We’re thrilled to welcome new 826 staff members as we reopen our spaces and return to serving students in person. This new group brings talent, passion, and most importantly, heart. We’re also lucky enough to have hired a few former AmeriCorps members as full-time staff. Get to know the group below!
Andre Douglass is an Afro-Latinx creative writer based in San Francisco. He is a lover of jazz, poetry, and insurgent art. Before 826, he combed through dusty bookshelves at Stanford University until he finally found his passion for education and community empowerment. Andre joins 826 as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Angela Iton is an SF native with a passion for creative writing, fractal geometry, and Nicolas Cage’s entire cinematic body of work. She’s spent the past few years studying statistics at UCSB, working with youth organizations, perfecting her macaron recipe, and cleaning up her dog Frankie’s pee. Angela joins us as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Bunny McFadden is a lifelong educator from Albuquerque. They come to 826 with a doctorate from the University of South Carolina in curriculum & instruction and a mountain of experience working on the ground with communities. Really! You might catch them sitting on the floor! In their free time, they tinker with words. Bunny joins us as Programs Director.
Cam Mudd is a soon-to-be graduate of SFSU with a major in English Education and a minor in Queer Ethnic Studies. In their free time, they love to cross-stitch, play Dungeons and Dragons, and rewatch their favorite movies. Cam joins us as Stores Associate.
Caroline Woods Mejia was born and bred in the Bay, and majored in creative writing at UC Santa Cruz. She was a former 826 intern before moving to Galicia, Spain on a Fulbright Teaching Grant. In her free time you can find her baking treats, grooving to Anderson Paak, and walking her blind poodle, Kiki. Caroline is now a Programs Coordinator.
Christopher Avalos is a Mexican American Bay Area native who studied Sociology and Ethnic Studies at Cal State East Bay. He has a passion for empowering first-gen students which led him to pursue a career within education. Chris loves reading, watching movies, beach days, and creating music with his clarinet, saxophone, and piano. Christopher joins us as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Cléo Charpantier is a tried and true Californian: after growing up in foggy San Francisco, she studied Philosophy in sunny Los Angeles. As a former student, volunteer, and VISTA AmeriCorps, she is excited to join the crew on deck full time! After work, she can often be found at Ocean Beach with her toes in the water. Cléo is now a Volunteer Associate.
Emily Chacon is a former 826 National VISTA who studied business and education at SFSU. Before making her way to 826, she worked in a national park, a zoo, and as a preschool teacher. She enjoys camping, biking to the beach, and practicing guitar in her free time. Emily joins us as Development and Annual Fund Coordinator.
Emily Lam is a SF native and recent graduate from Chapman University. She received BAs in political science and peace studies. In her free time she enjoys listening to music, reading, and learning about past and current conflicts. Emily joins us as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Joshua Abrego fell in love with 826 after his 2020 internship and hopes to learn new tools to empower students, himself, and his team. For fun, Joshua listens to his favorite role models, like J Cole and Howard Stern, or gets lost in his favorite Hip-Hop, R&B, and Funk jams. Joshua joins us as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Julia Sweeney grew up underneath the orange trees of Ojai and the oaks of Oakland. After studying Social Studies at Harvard, she returned to the Bay, where she makes short films that often involve dance and citrus fruits.Sheloves swimming, eating bread, and “earthing” (aka laying on the ground). Julia joins us as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Julian Harris is transplant from Atlanta, published photojournalist, artist, world traveler, and former summer intern at 826. Julian was living in Beijing for nearly two years teaching kindergarten and English tutoring, before obtaining his MFA in Fine Arts at California College of the Arts in San Francisco. Julian joins us as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Originally from the Rocky Mountains, Elizabeth McConaughy-Oliver is an African American San Francisco based artist, who recently graduated from California College of the Arts. She hopes her illustrations will inspire creativity, diversity, and inclusion. Liz joins us as Design Associate.
Lucy Gosline-Ratliff is an Oakland native and graduated from California College of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration. She is passionate about arts education and empowering students. She loves to paint and draw, rollerskate, and curate Spotify playlists. Lucy joins us as Design Associate.
Maya Makker grew up and studied in the Central Valley before moving to London to pursue a master’s degree in Museum Studies. Since then, she has worked as an educator and writer at art, history, and science nonprofits. She enjoys reading YA fiction, baking sweet treats, and arranging flowers. Maya joins us as Communications Manager.
Michelle Espinoza, a California native, has a passion for working with youth, which led her to earn a degree in Liberal Studies from CSU Stanislaus and joining 826 Valencia as an AmeriCorps member. In her free time, Michelle enjoys rooting for the Lakers, listening to music, traveling, and being with friends and family. Michelle is now a Programs Coordinator.
Miranda Shepherd (they/them or she/her) is an afrofuturist, writer, and rumored witch living in Oakland. They believe in the power of speculative fiction to imagine a more just and loving world, and call it into being. They’re from Philly, but couldn’t leave Northern California after attending Stanford. It’s too nice here. Miranda joins us as Director of Advancement.
Morgan Azevedo began her 826 journey as an intern while studying Communication at UC Santa Barbara and is excited to return as an AmeriCorps member! In her free time, she loves writing, hiking, and talking about her dog (when she’s not already taking him on walks, that is). Morgan joins us as AmeriCorps Program Associate.
Wendy Liu is a San Francisco native who just returned from studying in sunny SoCal. In her free time, she enjoys going on food adventures, finding a good read, and having movie nights with friends. Wendy joins us as AmeriCorps Programs Associate.
Zacharie — Zach– Angstadt is a born and raised San Franciscan who’s bounced across the city all his life and loved everywhere he went. Nowadays, having settled somewhere for the moment, he spends most of his days gushing about whatever media’s currently taking up all processing power, or running his dog wherever there’s room. Zach joins us as Stores Associate.