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We are delighted to announce the arrival of our new Executive Director, Sheryl Petty. As you all know, California Tomorrow (CT) has been in a transition process since long-time Executive Director Laurie Olsen announced her retirement. We are thrilled to have found a new leader with such experience, vision and passion for our mission!
Sheryl brings to us her extensive experience in equity-based k-12 educational systems change and organizational development. Sheryl was formerly Interim Executive Director at Youth in Focus, a California-based organization providing action research training to youth and adults. Previously, she managed the equity and community engagement approaches at the Stupski Foundation, an educational improvement consulting firm supporting urban school districts around the country. She has also been an organizational development consultant, Development Director, and high school teacher in Oakland with youth who faced challenges in various school settings. Throughout her career, Sheryl’s work has focused on creating the vision, depth of awareness, and structures in educational systems and nonprofits to promote a more just world for all.
Sheryl joins a dedicated staff and board, committed to helping grow California Tomorrow into its next era. Our Community College Access and Equity Initiative is going strong, working with a network of college leaders, students, and systems improvement efforts around California to deepen their approaches to equity and access, ensuring that the state’s most vulnerable students have the resources and supports they need for success.
Our new Youth Leadership/Youth Development (YD/YL) Initiative weaves California Tomorrow’s prior ground breaking work and research in after school and education reform. This initiative offers expanded vision, tools, and technical assistance toward the youth development and education fields in schools, districts, after school and youth programs and county offices throughout California. The YD/YL Initiative focuses on strengthening core competencies of youth of color, immigrants, low-income and other underserved youth so that they have a greater chance of succeeding academically and in life.
In both initiatives, we have conducted original research, developed frameworks, models and curricula, provide consulting support and training, and serve as an advocate for equitable policies and approaches with coalitions and alliances in the community college, after school, and k-12 educational arenas.
This is a time of tremendous growth and transformation for California Tomorrow (CT). The board, staff and Interim Executive Director, Eileen Hansen, worked diligently over the last year to structure a transition process to create the strongest foundation for CT’s future. This year, we will be continuing the strategic planning process we began before Laurie’s departure – visioning how our work will evolve toward the next 25 years of our journey. Sheryl will be working with the staff and board to create this vision, strengthen CT’s infrastructure and capacity, and continue to grow our funding base to strengthen and selectively expand our critical work.
Thank you so much for your partnership over the years. Stay tuned for more information about progress with our program work in our next newsletter and mailing. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like more information about where we are and our new leadership. Sheryl can be reached at sherylp@californiatomorrow.org or 510.496-0220, ext. 321. We look forward to continuing this journey with you as partners, friends and supporters of California Tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Susan Sandler, Board Chair
Sheryl Petty, Executive Director
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