Deaidre has been a member of the BGCP staff for over 4 years. Prior to working at the Club she completed a year of service for Americorps where she worked at a middle school for at risk youth.

A recent graduate of Foothill College she holds an A.A. in English with plans to further her education at a four year college or university.

Deaidre is very excited about her new position at CNG where she oversees the 7th & 8th grade High School Prep Academy in addition to her duties as Assistant Director. She hopes to encourage the youth of this community to think big when it comes to educational and career related goals

Hi, my name is Alejandra Arce.  I have been working for Edison McNair for four years, and CNG for three of those years.  I enjoy being with the kids.  I started out working as a yard duty for two years and now I work as an office clerk.  I came to CNG as a mentor at McNair, then I spent a year at Flood.  I'm excited to be back at CNG McNair this year where I work at the front desk.

Kim Cheadle is from East Palo Alto, CA. She went to Woodside High School and graduated in 1996. She also attended IBT and received a certificate as a Medical Assistant in 2003. She's been employed with Ravenswood City School District since 1998. She's been at Edison McNair and with CNG for three years now. She enjoys what she does, working with children and supporting them in making positive life decisions and accomplishing their goals.

In her spare time Kim likes hanging out with her three kids and going to the movies, or Malibu, or just having fun. She also likes listening to music, R&B and hip hop, and of course learning the latest dance moves.

She had a wonderful time last year working with the kids and looks forward to a new year with kids and look forward to a new year with new goals and much success.

Romana Ryals is twenty years old. This is her first year working at Edison McNair and already she is having a lot of fun! She works with the fifth graders for the first and last hours of CNG, but for electives Romana teaches Beginning Computers, Art and Dodgeball/Outdoor Games with Jorge.

Romana has lived in Menlo Park for most all of her life. For kindergarten through eighth grade she went to Laurel, Encinal and Hillview before graduating from MA high school in 2005. After graduation she attended the University of Oregon and then Central Washington University for a year each. This year she will be going to Foothill, studying a variety of subjects including anthropology, psychology, social sciences and education.

Outside of school Romana likes playing soccer, being with friends and doing different arts and crafts. When she finishes school she hopes to work with youth, possibly as an elementary school teacher.

Jorge Bravo has spent his entire life living in the Bay Area. His hometown is East Menlo Park, CA and his home school was Belle Haven. Growing up in this area he developed a character that loves to help people in any shape or form.

Jorge is an eager person that loves to fight for what is right and help those who need it the most. As for education, Jorge is currently a student at Foothill College and will be transferring to San Francisco State in the fall of 2008 where he will pursue a major in Ethnic Studies and a minor in English Lit.

Jermell Rowland is from East Palo Alto, CA. He went to Woodside High, then from there to Foothill College. He then transferred to North West Nazarene in Nampa, ID.

Jermell likes working for CNG because it gives him a chance to help kids that are from the neighborhood.

This is my first year working with the Center for a New Generation program at Edison McNair. I am lucky to work with the 8th graders as they prepare for high school. I help them complete their current homework, work on essay writing skills, and help them apply to local private high schools.

This is also my first year living in California. I am 21 and I recently moved here from Utah after I married my husband. I am graduating from Brigham Young University with a major in neuroscience this spring. In the meantime I am taking my last two classes at Foothill College and San Jose State University.

Currently I am also in the application process with the 8th graders, but instead I am applying to medical school. I am excited to have the opportunity to help the 8th graders with their next step for their future, as I am also working on mine. I think this will be a fun school year together!