 Tamsen Drew joined the Board of Directors of the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation in January of 2025.
Tamsen Drew and her husband, Alex Kivelstadt, moved to Sonoma County at the start of 2025. Currently an attorney at the Law Office of Michael R. Woods, a Sonoma Valley real estate and land use law firm, Tamsen brings over 15 years of experience in leadership roles across the public and private sectors. Previously, Tamsen served as Chief of Staff for the Office of the General Counsel at Salesforce, where she led strategic initiatives across a global team. Earlier in her career, she held senior roles in the San Francisco Mayor's office as well as the former Redevelopment Agency, contributing to transformative projects like Hunters Point Shipyard and Candlestick Point, CPMC’s hospital projects, and the Golden State Warriors’ arena on Piers 30/32. A dedicated community leader, Tamsen has served on the boards of SPUR and the East Cut Community Benefit District. She earned her J.D., cum laude, from UC Law San Francisco and holds a B.A. in Architecture, with high honors, from UC Berkeley.
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Unity, inclusivity, and organizing aren’t buzzwords typically associated with middle school. But students at Woodland Star Charter School had the chance to push past stereotypes of teenage cliques and screen-centric isolation and embrace collaboration at a recent middle school retreat, funded through SVEF’s Classroom Grants program. Sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-graders traveled together to the Clem Miller Environmental Center at Pt. Reyes National Seashore for three days of connection through team-building activities, nature exploration and play. The expedition served as a launchpad for the school’s new student government. Breakout sessions based on student officer roles and committee assignments spawned creative ideas across grade levels. Being out in nature and away from routine settings made a difference. Groups gathered around big picnic tables, slouched in bean bag chairs in the main hall, and clustered in a meadow. Hikes and beach time gave the students time to think and interact in new ways. “I think the different environment gave us a different attitude towards people. The fact that the whole reason we were there was just to work all together, versus going to school where we might just have one period to talk, that really helped,” said Kyle, a seventh grader. Collaboration skills were put to the test immediately as students organized their own work groups for serving food and cleanup. They also teamed up to create short skits performed on the closing night of the trip. Autonomy was the rule of the day, with teachers taking a back seat as the students helped each other keep discussions on track. “There were teachers there, but they weren’t micromanaging us,” said seventh-grader Jade. “We got to make our own decisions.” When the students returned to campus, they put plans they’d hatched into action to host a successful school dance. Even more importantly, the spirit of togetherness and collaboration has carried over from the trip. Seventh-grader Kaelyn said, “If I see someone looking bored or not knowing what to do, I’ll go over and ask, ‘Hey, do you want to talk about it?’ I try to include people more.” Conflict saturates our culture, but these young people are discovering there’s power in connection. Thanks to SVEF supporters, Sonoma students are learning leadership skills and discovering their potential.   Hugo Mendoza recently joined the board of directors of the SVEF for a three-year term.
Hugo is an Edward Jones financial advisor with over 16 years of experience in the financial industry. His career spans hospitality and 14+ years in banking, where he held roles in management, small business banking, commercial lending, home lending, wealth management, and Regional Private Banking. Born in Mexico, Hugo migrated to the United States in the summer of 2002 without speaking English and with a limited understanding of U.S. culture. As a self-taught individual, he deeply values education, hard work, and the lasting impact of teachers, educators, and mentors in shaping lives. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Hugo is passionate about giving back to the community and helping others. He finds serving others both rewarding and humbling. Hugo currently serves on the Loan Committee for La Luz Micro Loan Program and collaborates with other Sonoma nonprofits to improve the lives of individuals in his community. When not working or learning something new, Hugo cherishes time with his wife, Delia, their daughter, Emma, and Blackie, their coated Xolo. Together, they enjoy walks in their hometown of Sonoma, creating lasting memories as a family. SVEF in the News: Sonoma Valley Education Foundation seeks holiday donations for programs12/18/2024  Thanks to the Sonoma Index-Tribune for featuring SVEF and its programs in a recent article about our 2024 year-end campaign. Reporter Daniel Johnson detailed the positive impacts of supporting mental health care for students. Our Classroom Grants and Empowerment Academy programs were also in the spotlight.
