OUR STAFF FAMILY
Horizons is not an Agency… it is a Family!
We are reunited by a common passion and drive to serve our community and inspired by our youth whose strength and resilience serve as a model for our own growth. Collaboration and partnership form the crux of the services we offer, with each staff bringing a unique and crucial experience to the table. Our Staff Family is our everyday heroes and soldiers; fighting on the frontlines against an ongoing battle to bring about positive change in the lives of the youth and families we serve.
We are a Family of dedicated, resourceful, and unwavering professionals; humbled and honored by the sacred privilege to serve our community. And like a Family, we support each other in our challenges and successes, we break bread together, laugh together, and cry together in depths and the beauty of the work to which we have given our lives. We are family!
Meet Our Family
Celina Lucero · Nancy Abdul-Shakur · Phyllis Lozano · Donna Saffioti-Johnson · Hector Ramos · Ross Brown · Daniel Tenuta · Melinda Glines · Agua Bracho · Angelica Ayala · Ashley Monterrosa · Celso Silva · Christian Cuadrado · DJ Quest (Carlos Aguilar) · Joel Uicab · Juan Duran · Kristine Kaehler · Lorena Plaza Torres · Mariana Lopez-Herrera · Michelle Monterrosa · Rasul Grayson · Vic Aguirre · Vilma Herrera
Celina Lucero
Celina is living testimony to the power and impact that Horizons has on the youth and community it serves. Like many other Mission District youth, Celina joined the Horizons Familia over 25 years ago as a youth worker, and has since held several other leadership positions before being duly appointed Executive Director in 2015.
The youngest of 9 children, Celina brings with her an unmatched drive to excel, be of service, and create teachable moments. Graduating with honors from UC Berkeley in Sociology was much more than receiving a degree; it represented the opportunity to bring that degree back to her family and neighborhood, and excite others to pursue what they thought was impossible.
Her most prized possession (next to her son) is her innate ability to develop and maintain lasting relationships. When asked, her biggest achievement isn’t the countless awards and recognitions she has received, it is the family she has made along the way. “Being in the position that I am to truly bless others is really a double blessing. Not only am I able to bless those around me, but in reality, receive the ultimate satisfaction and blessing through giving.”
Nancy Abdul-Shakur
Nancy was born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District. A self proclaimed non-profit baby, she comes to Horizons with over 20 years in combined experience in youth development and empowerment work, environmental justice youth organizing, and environmental service learning education. Nancy joined the Horizons family in 2010 as the MYEEP Program Coordinator focusing on finding Mission and Potrero Hill youth employment opportunities.
She naturally transitioned into managing the LifeWorks Employment Program (LWP) which offers wraparound job readiness training, case management, and academic support to system involved youth. In 2018, she transitioned into the role of Program Director supporting the Employment and Prevention team. Along with her Directorship responsibilities, Nancy also co-facilitates Horizons’ Strengthening Families Program, and supports the Horizons Community Advisory Board. With the lived and worked experience she brings, Nancy hopes to help move Horizons into a new phase, that incorporates, deep rooted cultural humility, innovative programing, and youth centric leadership advancement work.
Nancy’s life mission has been to give back to the community that once gave so much to her and her family. She is a fluent Spanish speaker, merengue and cumbia dancer, who dabbles in art, and self-healing writing. She loves to travel and spend time with her husband Amir and reading revolutionary books to her son Zaire.
Phyllis Lozano
I have been working in the corporate accounting field for more than 30 years and transitioned to the nonprofit financial area in 2012.
I love reading, cleaning and gardening.
Currently responsible for the daily finance, accounting and HR matters for Horizons.
Donna Saffioti-Johnson
Donna Saffioti Johnson began working at Horizons in March of 1988 in the HIV Prevention and Early Intervention Program. She provided comprehensive HIV education to Middle and High School students as well as for non-traditional sites such as Larkin Street, Hospitality House and YGC. Horizons’ HIV program was expanded to target two other groups that often fell through the cracks including injection drug using youth, which led to long-term collaboration with needle exchange programs and her founding of a youth specific site.
