Denise Padilla-Alcala began working for the Club in 2005 and was determined to accomplish anything that came her way. With the help and guidance of Michael Jones, Omar Assad, the Redwood City staff and the organization, she has grown tremendously.  Denise is the Program Assistant at the Redwood City Clubhouse and is also known as the “the one who keeps things together."

Denise grew up in San Francisco, California and now resides in the Peninsula. She is currently attending San Jose State University and is planning on getting her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

Denise's plan for the community is to continue to support the families along with her co-workers, and to take advantage of all the wonderful opportunities that the Boys & Girls Club has to offer. A quote she always remembers is:

“You should always take advantage of opportunities that are rendered because that can lead you to the door of your destiny."

“Siempre hay que aprovechar de las oportunidades que se nos presente porque eso puede abrir las puertas de tu destino."

Cynthia Pineda was born in Los Angeles and later moved to be raised in Redwood City. She has been a member of the Boys and Girls Club since she was in third grade. She has worked her way up from teen staff to front desk operator.

She graduated from Woodside High school and is currently attending Cañada College to get her associates degree in English. She is hoping to transfer to the University of California Los Angeles to study nursing in the pediatric department and get her minors in English and Chicano studies. She is also a Peapod and College Bound member.  On her free time she likes to read, listen to music, write poetry and spend time with her family, as well as travel throughout California. 

Esmeralda Ortiz is very passionate about empowering youth through education as she is a first- generation college student and has seen how much education has changed her life and those around her. Upon graduating from Aragon High School, she attended UC Berkeley and had the opportunity to study abroad in Italy and travel throughout Europe. Esmeralda graduated from UC Berkeley in 2010 and continued to work for the University through the Early Academic Outreach Program. She worked with high school students and counselors from San Lorenzo High and James Logan High by helping them through the college application process.

She has also been heavily involved with the San Mateo Youth Foundation, a program for low-income high school students who are striving to be the first in their families to graduate from high school and attend college. On her free time, Esmeralda loves to travel, listen to music, eat sweets, dance, and spend time with her family and friends.

Maricris Paviera was born in Union City, New Jersey, she has moved around a lot, she moved to Maryland, Florida, Texas, and currently resides in Cupertino, CA. She has always been passionate about women empowerment and social justice issues and more recently education. At first she was a Psychology major at Foothill College and when she transferred to UCLA she changed her major to Sociology as she deemed it was more fitting. She graduated from UCLA in 2011. While at UCLA she volunteered as an art tutor and a community college peer advisor. She has worked with PREP and SPACE to help under served youth gain self-advocacy skills and learn the importance of higher education. Her future goal is to obtain a Masters to become a College Counselor.

She enjoys watching movies, watching the Food Network, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel, CSI , House, baking, scrap-booking, arts and crafts, dancing, dinning, nature and loves animals.

Nancy Gallegos graduated from San Jose State University with a B.A. in Justice Studies and a double minor in Sociology and Anthropology. It was while in college that she started working at the Moldaw-Zaffaroni Clubhouse in East Palo Alto, California as an Academic Assistant. After graduating college Nancy decided to change her career path and began working at a law firm.

Even though Nancy enjoyed working at the law firm, she felt that she wasn't making a difference in her community. It is then that she decided to return to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.

Nancy is now the Academic Director at the Mervin G. Morris Clubhouse in Redwood City, California. She is excited to once again be a part of the BGCP family where she aspires to make a difference in young people's lives.

Nancy plans to further her education by pursuing her Masters in Social Work. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé and playing with her dog.

Amis Maldonado is back at the Boys and Girls Club as the Academic Assistant after a short detour in Fashion Merchandising and the world of independent book stores. She learned her love of fashion is regulated to her collection of vintage clothing, but her heart is in working with under- served communities. Growing up in East Palo Alto, she saw firsthand the problems that plague low income communities with underfunded schools and few opportunities. It was her love of reading that allowed her to escape to other worlds and awakened her to the possibility of a life different than the one around her. She will be transferring to S.F. State Spring of 2012 to major in Sociology and Documentary Film Making.

She is a foodie and a bookworm, enjoys watching documentaries and independent films, scouring thrift stores for treasures to add to her closet, comedy shows, author talks, live music, traveling, and spending time with her friends, family, and nephew. She loves dogs, but her lease won’t allow one, so she gets her fill of man’s best friend by dog sitting for friends.

Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. –Aristotle

Fun, caring and dedicated, are just a few ways to describe Ruby Gonzales. Having graduated from Woodside High School, She now attends Notre Dame De Namur University in Belmont and is pursuing to get her BA in Sociology with a focus on Criminology. Born and raised in Redwood City, Ruby grew up playing soccer and dancing all over her community.

She hopes to one day have a career that involves helping endangered youth succeed in their future. Her dream job has always been to become a Probation Officer. On her free time, Ruby enjoys spending time with her loved ones, listening to music and learning new recipes to try out at home. 

Dennis Alaba was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He attended Archbishop Riordan High School, where he played basketball, baseball, and football for all four years. He continued his education at San Jose State University, pursuing his bachelor's degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Business. Dennis's passion for sports has led him to inspire young kids to be active throughout their daily lives. He decided to work for the Center for a New Generation after school program at Hoover School so that he could continue inspiring kids and teach them how to stay healthy. In addition to facilitating academic enrichment activities for our 7th graders, Dennis leads all of the program's exercises and sports classes. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and traveling around the world.

Paulo Valencia is a native of Mexico but was raised in Redwood City from the age of seven. He has been active in local basketball, soccer and football teams from an early age and currently plays in recreational leagues. His passion and devotion for the Boys and Girls Club began at an early age when he joined the Club in fourth grade. He was an active member throughout middle school. He returned to the Boys and Girls Club as a Senior at Sequoia High School and began volunteering for the athletic department as a coach. He was offered a part-time position over the summer after his Senior year in high school and his role at the Club has been growing ever since.

Paulo is currently attending San Jose State University and pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology. He plans to receive his teaching credentials as a P.E. teacher.

Emily Steen grew up in Los Angeles, California. Outgoing and energetic, she is the oldest of three sisters. Emily’s competitive drive and determination were shaped by sports from an early age.

She attended Purnell High School in New Jersey, where she played volleyball, basketball and lacrosse. Emily continued these sports during her college career at Alfred University, in upstate New York. There she studied Child Psychology and Coaching.  Emily’s passion for sports and working with kids began early on.  At age fifteen, she coached a soccer team with her father, for special needs children. Her love of working with kids led her to Africa and Ecuador, where she taught and played sports with local orphans. 

Emily was captain of her volleyball team for two years at Alfred. She received all league recognition and honorable mention in lacrosse. After graduation she mentored at-risk teens and youngster, at Valley Youth House in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.   

Emily is currently attending Notre Dame Da Namur University and pursuing a Masters degree in Marriage and Family therapy with a focus in Art therapy. She plans to obtain a license in the state of California to become a therapist for children.

One of Martin Martinez's biggest achievements is going from a quiet, bashful club and community school member to a driving force in The Boys and Girls Club's athletic department. After spending nearly a year in community school, Martinez persevered and forged his own path back to Carlmont High School. Martin started at The Club as a volunteer leading activities for the kids during the Fall 2007 programs. His contributions evolved from coaching the 4th and 5th grade boys basketball team to overseeing all gym operations and daily programming as an athletic assistant.

He was selected as the September “Student of the Month” during his time in community school for his hard work and academic progress. He was also selected as part-time staff of the Spring 2008 Quarter. Martin currently attends the College of San Mateo.

Gabriel Lomeli grew up in Stockton, California and graduated from San Jose State University in 2008 with a major in Social Science and a minor in Psychology. He is now the Peapod Coordinator for the Mervin G. Morris Clubhouse. He was previously a CNG youth mentor at Hoover Elementary School. Gabriel taught his students the importance of maintaining good study habits, developing the right attitude towards school, and respecting themselves and others. His passion for youth development has grown exponentially as he has continued to help more young people cope with the daily challenges they face in school, at home, and in their community. His interests in film, editing, and music has also allowed him and other mentors to jumpstart a multi-faceted media program that teaches youth how to make and edit their own films, documentaries, and soundtracks.

After receiving professional training from the Adobe Youth Voices program, Gabriel has successfully assisted kids in the filming and editing of several clubhouse events and youth development stories. Gabriel chose to work with the Boys & Girls Club after college because he truly believes in the importance and value of making a positive influence in the lives of young people. He loves working with kids and continues to be a great role model for the many youth who look up to him.