"Whether support takes the form of free counseling on campus, a free drivers’ ed class after school, a field trip or payment of a college application fee, we aim to ensure every student has the opportunity to realize their full potential," executive director Sarah Carroll told the I-T. Read the full article for this comprehensive look at the ways your support for SVEF makes a difference. Thank you!  Thanks to the Sonoma Valley Sun for featuring the Empowerment Academy in a recent article. Reporter Anna Pier describes SVEF's innovative collaboration with the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance and the Teen Services program of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley, bringing after-school enrichment to the campus of Sonoma Valley High School.
"Launched last spring, the Academy is growing rapidly, and is on track to meet the goal of serving twenty percent of the students from both Sonoma Valley High and Creekside High this 2024-’25 school year," says the article, which goes on to quote SVEF executive director Sarah Carroll: "'With Empowerment Academy, we’re leveling the playing field and opening access to opportunities for families who don’t have the time, money or transportation to source their own enrichment activities,' said Carroll. 'We’re literally meeting students where they are, helping them to thrive and empowering them to build strong futures.' " Read the article for all the details, and please consider making a year-end gift so we can build on this important work. A student is paying it forward, with support from donors like you Switching to a new high school is always hard. But when Malakai arrived at Sonoma Valley High School in January of 2022, classes had only been back on campus for a few months in the wake of the pandemic. Masks and social distancing were in full effect, making social connections a struggle. “Everyone was just in their own bubble,” they recall.
Malakai had been assigned a staff counselor, but recognized that resources were stretched thin. “A lot of students couldn't get the support they needed,” they say. Since then, additional help has arrived – thanks to donors like you. Working in partnership with school district staff, the SVEF has expanded access to one-on-one, family, and small group therapy for students district-wide. Now free counseling is available for any student in need. Flyers posted around the SVHS campus feature QR codes for students to scan on their phones to request help. Malakai joined the school-wide Wellness Youth Council and found encouragement and new friends. They recall, “The other members helped me come out of my shell – they talked to me and welcomed me, and I felt like this is a safe place for me.” They and the group have worked to de-stigmatize mental health care on campus – and they’re seeing big changes in students’ outlook. “People are normalizing that it's okay to say, ‘Hey, I'm getting therapy to get the help I need,” they say. “Students can come for free and there’s someone here that you can talk to when you need it. The therapists here are amazing, and they really show that they care.” Malakai takes pride in the progress SVHS has made. Now a senior, they hope their school can serve as a model for others. “It's possible for students to learn to feel comfortable sharing their feelings – we’re doing it here now.”  Laura Stanfield has supported Sonoma Valley students for decades. As a volunteer, she helped high schoolers with their senior projects, co-created the “I Choose” campaign to encourage pride in the local schools, and served as a board member and event volunteer for the Sonoma Valley Education Foundation.
Generous with her time and insights, Laura recently decided to make her commitment to local students even stronger. Laura joined the Honor Roll Society, SVEF’s monthly donation program. For her, signing up for monthly contributions was the right thing to do to ensure the continuity of programs and services students count on. “Our students need us all the time, not just once a year,” she explained. “So I found myself questioning why I write a check once a year, when I can give a little something every month and help create stability.” Not only does Laura’s monthly donation enable SVEF to predict income and plan for the future, but the money can be used to address new needs as they arise. “I want SVEF to be flexible – to be able to send support wherever needed, whenever it’s needed,” she said. Laura believes investing deeply in schools helps secure a bright future for the place she calls home. “Strong schools equal a strong community,” she said. “SVEF helps level the playing field to ensure all students have an opportunity to succeed – and that way, we all succeed.” “Adventurous Abby” has a new quest, thanks to you.
