LEADERS

Angela Aguilar

Angela Aguilar was born and raised in San Diego, California. The eldest daughter of immigrant parents, she was taught from an early age the importance of love, family and education. Angela was the first person in her family to graduate from college in the United States, earning her Bachelors in Sociology with an emphasis in Inequalities (specifically race and gender) from San Diego State University.

In life experiences, her main goal has always been the search for the ways that we are all connected and the adventures that go along with living life fully. This has led to a diverse range of work and interests including the non-profit sector (Survivors of Torture, International, Move San Diego); camp counselor for middle and high school youth; Hollywood in Film and Television Development; Director of Marketing and Admissions for a nursing and rehabilitation facility, as well as writing and releasing two music albums.

In all of these worlds, she has learned that people are so much more the same than they are different. The desire to share that love and connection is what motivates Angela to create change in the world. "I am a woman, a Challenge Day Leader, a writer, a daughter, a goofy kid, a singer and a friend. But more so than that, my purpose is to remind us that we are all little bits and pieces of everything - and because of that ANYTHING is possible."

If you really knew me, you would know…

• The highest thing that I can aspire to be is just like my mom and my grandma.
• I love being part of an organization full of passionate, incredible, funny, loving and diverse world changers. As different as we all are, our shared vision of how we can all make the world better makes me excited to go to work every day.
• One of my biggest fears is not being "enough". Every day I try to remind myself that if I walk through this world loving other people, I have to love me first.
• I love being Filipino. I am constantly learning and relearning what my culture means to me and the ways that I walk in between worlds.
• I'm the oldest of three girls and I love being their "Ate" (big sister). They are my heart and watching them grow into the young women they are today and recognizing my part in it is one of the biggest joys of my life.
• I seriously miss Southern Californian Mexican food so much it hurts sometimes.
• You'd know that I am driven to fully express myself, always. To do that, I'm the most comfortable in relaying my personal truths, whether that be in conversation, on a written page of my own words, or in a sung note in a still room.
• I really, really love cardigans.

Berenice Meza-Aguiar

Berenice was born in Tijuana Mexico where she lived until the age of 13. She moved to the United States and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area ever since. Having been relentlessly teased for everything from her accent to her lack of knowledge of her new countries culture, Berenice found herself getting involved in gang related activities. Today, she is a powerful leader who has transformed the hurt she received as an immigrant student in the California educational system into a passion for making sure that every student feels safe, loved and celebrated in our schools.

Bernice is fluently bi-lingual and came to Challenge Day with a wide range of experience in team development, leadership and management. She is a passionate leader with a special ability to reach out to and support hurt teens.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• You would know I am passionately committed to Being the Change in every area of my life.
• You would know that I'm in love with love, I love my family and consider my friends a part of it.
• You would know that I love music, concerts, snowboarding, dancing, painting, traveling, and cosmetology.
• You would know that I'm really grateful for everything in my life, and that I loving being a Challenge Day leader and spreading love across the world.

Christina ‘Migs’ Miglino

Christina/Migs grew up moving around the Seattle, Washington area. She is the oldest of three, and identifies very much as, the "big sister." Although her family meant everything to her, Christina realized after high school that it was important for her to move away in order to discover who she really was beyond what anyone else wanted her to be.

Christina was the first woman in her Italian family to graduate from college; earning a bachelor’s degree from Wells College, where she majored in Dance and Theatre Performance and minored in French and Francophone Studies. With a deep interest in art and language, Christina moved to Dakar, Senegal to study for most of her junior year. After graduation, Christina moved to the San Francisco Bay area to do a residency with the Experimental Performance Institute. This experience provided her with the connections and relationships she would need to continue performing and collaborating with other artists for the next 5 years.

After seeing a Challenge Day, Christina recognized that this was the work that she was meant to do next. Her integrity, ability to relate to anyone, and love for young people naturally brought her to Challenge Day.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• Some of my greatest experiences choreographing have been with people who don't call themselves dancers.
• I consider all human beings equals. We want the same two things: to live without suffering and to feel loved.
• My nephew, Malachi, and I are birthday buddies. We were born on the same day, as well as our Italian grandpa, John, who is no longer with us.
• I love hand-stitched embroidery, and crochet, I do both in my spare time.
• I believe that my work as a Challenge Day Leader is to remind young people of their inner knowledge and to listen to it.
• I can relate to both sides of any story.
• Living in West Africa taught me more about people, culture, art and language, than I could have ever learned from a textbook.
• I will never forget a road trip. I love them too much!
• I actually enjoy laughing until it hurts.

