510-665-1501 x11
Click here to email Jodi.
Jodi Pincus joined Rising Sun in 2006 as the CYES Director and became the Executive Director in April 2007. She first learned about CYES as a client, when two very professional Youth Energy Specialists visited her home. She fell in love with the program, given her background in workforce development and her commitment to sustainability. Jodi resonated with Rising Sun's mission of simultaneously addressing issues of poverty and environmental degradation while creating economic development solutions.
Jodi is a dedicated administrator with over 12 years of experience. She specializes in managing staff and programs using consensus building and conflict resolution; developing curricula; evaluating and analyzing outcomes; change management; and researching program methodology and effectiveness. Born in South Africa and a former resident of Australia, Israel and Mexico, Jodi considers herself a global citizen. She has committed much of her life to social justice and sustainability. She is a UC Berkeley Graduate in Peace and Conflict Studies, and is currently an MBA candidate at the Presidio Graduate School. She is committed to lowering greenhouse gas emissions globally while educating the public locally.
510-665-1501 x17
Click here to email
George.
George joined Rising Sun in 2008 to assist with the Energy Partners Program. As Program Manager, he oversaw a team of Energy Specialists who performed comprehensive energy audits and educations for income-qualified Bay Area residences. George is now Program Director of the Green Energy Training Services Program (GETS), Rising Sun's green workforce training program for adults with barriers to employment.
George moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 2007 and brings a wealth of program design and program management experience. After graduating from California State University Northridge with a degree in Program Management, he worked for several years in the Recreation field as an experiential educator and a group facilitator. After watching "An Inconvenient Truth", he made a personal and professional choice to focus his talents, training and enthusiasm on solving global climate destabilization.
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Khaia.
Khaia joined Rising Sun in May, 2010 as the Rising Sun Energy Services Director. She is a Licensed General Contractor with over fifteen years in the trades, the last seven as owner of a residential construction company in West Oakland. Due to the requests of several clients who wanted to become more knowledgeable about home maintenance, she began teaching small DIY classes in carpentry and plumbing. In 2009 she helped develop a summer program in Richmond called Rosie’s Girls where she taught carpentry to junior high school girls. She knew immediately that job training was where she wanted to focus her energy.
Khaia is a Bay Area native, raised in Richmond and now living in Oakland. She received her BFA from the Evergreen State College in Washington in 1998. Most things that she enjoys take place in nature. She is part of a wonderful community that includes family, friends, and a whole lot of dogs.
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Brian.
Brian joined Rising Sun in September 09 as the Lead Instructor for the GETS program. Brian has over 25 years of experience in residential construction management and student housing development. He has an extensive background in neighborhood and city planning, educational facility design and development, and is very proud of his volunteer activities with programs at the Ronald McDonald House, the University of Minnesota Hospital and the Dinnaken Leadership Institute.
Brian enjoys the opportunity to help young adults learn about themselves, the world around them and the possibilities a positive educational experience can provide them. He has a passion for saving the planet through building performance - "one home at a time". Brian’s favorite phrase is “Reduce before you produce” and his favorite word is respect.
510-665-1501 x14
Click here to email Heather.
Heather joined RSEC in June 2007 as the Oakland High Site Manager for the CYES Program. She first learned about CYES as a client and again while volunteering at Oakland High School. She loved the program so much she returned as an Area Director for two additional summers while completing her Bachelors of Science at UC Berkeley. She is now transitioning into a new role as CYES Program Director and will take on new responsibilities including funding recruitment, training, hiring and logistics.
Heather graduated from UC Berkeley in May 2009, receiving a Bachelors of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology with a concentration in Human and Environmental Health. She has always been passionate about environmental issues and youth development, volunteering in many science classrooms, school gardens, and outdoor camps. Working for RSEC aligns with her interest in the complex relationship between humans and both the built and natural environment.
510-665-1501 x15
Click here to email Natesha.
Natesha joined Rising Sun as an intern in February 2009 where she supported the Operations and Programs teams, assisting with the recruitment of youth, outreach and program research for the CYES summer employment program. Natesha then became a Site Manager for the CYES program's Richmond location where she supervised an awesome team of Energy Specialists and collaborated with an Outreach Coordinator. Natesha was then hired on as the CYES Program Manager where her responsibilities include recruitment, hiring, training and logistics.
Natesha's background is in youth counseling and development. She is
currently pursuing an M.A. degree in Organizational Management from
the SIT Graduate Institute and received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology
from Florida A & M University.
510-665-1501 x13
Click here to email Christina.
Christina joined RSEC in January 2009. She began as the CYES Lead Marketing Intern for the Spring 2009 season, rogressed to become the SmartSolar Outreach Coordinator, and was eventually promoted to the position of Operations Manager. She runs the day-to-day operations of the organization and its growing programs. Some might say she is behind the scenes, but Christina prefers to think of herself as having a role in all the scenes.
Christina graduated from UC Berkeley with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Education. She has worked heavily with youth in the past through summer camps and mentoring programs. She also previously worked for An Taisce's (the National Trust for Ireland) Green Home program in Dublin, Ireland, which sparked her love for conservation and sustainability. Her interests are youth, education, the environment, and encouraging everyone to live more harmoniously with the earth and their fellow inhabitants.
Click here to email Justin.
Justin Real joined the Rising Sun staff in January 2010 as the Workforce Development Coordinator for GETS, and in June 2010 became Co-Manager of the EBGJC Bridge Program. A lifelong resident of Berkeley, he has always been passionate about providing resources for the community.
Before he joined Rising Sun, Justin worked with the City of Berkeley, providing case management, outreach, and auditing for the Employment Programs Division. He has also worked with the City of Richmond as an Administrative Aide to the Vice Mayor and the City Council, managing economic policy, housing legislation and constituent services.
Justin holds a B.A. from the University of Oregon in Planning, Public Policy and Management (PPPM). Away from work, Justin serves the community as a Property Manager and Housing Advocate, is an avid golfer, and is an Ambassador/Instructor at the Tilden Park Golf Course.
Click here to email Tamera.
Tamera first worked with Rising Sun Energy Center during the summer of 2009 as an Outreach Coordinator for the Oakland site. She was so inspired by Rising Sun’s mission that once a permanent position became available she eagerly applied, and joined as a full time staff member in 2010. Now, as the Co-Manager for East Bay Green Job Corps Bridge Program, Tamera takes great joy in being a vital link in the chain of each participant’s success. Growing up in the foster care system Tamera faced a lot of barriers and challenges. As a result of those challenges Tamera has dedicated her time to the betterment of those less fortunate. Over the past ten years Tamera has worked as a Case Manager at the Jobs for Homeless Consortium and Beyond Emancipation, a program for youth emancipating from foster care. She also created a program for Harvest Fellowship Inc. which provided shoes and clothes for homeless persons. Tamera is inspired by all of the work that Rising Sun has done and will do. Her favorite motto is “Each one reach one, Each one teach one”.
See also: Our Board
See also: Interns and Volunteers, 2009