Her work with street affiliated youth led to a decades long partnership with CALLES/CRN and the establishment of Late Night programming for this marginalized population. She returned to school and received her CATC certification to provide Substance Use counseling to youth dealing with substance use and related issues. Currently she is a youth trainer for the SFP program, the EP program, a Joven Noble trainer and provides a 4-part educational series to meet school requests.
AWARDS: Mujeres Adelante | Heroes of the AIDS Epidemic | The Samuel Puckett Memorial Award | The Wedge Program’s Distinction Award | Concordia Award for Community Work | Cheyenne Bell Award | Mission Peacekeeper
Hector Ramos
Hector Ramos joined the Horizons’ family in 2001. He started working in the Outpatient Program and later moved to Prevention Education when offered a Coordinator position.
Currently, he is the Principal Program Coordinator for EPSF (Environmental Prevention San Francisco) and SFP (Strengthening Families Program). Hector is also the lead instructor for Facilitators for the SFP program in San Francisco and is the CPR / First Aid Instructor for Horizons.
Hector is originally from Argentina, speaks both English and Spanish, and has worked with youth in San Francisco since 1995. His education includes a Bachelors and MBA from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, CA.
Ross Brown
Ross Brown, a dedicated social scientist and proud graduate of Morehouse College, was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. An Indigenous/African-American Muslim, he immerses himself in the intricate barriers hindering access to addiction treatment for adult Muslims in the United States. This serves as the foundation of his research while pursuing a Master’s degree in Addiction Studies at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
In his role as the Outreach, Engagement, and Development Specialist at Horizons Unlimited of San Francisco, Inc., Ross leads the Curandurista Project, provides Outpatient Brief Intervention Services (BIS) in San Francisco High Schools, fosters partnerships, guides development plans, collaborates with the Board of Directors, and organizes events and wellness activities for both staff and youth.
Ross collaborates with young individuals in San Francisco High Schools who are dealing with substance use challenges. He focuses on leveraging familial support, community solidarity, and cultural affirmation. Ross utilizes love-centered teaching methods and a trauma-informed approach to tackle issues related to self-esteem and self-worth. By employing motivational interviewing, he helps youth establish goals and minimize the negative impact of drug and alcohol consumption.
A committed husband and father of three adult daughters, Ross’s hobbies range from West African Drumming to cooking Soul Food, biking, and playing Ice Hockey.
Daniel Tenuta
Daniel Tenuta recently relocated to the SF Bay Area after nearly 20 years of overseeing operations at various levels within a prominent Christian nonprofit organization in Brazil. He began his career in the organization’s broadcast television network, eventually transitioning to roles such as producer, digital media coordinator, and TV technical supervisor. In 2016, Daniel was promoted to Director of Operations, where he led fundraising efforts, oversaw nationwide branches, and managed philanthropic activities in Angola. In his final two years, he served as the Head of Operations, implementing strategic planning, resource optimization, and change management strategies.
Daniel moved to San Francisco with his family and has since transitioned his career to Human Resources. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree. Daniel is also a theologian and a dedicated student of the Holy Bible. He is delighted to contribute to Horizons and support staff in their development and needs.
Melinda Glines
Melinda E. Glines MD has a BA in Community Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and attended the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine. She completed her residency at UCSF-Santa Rosa and served for many years as a family physician with LifeLong Medical Care and The Permanente Medical Group. She is a former Peace Corps Volunteer. She is a graduate of the Northern California Kaiser Permanente Addiction Medicine Fellowship and is board-certified in family medicine and addiction medicine.
Angelica Ayala
Angelica is pursuing a Master’s in Counseling for licensure in California. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, San Diego. Angelica has four years of experience with children and adolescents as a behavior therapist and teacher. Her passion for substance use counseling began while facilitating relapse prevention group sessions as a counseling intern. Angelica is committed to supporting childhood development for optimum social, emotional, and behavioral functioning.
Angelica entered this field as a way to “pay it forward” from the individuals who have helped her throughout her life. Angelica is a witness to a myriad of biopsychosocial barriers to mental health. As a first-generation Bay Area native, she is dedicated to helping her community overcome the effects of adverse childhood experiences. In addition to her work, Angelica values her family, friends, and her partner, Christian. She enjoys laughing with her brothers, Antonio and Armoni, and playing with their dogs.
