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History
ROCK was founded in September 1994 in response to the needs within
San Francisco for enhanced public education programs and positive
after school activities. Inspired by these needs, ROCK's founding
volunteers researched the problem and developed the idea of combining
school based and after school learning enrichment programs with
sports and fitness activities to promote healthy child development.
The
Need
ROCK serves a community of children who are posed with countless
social and economic challenges. Many children from Visitacion
Valley come from single parent homes as well as live in one
of the community's four public housing developments, one of
which is considered among San Francisco's most violent. These
challenges are further evidenced in the number of children
who test well below their grade level on national standardized
tests, the number of children receiving free or reduced school
lunches and the number of immigrant families for whom English
is a second language.
The combination of many of these factors results in a community
of young people where challenges are severe and resources
are limited. ROCK’s ability to provide quality youth
development programs using its collaborative and community
approach satisfies a critical need to this low income, under-served
community of San Francisco. |
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Mission
and Purpose
The mission of ROCK is to nurture the healthy development
of children by listening attentively to their needs and by
providing opportunities to those who might not otherwise have
access. ROCK fully implemented its pilot programs during the
1995-96 school year and has had a continued impact since then.
ROCK's programs now include increased learning enrichment
and sports and fitness opportunities and have expanded to
include summer camp and focused leadership training and outdoor
adventure programs. ROCK's programs are designed to serve
girls and boys ages 6 - 17, who live or attend school in San
Francisco's Visitacion Valley. The ROCK vision is to promote
the positive development and long-term success of these youth,
and this vision is reflected in three overarching program
goals. All of ROCK's programs, regardless of activities or
settings, are designed to provide opportunities and environments
where children:
* Learn to connect by building positive relationships with
adults and peers
* Learn to be productive by engaging in positive learning
experiences
* Learn to navigate through life circumstances by participating
in responsible, meaningful activities |
ROCK pursues its program goals by creating environments for children
to build caring relationships with adults and peers, supported by
its low volunteer to child ratio of 1:3-5. These environments are
characteristically supervised, structured sports and fitness as
well as learning enrichment activities. The importance of these
strong relationships and enriching opportunities is supported by
youth development research, which shows that these types of supports
will greatly enhance a child's skills and competencies while enhancing
their self-esteem.
Management
Curt Yagi, Executive Director
Curt Yagi joined the ROCK family as a volunteer in 1998, a Board
Member/Chair in 2000 and finally as the Executive Director in 2003.
Prior to ROCK, Curt spent several years in the corporate sector
where he held a variety of business and technology consulting positions
at small and large companies. Prior to ROCK, Curt held the position
of Chief Operating Officer at a small San Francisco company, where
he gained valuable operational experience which he is able to leverage
at ROCK today. Curt was the 2006 YNPN Executive Director of the
Year, a 2006 graduate of Leadership
San Francisco and a 2007 fellow at LeaderSpring.
Curt holds a BS degree in Computer Science from the University of
California at Davis. In his spare time, you might find Curt chasing
around a soccer ball on the soccer field or performing music throughout
the Bay Area.
Teodora
Ildefonzo-Olmo, Director of Programs
Teodora Ildefonzo-Olmo brings to ROCK several years of nonprofit
experience at a variety of youth development organizations.
Teodora has transformed her programs from a relatively new
stage to a highly efficient and effective level of service.
Teodora holds a BA in Child and Adolescent Development from
San Francisco State University. Did you know that Teodora
(ROCK's unofficial security detail) is a 4th degree black
belt in Shaolin Kenpo Karate?
Sarah
Schwartz
Elementary School Program Director
Originally
from Chicago, Sarah Schwartz came |
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to
the Bay Area shortly after receiving a BA in Sociology from the
University of Colorado. She is responsible for all of ROCK's elementary
school programs and has been a big favorite with the kids. In her
free time, Sarah enjoys exploring the City, spending time outdoors
and most of all meeting new people along the way.
Erica Hernandez, Middle School
Program Coordinator
Erica Hernandez is responsible for all middle school programs at
ROCK. In the past, she has worked as a teacher assistant at AIM
High, a tutor for AACETS and a preschool teacher assistant at Heritage
Homes and Family Connections. Erica received her degree in Liberal
Studies with a minor in Asian American Studies and Health Education
from San Francisco State University. In her free time, Erica loves
to travel, eat, draw and go to concerts. Little do people know that
when she was young, Erica was a professional ping pong player.
Board of Directors
Honorary Board of Directors
* Chip Conley, Founder & CEO of JDV
Hotels
* David Louie, Reporter, ABC7News
* Pete Blum, MAP Royalty, Inc.
* Jim Deslaurier, Placer County Deputy D.A.
* Luke Proskine, Makena Capital
* Lyle Ross, Goldman Sachs
* Rick Lewis, US Venture Partners
* Wylie Peterson, Cushman Wakefield
* Kathy Steele, Ariba, Inc.
Board of Directors
* Dale Ashlock, Chairperson
* Jason Cohen, Vice Chairperson
* Chris Ginieczki, Treasurer
* Jen Gannon, Secretary
* Harold Hadnott, Member
* JJ Kirkish, Member
* Brenda Shum, Member
* Anuj Varma, Member
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