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Task Force represents a diverse range of organizations and individuals from Oakland’s early childhood community. With over 100 members, the Task Force meets quarterly to review and discuss critical issues related to the health and education of young children. Our current members are:
​
24 Hour Oakland Parent-Teacher Children's Center
Alameda County Health Care Services Agency - Center for Healthy Schools & Communities
Alameda County Fathers Corps
Alameda County Public Health Department- Family Health Services Division
Alameda County Behavioral Healthcare Services Agency
Alameda County Early Care & Education Program
Alameda County CA Child Care Coordinators Association
Alameda County Early Care and Education Planning Council
Alameda County Interagency Children's Policy Council
Alameda County Library
Alameda County Office of Education
Aspire Education Project
Attendance Works
BANANAS
Bay Area Black United Fund
Carla Dartis Consulting
Children Now
Children's Hospital Oakland, Center for Community Health and Engagement
City of Oakland, Department of Human Services
City of Oakland, Head Start
City of Oakland, Oakland Fund for Children and Youth
City of Oakland, Office of the Mayor
Early Edge California
The Early Learning Lab
East Bay Agency for Children
East Bay Community Foundation
Engage R+D
Children's Fairyland
Family Engagement Lab
Family Paths
Family Resource Navigators
First 5 Alameda County
Help Me Grow
Glen Price Group
GMA VIllage
Harder+Company
Hired Pen
Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay
Kidango
Lincoln
Lotus Bloom
League of Women Voters of Oakland Ed Committee
Mills College
Mission Neighborhood Centers SF
New Teacher Center
Oak Center Cultural Center- Spark Program
Oakland Education Association
Oakland Literacy Coalition
Oakland Public Education Fund
Oakland Public Library
Office of Assemblyman Rob Bonta
OUSD, Office of African American Male Achievement
OUSD, Student, Family and Community Engagement
OUSD, Community Schools and Student Services
OUSD, Early Childhood Education
OUSD, English Language Learner Office and Multilingual Achievement
OUSD, Special Education
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Parent Voices Oakland
Peralta Community College
Bay Area PLAN
Prescott-Joseph Playschool
Public Profit
Kenneth Rainin Foundation
Rogers Family Foundation
Room to Bloom Family Resource Center
Safe Passages
Saint Vincent's Day Home
Salvation Army Alameda County
Seneca Family of Agencies- Building Blocks
St. Mary's Center
Sunlight Giving
Tandem, Partners in Early Learning
The Teaching Excellence Center
Hellman Foundation
The Unity Council
Thomas J. Long Foundation
Tipping Point Community- T Lab
UCSF Children's Hospital Oakland, Early Intervention Program
Urban Strategies Council
YMCA of the Central Bay Area
YMCA East Bay
Youth Ventures Joint Powers Authority