Christopher Foster

Christopher was born and raised in Southern California, and moved to the Bay Area to attend UC Berkeley. After 3 years of study he received a Bachelors of Arts degree in Mass Communications. Since then, Christopher has worked as a video editor for a Bay Area television station.

His spirit, heart, and passion for people is displayed in his work with his church in Berkeley where he serves as Youth Pastor. It is here where Christopher implements innovative and creative programming that is designed to reach and impact everyone. In 2010, Christopher completed his Masters Degree at Fuller Theological Seminary.

2006 was year filled with heartbreak and devastation. In the midst of this pain, Challenge Day was vital in my internal development and fortification, proving that my life has been destined to collide with Challenge Day.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I place a high premium on character and integrity.
• I am committed and have strong convictions towards anyone or anything I devote my heart to.
• I am the first recipient of any lesson that I endeavor to share with others.
• I love hard, and it is extremely difficult to get me to stop loving, once I have started.

Echo Brown

Echo Brown was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. As a small girl, Echo enjoyed reading books, writing and going to school. Echo’s studiousness helped her transcend the impoverished neighborhood in which she grew up and showed her greater possibilities for life. Echo went on to graduate from Dartmouth College, which was the proudest moment of her life, as she is a first generation college student.

Echo explored many career options after graduating including: investigating allegations of misconduct against members of the New York City Police Department, attending Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, working as a legal secretary and teaching yoga. When none of these paths proved satisfying or fulfilling, Echo found her way to Challenge Day and hasn’t looked back.

Echo is beyond grateful to the amazing people at Challenge Day who have helped her transform and blossom into a more compassionate, open and loving person. Echo is committed to her continued evolution and growth and hopes that her work at Challenge Day will allow her to serve others as a healer and beacon of possibility.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I am a spiritual warrior, always striving to rise to my full potential.
• I doubt myself every day, but I deliberately and consciously choose to change the conflict in my mind to match the song in my heart.
• I LOVE yoga, meditation, eating, music and dancing.
• My biggest fear is having regrets when I take my final breath.
• I love my family and would do anything for them. I am forever indebted to them for my persevering mind and spirit.
• I could watch reality television all day everyday. No lie.

Evert Villaseñor

Evert was born and raised in Menlo Park, California. He was raised by his loving Mother and Grandmother. After graduating high school, he started developing a passion for social awareness and youth development. After earning his B.A. from San Francisco State University in Speech Communication in 2006, Evert traveled several countries in Latin America.

Upon returning, he worked with youth throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. He has worked for the World Affairs Council of Northern California and educated youth on International Relations and Politics. He also worked for the Institute for Scientific Analysis where he administered in-depth interviews with gang members in the San Francisco and Oakland areas.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I used to be an incredibly shy person.
• Two of the people I look up to the most are my mother and grandmother.
• I love to remind people to laugh and not take life so seriously.
• I love comedy!! One of my other passions is standup comedy and I do hit the stage when I can find the time.
• I believe that I am a great singer. And so far I can't find anyone that agrees with me.
• I knew I was meant to be a Challenge Day Leader as soon as I was introduced to the organization.
• Throughout all of my personal and professional experiences I began discovering more about myself - and continue to realize the power I have within me.
• I have a passion for helping youth come to this realization earlier than I so they can live healthier lives.

Gina Pernini

The oldest of four girls, Gina learned at an early age what it meant to lead and guide. She grew up in the Chicago-land area in a large Italian family where most days were a scene straight out of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” Graduating from the University of Kansas with a fine arts degree, she started her career teaching elementary school art. After earning her Masters in Education from Notre Dame, she went on to teach 5th and 6th grade for seven years. Her love of teaching led her to classrooms around the world –from the Chicago suburbs to Jackson, Mississippi and the Ukraine to the Dominican Republic. In her off time, Gina spent summers in Ethiopia with a non-profit organization facilitating summer school programs.

