Meet Our Team

We are a passionate and committed group of parents who are forcing change in Oakland. We are leaders that build leaders that #REACHforMore. Our leadership ladder strengthens new parents into engaged parents into empowered parents.

Founder & CEO

Lakisha Young

Lakisha developed a formula that has guided the REACH’s work since day one: Ask families questions ...

Lakisha Young is Founder & CEO of The Oakland REACH, a parent-power organization that launched in 2016. She knows from her own story that winning in education is par for the course when you already have what you need to win in life — and because of that, everything REACH does is about ensuring every family has what they need to win in life.

Lakisha developed a formula that has guided REACH’s work since day one: Ask families questions. Listen to their aspirations. Build the solutions. Liberate our communities. This formula has produced a mix of groundbreaking programming and advocacy work over the last 6 years, including The Opportunity Ticket, which gives the most vulnerable students higher preference for enrolling in quality schools, and the Literacy for All campaign, which is about empowering the whole family around literacy to truly disrupt systemically poor literacy outcomes in underserved communities. 

During the pandemic, Lakisha pioneered one of REACH’s most innovative solutions to date: The Virtual Family Hub, a one-stop shop supporting families’ economic survival and their children’s educational success. The Hub has been featured in local, national, and international media, including Today.com, TIME Magazine, CNN, KQED, BBC News, Univision, The San Francisco Chronicle, and more.

Inspired by the Hub’s success and with families returning to in-person learning, REACH created The Liberator Model to train parents and caregivers in the community to become tutors in some of the lowest-performing Oakland schools. Through this model, REACH is now supporting the training and retention of ~200 tutors, providing high-quality, high-dosage tutoring to 5,500+ students across 38 schools. A study of the model called parents an “untapped pool of talent” and noted they were as effective as teachers in tutoring readers.

Lakisha is a respected national voice on parent power and regularly consults other cities across the country interested in learning more about REACH’s transformative model. She is a Senior Fellow at The Center on Reinventing Public Education and is a regular contributor to their “People in Action” series. In 2023, Lakisha was recognized by KRON4 as the Bay Area’s Remarkable Woman.

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Chief Development Officer

Jen Weiss

Growing up in a privileged suburb of Los Angeles, I witnessed early on ...

My Story
Growing up in a privileged suburb of Los Angeles, I witnessed early on how cities segregate and miseducate based on zip code. My career has been focused on addressing the inequities and disparities I absorbed as a child - in both private and public schools. Earning my Ph.D. in Urban Education illuminated the systemic and structural inequalities built into our public education systems. And founding Urban Word NYC, a grassroots spoken word organization in New York City, the poetic license of youth of color imprinted on me the importance of elevating and centering marginalized voices.

I joined The Oakland REACH because I believe those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, and I want to ensure that we have the resources needed to dream boldly and enact the changes that are needed for Black and Brown kids and families in Oakland, and beyond.

Diego Hernandez
Development Manager

Diego Hernandez

If written on paper, my life might look like the textbook definition of someone considered “underserved” ...

My Story

If written on paper, my life might look like the textbook definition of someone considered “underserved.”

I am the son of two Mexican immigrants. I am gay, and I did not learn English until I was 11. However, in other ways, I am also the textbook definition of success. I was the first in my family to attend university, and the first to graduate with a 4-year degree, and my career has included work in the US Congress.

This didn’t happen because I am a gifted exception. I am who I am and have accomplished what I have because I have a network of family, teachers, and more who understand that education is the key to success.

When I was young, my parents, with what little they had, moved my siblings and me into a predominantly white school district. That made a difference, but it shouldn’t.

I joined The Oakland REACH because I am ready to fight for Black and Brown children the way the system fights for white kids. Change is possible, and Black and Brown kids deserve a reality where excellent education does not rely on the possibility that parents can move their kids to a predominantly white school district.

Director of Programs

Jessica Fyles

Rethinking structures in education to ensure that all students have access to a quality education ...

Jessica began working with The Oakland REACH in Summer 2021, supporting the Virtual Hub and designing REACH University (REACH U). She officially joined the team in March 2022 as the Director of Programs. Jessica started her career in schools as an instructional aide and became a special education teacher. Rethinking structures in education to ensure that all students have access to a quality education led Jessica to become a New Leaders’ Alumna. She became a vice principal and a founding principal. She holds a bachelor's degree from Vassar College in Urban Studies and a Master’s degree in Special Education from San Francisco State University.
Co-Founder & Parent Liberator

Qiana Bey

Qiana works effortlessly to assist parents around Oakland to recognize their power ...

Qiana graduated from The Oakland REACH's first fellowship program. She is an Oakland native who understands the city's struggles and successes firsthand. Qiana works effortlessly to assist parents around Oakland to recognize their power and become champions for their children. Qiana formerly worked for the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) in several areas and served on her child's school site council (SSC) before joining the REACH team.
Co-Founder & Director of Parent Liberators

Keta Brown

Parent Liberators are the REACH’s “secret sauce.” They are the mamas, aunties, and ...