Ashley Monterrosa
Ashley Monterrosa, an educator, organizer, and advocate from San Francisco, is deeply committed to empowering marginalized youth. Her journey took a profound turn following a personal tragedy in June 2020, when her brother, Sean Monterrosa, fell victim to state-sanctioned violence during the George Floyd uprisings. This tragic event spurred Ashley to become a relentless advocate for social justice, particularly focusing on public safety, social equity, and youth mental wellness.
In her role as a Principal Program Coordinator at Horizons Unlimited of San Francisco, Ashley teaches social justice, community organizing, leadership development, and policy advocacy to students of various ages, emphasizing collaboration and empowerment.
Beyond teaching, Ashley has mobilized hundreds of people across multiple cities to address issues such as gun violence, youth mental wellness, and state-sanctioned violence. She has also established programs to nurture youth leadership and build coalitions, working to create systemic change and ensure that marginalized voices are heard in social justice efforts.
In addition to her role at Horizons Unlimited, Ashley serves on the Youth Advisory Board for the California Children’s Trust and the California Coalition for Youth. In these roles, she has helped establish a stronger youth presence in agency and community committees, pushing for mental health reforms and wider representation of youth voices in decision-making processes.
In her free time, Ashley delights in exploring the outdoors, tasting new foods, traveling to different destinations, and enjoying stunning landscapes. She also enjoys immersing herself in San Francisco’s vibrant cultural scene, spending quality time with friends and family, and expressing her creativity through writing and storytelling.
Christian Cuadrado
Chris Cuadrado is a writer, artist, poet, producer, and cultural organizer, originally from Inglewood, CA, currently based in the Bay Area. Chris uses words, sights, and sounds as a means of empowerment, with the hope of offering tools of healing and liberation through creativity.
Chris has been using the arts to work with system impacted youth of color, from media programs, to cultural programming in juvenile halls, to the environmental prevention and event coordination programming with Horizons Unlimited. Chris is committed to using the arts to further strengthen the rich cultural foundation of the Mission District.
DJ Quest (Carlos Aguilar)
DJ Quest is a Turntablist Mastermind, co-creator of The First Battle Record ‘Hamster Breaks,’ and one of the founding members of Bullet Proof Scratch/Space Travelerz, a pioneering group in the art of scratch music. He is the Originator of the widely adopted Hamster Style Technique and the Architect of Jazz/Hip Hop Trio LiveHuman, renowned for its improvisational use of the turntable as an instrument.
DJ Quest began his work with The DJ Project in 2001, providing satellite workshops and recording collaborations, and later became the lead DJ instructor. Passionate about the future and working with youth, he continues to practice and teach his craft, advancing its evolution by passing down the skills to the next generation.
Kristine Kaehler
Kristine Kaehler joined the Horizons family in December of 2022 and has been serving youth with substance use needs ever since. Kristine also has over 6 years of experience working with youth and adults suffering from substance use and mental health conditions. Kristine received her BA in Psychology from San Francisco State and is currently working towards her Masters in Counseling Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Sciences.
Originally from the Philippines but mostly raised in the Bay Area, Kristine has lived in San Francisco for the last 20 years. She is a homeless and mental health advocate in the community and has a deep passion for helping individuals free themselves from substance use and other life problems. She loves traveling, mindfulness, spirituality, and just about all things related to sports and psychology. She is intensely proud to be serving the amazing youth and families who come through the Horizons program!
Michelle Monterrosa
Michelle Monterrosa, a native of San Francisco, CA, grew up alongside her siblings Sean Monterrosa and Ashley Monterrosa. Tragically, the loss of her brother Sean on June 2nd, 2020, spurred her into action, determined to seek justice not only for him but for all those affected by police brutality. Michelle has dedicated herself to advocating for reform within the Vallejo Police Department, vowing that her family will be the last to suffer at their hands.
Despite the weight of her activism, Michelle remains committed to her education, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Latino Studies with a minor in Race and Resistance at San Francisco State University. Balancing her studies with her advocacy work, she tirelessly campaigns for legislative and policy changes both in California and nationwide, determined to honor her brother’s memory and prevent further loss of life due to police violence.