Traveling, studying, and working in diverse communities across the world, Gina has found that people, with all their struggles and successes, are her passion. She celebrates differences and believes that only by putting others first can she really affect change in this world. She’s not afraid of being real. In fact, she is a constant work in progress. She’s always searching, always ready to learn. And believes every child deserves the opportunity to feel fully alive.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I believe young people are our best teachers. They should all be given the chance to smile sincerely and laugh loudly.
• Traveling makes the world feel small to me. I enjoy discovering how we are alike versus how we are different.
• I love doing yoga and salsa dancing, though not at the same time.
• My family is the center of my life. While it’s a sacrifice being away from them, my awareness of how blessed I am grows every day.
• I appreciate life’s little miracles. Like ants. And anything covered in white chocolate.

Jake Cahill

Addicted to drugs and kicked out of his house at the age of eighteen, Jake knew he had to change his life. He went on an "outdoor adventure" trip and while backpacking in New Mexico, Jake had an epiphany, decided to give up drugs and alcohol and find out why he felt sad and alone so often. Since that day Jake has been on a journey that has lead to many places and experiences he never could have imagined (leading Challenge Day's being on the top of that list). Along the way he has developed a strong background in Buddhist meditation, and Native American ceremony.

Jake has had many jobs ranging from cooking, to guiding trail rides on horses, to selling cemetery property door to door. Most recently he owned his own house painting company in Seattle, Washington. Since Jake got clean, it was always his dream to be able to work with youth. After attending his first Challenge Day, he knew he found what he had been looking for.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• One of my biggest fears is wasting my life.
• I believe everyone deserves to be listened to.
• In my life I have been willing to give up, or take on, anything if I thought I would learn from it.
• I tend to learn the hard way; but the lessons stick with me.
• My love for shoes and clothing is hard to put into words.
• The day that I die I wish to have no fear in my heart.
• I believe that Challenge Day teaches some of life's most important lessons.
• I love meditating, world travel, snowboarding, music, dancing, hiking, being out in nature, singing, and really great food.
• I have dedicated my life to service of others and spiritual practice.
• I have learned that the only thing that separates us is the belief that something separates us.

Jennifer Wilson

Jennifer has lived her life thus far in the San Francisco Bay Area. In high school, Jennifer was in many plays, musicals, and won an award for being the Class Clown. Until the age of 21, Jennifer spent her life living for others. After she realized that it wasn't serving her, Jennifer bought a one-way ticket to Spain to find herself. While in Spain, she realized everything she was looking for was within her the whole time.

Jennifer attended Challenge Day when she returned from Spain and it changed her life. From that moment on, she worked to become a Challenge Day leader. She volunteered with the Make a Wish Foundation, Challenge Day, was a Big Sister, and volunteered with Pathways Hospice, where she sat beside the dying and experienced the "A Year to Live" practice.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• You would know that my heart holds the love and space for every being on this planet.
• You would that my mother and father taught me how to love that BIG. They taught me to be compassionate, to be kind, and to love ALL beings. They taught me what true unconditional love looks like, and I feel so blessed to have them as my parents.
• You would know that I love traveling, sky diving, surfing, laughing, my friends, my family, music, LIFE, beat boxing, dancing (especially hip hop), spending time alone in nature, and falling in love.
• You would know that Challenge Day leader Vinny has had an enormous impact on my life, and I am eternally grateful for his presence in my life.
• You would know that I was born to be a Challenge Day Leader and everything in my life until now has prepared me for this. And you would also know I feel like this is only the beginning of the positive change I will make on this planet.

Jon Gordon

Jon attended St. Mary's College of California as a two sport athlete (intending to play soccer and baseball but ended up with soccer and basketball). After graduation he began working within the Television Industry as well as continuing to work with youth coaching High School Varsity Soccer and different forms of camps and retreats.