Abby Barragán, a third grader at El Verano Elementary School, used to either go home or head to the Boys & Girls Club after school. Aside from playing tag at the club, she didn’t get much exercise. But this fall, Abby trained for a 5K race two afternoons a week on the El Verano campus. Through a Classroom Grant your donations made possible, school staff teamed up with Girls on the Run, a national program that combines workouts with self-empowerment lessons for girls. Powered by your generosity, Abby made new friends across grade levels and learned about self-care. At the end of the eight-week program, she ran a 5K with her El Verano schoolmates and other North Bay Girls on the Run groups. Family members participated, too, and all the finishers got medals – a wonderful way to recognize the girls’ hard work and growth. On a sunny afternoon in October, Abby and the group lined up for training. They ran to the left or right depending on how they would respond to a scenario described by a teacher: Someone who was hurtful to you is now on the receiving end of mean comments. Would you stand up for them? Abby was in the group sprinting left, indicating they would help. “Just because someone’s mean once, doesn’t mean they’ll do it again,” she pointed out. The lessons are making a lasting impression on Abby. She’s even shared a mindful breathing technique she learned at Girls on the Run with friends. Now Abby is doing more running whenever she’s at a park or playground. “It makes me feel really energized,” she says. Thank you for helping Abby build new strengths and healthy habits that will carry her far beyond the 5K finish line.  Raising two girls in Sonoma, Michelle Dale Jernigan volunteered at each school they attended and then stayed involved even after they’d moved on. Both daughters now attend Chapman University, but Michelle is still dedicated to supporting Sonoma students and schools.
“It’s important to know faces and names, get involved and stay involved,” she says. “That’s how we stay connected to community.” Michelle has been part of the team transforming the Red & White Ball into a community picnic open to all, and has been a fundraising ambassador. SVEF staff call her the “teen wrangler” because she helps organize student events such as senior day visits to elementary schools. For Michelle, supporting local public schools is about building a stronger community. “When we all have skin in the game, it helps all kids, not just our own, and that makes Sonoma Valley a better place for everyone.” If you'd like to learn about occasional volunteer opportunities with SVEF, email [email protected].  Students collaborate at an Empowerment Academy Study Jam last spring. (Photo courtesy Boys & Girls Club of Sonoma Valley) On September 4, Cris and Andrea boarded a time machine on the campus of Sonoma Valley High School.
No sci-fi magic was involved. Instead, Cris and Andrea stepped into their futures courtesy of the Empowerment Academy, an after-school program open to all high schoolers that’s funded by your Red & White Ball contributions. With your support, we’re partnering with Sonoma High, the Sonoma Mentoring Alliance and Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma Valley to provide support and programming teens need to be successful students, employees, and citizens Access to essential life skills right on campus has been a game changer for Cris, a senior. He says, “You don’t have to travel all the way across town to get help, and you don’t have to leave campus and come back – it’s all right here.” Last spring Cris took a Money Matters class at Empowerment Academy that helped him make the most of the paycheck he earns as a Boys & Girls Club culinary intern. The class covers basics of personal finance, including how taxes work, credit and debit cards, and spending decisions. For Andrea, a junior, taking online driver’s education classes on-site at the Empowerment Academy last spring helped her engage more fully with the material than if she’d logged in by herself at home. She says, “Here, I could really look at the assignments and stay on task – and with driver’s education, it’s stuff you really have to know so you can drive safely, so that’s important!” Andrea and Cris plan to make the most of the Empowerment Academy’s offerings this year, from English-language peer tutoring to job skills training. On opening day of the Academy, they and a dozen other students gathered in the informal drop-in space to chat, play pool, and review homework with support from Mentoring Alliance staff. In a nearby classroom, Boys & Girls Club staff led the semester’s first Keystone Leadership class, which helps students develop interpersonal skills and promotes civic engagement and advocacy. Space to connect, study support, and new life skills – the Empowerment Academy’s innovative format provides a launch pad for student success. With your support, their dreams can take flight toward a bright future. |
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