In her role as the Principal Program Coordinator for the Lifeworks program, Michelle provides vital workforce development for system-impacted and system-involved youth. Beyond her formal roles, she actively engages with these youth at a local nonprofit in San Francisco, offering mentorship and guidance in career pathways. Since her brother’s passing, she has emerged as a beacon of empowerment for families and youth affected by state violence, working tirelessly to ensure they receive compassion and support from both local and national stakeholders.
Joel Uicab
Rasul Grayson was born and raised in San Francisco. He has seen the city shift, morph, and transform. Land, once founded in tradition, has become layered with the imprint of a flawed system that benefits itself by exploiting resources and culture from its inhabitants. Rasul believes the answer to this oppression of the collective cultural identities is to imbue our community with messages that demonstrate and reveal the significance of the past, that strengthen the present, and cultivate the power we hold to transform the future as people, by rewriting our own narrative.
Rasul chooses to amplify his own narrative through music as it can give us the power and freedom to present and shape our experiences from our own perspectives. His main instruments are saxophone and soul/funk guitar. Additionally, he plays flute, bass, and drum set. His main production DAW is Logic.
Vic Aguirre
Vic is a bilingual, 1st generation Vallejo native with a background in gender studies, sexual violence prevention, and state-certified massage therapy and health education. They describe themselves as, by nature, community builders and organizers with a deep commitment to leaving a legacy of resistance in multiculturally diverse groups of people.
During the pandemic, Vic began working with a collective of healers and educators, co-facilitating 10-week somatics-based workshops dedicated to empowering those who have caused harm or been impacted by violence to build accountability through individual and group work. This was a response to Bay Area communities’ calls for people-powered action addressing violence rather than relying on police/prison and punitive measures. Before being trained to facilitate, they first participated in the program after surviving violence and recognizing they themselves had caused harm to others in various forms, especially gendered harm.
Through practice and error, Vic is committed to a lifelong journey of reflecting on healing masculinities from the symptoms of patriarchal toxicity, beginning with their own. They are proud members of the Peaceful Warriors, a healing circle exclusively for men of color where vulnerability and brotherhood are encouraged through a return to circle work, cultural teachings, and ancestral practices.
Their work in addressing the intersections between gender, race, culture, and institutional, interpersonal, and individual reinforcements of violence led them to their position at Horizons as the JEEP Program Coordinator for high-school aged male-identifying youth.
Vilma Herrera
Vilma Herrera works in the Administrative Office as an assistant to Executive Director, Celina Lucero, and Accountant, Phyllis Lozano. She mainly handles the employee files and keeping them up to date, Credit Card Transactions, Check Requests, and organizing all paperwork
Apart from her office duties, she has recently taken babysitting for the Strengthening Families Program to a whole new level by incorporating a curriculum filled with engaging, hands-on activities for all ages. Vilma started at Horizons 3 years ago as a babysitter for the Strengthening Families Program and has since then worked her way up to her current position. She is passionate about helping families and children, and connecting them to helpful resources.
Meet Our Board of Directors
Matthew Moretti
Board Chair
Matthew Moretti
After five years as an employee of Horizons Unlimited, serving as a Program Coordinator for The DJ Project, Environmental Prevention, and Strengthening Families programs, Matthew Moretti is thrilled to continue to contribute to the Horizons community as a member of the Board of Directors.
Matthew earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA, where he studied World Arts and Cultures and was involved in on-campus concert production through the University’s Cultural Affairs Commission. Upon graduating in 2009, he began his employment at Horizons, and spent his time outside of work promoting Bay Area hip-hop music as a Project Manager and Freelance Writer at Thizzler.Com.
In 2014, Matthew enrolled in the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he is currently pursuing his Juris Doctorate with a concentration in Intellectual Property Law. Matthew is an Editor on the Hastings Communications and Entertainment Law Journal, and a member of the Association of Communications, Sports and Entertainment Law. He expects to earn his degree in the Spring of 2017.