In both middle school and high school, Nayelli McChesney was an active member of the music program, singing in the choir and playing percussion. As she got older she discovered her love for music and helping others.  While balancing her high school work along with her Choir lessons and competitions, she found time to enroll in a vocational program that her high school offered. This program gave her the opportunity to study and graduate as a medical assistant as well as graduating from Branham High School in 2005 in San Jose, Ca. She received the opportunity to intern at Kaiser Parmanente. After her internship, she was hired in the Gastroenterology department. While working at Kaiser she realized that she had a void and was missing her passion for music. From there she enrolled in another Internship program, this time at Clear Channel Radio in San Francisco at Wild 94.9.
 
Nayelli went from being an intern, to being an On- Air Personality. From there she earned a job within Clear Channel, working as the Street Team Coordinator. She then worked her way up to Assistant Promotions Director by the age of 20, which was the highlight of her radio career. At this time, Nayelli also got the opportunity to host a music  show on local comcast television, where she got her experience being in front of the camera. Suddenly in 2008, Nayelli decided to resign from radio because she realized that she wanted to work with the youth and focus more on music. In 2009-2010 Nayelli coordinated a High School Tour with her husband named “The Knowledge is Power School Tour”. The purpose of the school tour was to provide information, college & career opportunities, about the music, media, broadcasting, and advertising industries. Nayelli also hosted the school tour getting to speak in front of thousands of students, and presenting it as a "career fair and concert". This tour was sponsored by companies like  The Art Institute of California, Shoe Palace, Clear Channel Radio, CBS Radio, and other local clothing companies and media outlets.
 
In summer of 2010 Nayelli then began to write and perform musically, and had her first single release. Now with having the experience as a recording & performing artists, radio & television host, and a youth leader, Nayelli has joined the Adobe Youth Voices program in 2011 in hope of continuing to be an influence to not only young people but to her peers as well. Her incredible testimony and drive has allowed her to accomplish all this by the age of 24, and now she can truly say that if you peruse your dreams, anything is possible!

Joining us back at the Mervin G. Morris Clubhouse is Ivan Martinez, also known as the "Baby Boss" that everyone loves. Ivan was a former Youth of the Year candidate in 2006 and a CNG Academic Mentor. He knows what it takes to be dedicated and enjoys encouraging club members.

Ivan returns to us as the Peapod Music Technology Assistant and also currently attends Cañada College. Outside of the Club Ivan is President of his own production company.

Francisco Espinoza is currently attending Foothill College. He plans to transfer to a state college to pursue his degree in architecture and in music. He was a Youth of the Year nominee for the Mervin G. Morris Clubhouse in 2007. He enjoys singing, writing songs, and playing piano. He is here for the experience because experience can help in the long run.

Mayra Arellano was born to Mexican immigrants in Redwood City, California. Growing up, she was always taught that education is key to making a better life for herself. She strongly followed that advice as she graduated with honors from Woodside High School in 2004. However, education is only part of the formula for success. While working on her undergrad at Santa Clara University, she worked at Cowell Health Center. Making her family wish come true, on June 18, 2008, Mayra graduated from Santa Clara University with a B.S. in Pre-Med and a Minor in Sociology becoming the first member of her family to graduate from college.

Beginning with her early community involvement since high school to continue her education at Santa Clara, Mayra became an active member to the Latino community by giving her services to non-profit organizations. From working with disabled children to helping in homeless shelters and clinics, Mayra's ultimate goal is to help members of her community have access to the best possible health care and services.

Currently, Mayra works at Stanford Medical Center in addition to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula. Mayra plans to pursue her graduate studies in Fall 2010 to obtain her Masters in Nursing. She is currently applying for programs at San Francisco State University and Samuel Merritt University.

Although she has only been a member of our club since the summer of 2008, Talia Ontiveros has demonstrated her potential in a short time by being promoted from member to volunteer to Teen Staff. Despite her academic struggles, she persistently and gradually continues to improve in the academic sector. She can always be found socializing with members and staff delighting them with her bubbly and easy going personality. Her hobbies during weekends (besides coming to the club) are sharing time with family, listening to music and reading.

Her plans for the future are to graduate from high school and attend a community college to pursue a dental assistant certification.