Keta is Co-Founder of The Oakland REACH and serves as Director of Parent Liberators. Parent Liberators are the REACH’s “secret sauce.” They are the mamas, aunties, and caregivers in the community who support student’s academic success and parent’s socio-economic well-being. Keta is also Co-Chair of Community Engagement for #OaklandUndivided campaign, a Board member of Yu Ming and a member of the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Equity Enrollment Working Group. She was born and raised in Oakland, attending Oakland Public schools and graduating from Oakland Technical High school. Keta is the proud mother of four children. She wakes up every day fired up to support The Oakland REACH because the system has failed so many of her family members, and she will not let it fail any more children. Keta was recently nominated and selected by East Oakland community leaders as a member of the 10-Year Plan Steering Committee, led by the nonprofit Oakland Thrives which will help to allocate $100,000 in funding to support the growth of Oaklanders.
Co-Founder & Operations and Finance Manager

Dominique Malone

As an OUSD alumnus, Dominique had her own challenges with the district and did not want her child ...

Dominique joined The Oakland REACH in the very first fellowship program, after being noticed for her determination to improve her child’s school. As an OUSD alumnus, Dominique had her own challenges with the district and did not want her child to encounter the same issues she faced when she was in school. Through REACH, Dominique found programming that not only helped her child, but empowered her to believe she can be a revolutionary and do anything she sets her mind to. Dominique knows The Oakland REACH has given her the confidence, knowledge, and tools to know and demand better. “That’s what The Oakland REACH does. They take ordinary people and make them extraordinary in their own way”.
Co-Founder & Parent Liberator

Wanda Wilkerson

After participating in a family advocate fellowship and spring action committee in 2016, Ms. Wanda joined ...

Ms. Wanda comes to The Oakland REACH as a grandparent who was educated through Oakland’s education system and over the years, has watched it decline and fail so many of our Black and Brown babies in underserved communities. After participating in a family advocate fellowship and spring action committee in 2016, Ms. Wanda joined the other co-founders in forming The Oakland REACH. Before her work with REACH, Ms. Wanda was a parent advocate for her own children alongside a diverse professional career. When she thinks about why she does this work, the answer is always to serve!
Christina Barnes portrait
Parent Liberator

Christina Barnes

She committed to the REACH’s work because of her belief that children in the community should be well-prepared for life, and literacy ...

Christina joined The Oakland REACH in 2021 after serving as an Equity Family Leader with the Oakland Public Education Fund. She committed to the REACH’s work because of her belief that children in the community should be well-prepared for life, and literacy is an essential part of a good life. Christina formerly worked in Human Resources, assisting families in the Tri-Valley area. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from CSU East Bay and is pursuing a Master's degree in Human Development.
Gudalupe portrait shot
Parent Liberator

Guadalupe Canchola

As a first generation Mexican-American, Guadalupe grew up speaking and advocating for Spanish speaking families ...

Guadalupe became a member of The Oakland REACH team in 2021 when the principal of her children’s school recognized the work she was doing in her community was similar to the work of REACH. As a first generation Mexican-American, Guadalupe grew up speaking and advocating for Spanish speaking families. Once her first born started school, she became involved in PTA, SSC, SELLS and found herself always translating, facilitating, and helping families communicate with the school. Guadalupe is proud to have REACH as a platform to reach more people outside of her community in West Oakland and help guide and support families when it comes to their childrens’ education.
Micaela Castillo portrait
Parent Liberator

Micaela Castillo

Micaela has been a firsthand witness to the impact REACH has on entire families ...

Micaela got involved with The Oakland REACH in 2021 because of her belief that our children deserve better. As a parent, she related with the families REACH serves and was motivated to assist, provide resources, and help parents get involved so they can advocate for their families and communities. Micaela has been a firsthand witness to the impact REACH has on entire families, not just children, and is rewarded by the feeling that she can make a difference. Micaela has always been involved with her family and community, spending a lot of time with her children's school volunteering and assisting the Hispanic community with translation and resources.
Interim Chief Operating Officer

Luis Rodriguez

Luis originally worked with The Oakland REACH as a community organization partner...

Luis originally worked with The Oakland REACH as a community organization partner, helping families in Oakland navigate school choice. Luis recently transitioned into the interim COO role to support the strategy, operations, and finance areas of the organization. Luis channels his spirit through his abuelita, who embraced her community and made a lot of personal sacrifices so two generations later Luis could pursue his personal and professional aspirations. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a masters in Strategic Management, and a masters in Educational Leadership. Before coming to The Oakland REACH, Luis worked in a big 5 consulting firm, state level policy, national non-profits, and started and ran an Oakland based non-profit. Luis loves to spend time with his family, time out and in nature, and time in his community helping immigrant and underserved families.