Virginia Tapia
Board Treasurer
Virginia L. Tapia is a highly versatile, results-oriented active California CPA with over 25 years of combined Pharmaceutical, Biotech, Telecommunications and Insurance industry experience and diverse background in areas of Accounting, Finance and Controllership. She currently works at FibroGen, Inc. as the Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting. Recent projects involve the implementation of ASC 606 – New Revenue Recognition standard and ASC 842 – New Lease Accounting standard.
Virginia received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from San Francisco State University and her MBA – Finance from Notre Dame De Namur University.
Virginia is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and The California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Cristina Corona
Board Member
Cristina Corona
Cristina Corona joined the Horizon Unlimited Board in the summer of 2015. She enjoys being part of the Horizon Board which allow her to stay connected with the community and passionate about youth development. Cristina believe in Horizon mission to engage, educate, and inspire our youth to be GREAT!
She is currently a member of other non-profit boards in the bay area and is a certified talent advisor within the Corporate Leadership Council. She has held multiple positions in within her ten years of experience in Human Resources/Talent Acquisition within the corporate sector. Cristina enjoys planning events, interior decorating, volunteering, and spending time with her family.
Zachary Johnson
Board Member
Zachary Johnson
Name: Zachary Johnson
Location: Oakland, CA
Email:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZJ_illadvised
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharydavidjohnson/
Founder Highlights
· Over seven years of experience in big data, healthcare fraud and forensics and project management specializing in high level, data driven projects based on criminal organizations.
· Over seven years of team building and team management.
· CEO and Co-founder of TicketDM, a safe, mobile ticket exchange application focused on the music festival community. Worked with my co founders Christian Ceaser, Stedmon Bates and Louis Ceaser IV for over two years.
· Recipient of the Stanford Alumni Association Class of 2010 Award of Excellence
· Recipient of Sigma Nu Fraternity Stu Campbell Award for Extraordinary Service
· Board Member, Horizons SF – We provide substance use, mental health, gender-affirming and employment services to Latino and other youth of color and their families in San Francisco.
Distance Traveled: I am a first-generation college graduate and first-generation entrepreneur. I was raised by an amazing single mother who worked tirelessly to provide a stable upbringing as I moved nearly every year and attended four middle school and three high schools before high school graduation. I attribute my entrepreneurship journey to my family, my church, and the life changing support systems I gained at Stanford University. Upon graduation, I spent 7 years working as a project manager/ team leader for Healthcare Fraud and Forensics / Big Data based projects. I also worked as a growth marketer for campaigns amassing over $8 million revenue for my clients. Over the last 12 years, I have been a leader and community builder both professionally and socially and I sought to create my own company that solved a complex problem based in community building. After attending numerous music festivals, I launched TicketDM for the music festival community with my co founders with whom I have worked for the last two years. We bootstrapped, launched and developed the TicketDM app in September 2018.
Differences as Strengths: I have spent most of my career using agile methodology, big data based decision making and strategic relationships to tackle complex problems. My biggest challenges today are finding key mentorship creating the necessary relationships in the tech community and music festival community make TicketDM the first tech savvy, mobile, millennial focused C2C exchange tool.
The most important thing I learned in my experiences thus far is how to use big data, human behavior and technology to create tools and platforms that are current and efficient. I learned how to make evidence based workflows and data driven assumptions to accomplish goals. With the data intact, I could extend that knowledge and build on everything I helped create with confidence. I learned how to disrupt traditional industries with limited resources and limited supervision.
Jillian Williams
Board Member
Jillian Williams
Jillian joins the Horizons Unlimited board with over 25 years of experience in advocacy-based organizations. Her work with educational policy reform as a student, social justice and awareness as a photojournalist, and her current career track in human resources has given her a life-long passion for community engagement. Jillian is a Senior Human Resources Manager for a small oncology biotech in San Francisco. She is a Virginia-native and moved to the Bay Area 4 years ago having lived in Boston, Massachusetts and Wellington, New Zealand previously.
Jillian received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Radford University where she concentrated in Photojournalism specifically documenting the homeless. Years later she got her corporate start with Dunkin’ Donuts as a Recruiter and Trainer. After many years in recruitment and consulting, Jillian now focuses her career in the oncology space as a Human Resources professional.
Meet Our Community Ambassador
Michele Almodobar
Community Ambassador