Jon went on to play professional soccer for a team in Central California. After his first season of playing professionally Jon chose to prioritize his "other interest" which was working with youth. Instead of continuing on with soccer he moved to Mexico City to live and work at an orphanage. On his return, he began working at a group home for those who were labeled as "emotionally disturbed." Along with being a senior counselor Jon trained all of the new staff members specializing in team building and the assesment and de- escalation of crisis situations. It was during recovery time from an injury suffered at the group home that Jon found Challenge Day.

Jon has over 14 years of experience working with teenagers of all ages in many different environments. (Camps, Athletics, Support Groups, Retreats, Volunteer Coordination, Team Facilitation/Building, Classrooms, Outdoor Education, etc.)

Jon grew up in the Bay Area the oldest of three children raised by their loving parents.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• My family is absolutely amazing and I love hanging out with them.
• Being a Challenge Day Leader is my dream job and merges my passion for personal change and social change.
• I have been fortunate enough to travel to many places inside and outside of our country and I believe that we are all able to have fun together regardless of differences.
• I let sports define me as a person for a long period of my life. I still love sports.
• I am a firm believer that it's not what you are doing but who you are doing it with.
• I love cereal.

Jyoti Subramanian

Jyoti was born an only child in 1972 in Joplin, MO. At age 10, she and her family moved to Wisconsin, and a few years later to California where she completed high school and college. Jyoti traveled to Africa as part of her college work and obtained her Masters in Community Development and Natural Resource Management in developing nations. While visiting India to do research for her degree, she ended up meeting the Dalai Lama and her whole life changed. Jyoti devoted herself to studying spiritual practices for the next 7 years, living in different parts of India. The last two years she focused on yoga, living in Sivananda Kutir, a yoga ashram in the Himalayas.

Jyoti returned to the US in February, 2004 and knew she was called to do service. Shortly after her return, a Challenge Day Leader asked her to be a facilitator at a Challenge Day. She attended the Next Step Community Workshop in July and knew she had found her path. She became a Challenge Day leader in September, 2004.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• If you really knew me, you would know that my main mission in life is to spread love and peace to everyone I meet.
• You would know that I believe we all have the potential to realize that our own true nature is nothing but love.
• If you really knew me, you would know that I struggle daily to maintain a positive attitude and peaceful state of mind. That I am still fighting my old habits that want me to suffer, that often get the better of me, and that I am inspired daily to fight them and transform myself into a fully awakened being.
• If you really knew me, you would know that the reason I love doing this work is that I feel empowered to not only spread love and peace but to tap the source of love and peace inside each young person I touch.
• And you would know that I get to watch the miracle unfold and it strengthens my belief that this is the reason we all come to earth.

Katie Salvage

Katie grew up in Southern California and at age fifteen, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area with her family. Growing up with eight younger brothers and sisters, Katie found herself taking on a lot of responsibility at a very young age. This led to a strong desire to separate from her family and discover who she was, on her own.

Between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four, Katie struggled through many of life's ups and downs. After deciding that there had to be a happier, more peaceful way to live, Katie went through a drastic change. She attended an eight-day retreat where she learned about unconditional love, forgiveness, and peace.

Although the road she traveled wasn't easy, she finally realized that her passion in life is in helping others. For many years, she worked to empower individuals through educational seminars from personal safety to authentic communication.

After attending one of Challenge Day's Next Step workshops, Katie knew right away that she was meant to be a Challenge Day Leader. Her desire to implement positive changes in the world is what drives her every single day.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I'm on a mission.
• I'm a huge goofball.
• Music moves me in a way nothing else can.
• I love every single one of my amazing family members.
• My friends are incredible.
• I feel most peaceful and whole when I'm in nature.
• I LOVE kids.
• I am grateful for all of the wonderful in my life.
• I see beauty in every person I meet.
• I laugh…a lot
• Sometimes, and only when it's absolutely necessary, I bust out "The Katie Dance"

Malvika Matharoo

Malvika was born in Punjab, India and raised in the Middle Eastern nation of Oman. She is the first person in her family to graduate from college in the United States, earning her Bachelors in Aviation management at the University of North Dakota. She is a licensed Commercial pilot and Flight Instructor.

Malvika moved to California in 2007 and realized she wanted more out of her life than sitting in an airplane every day. Drawing from her unique experiences of being an Indian woman who broke down many old patterns and traditions by becoming a pilot; she initiated a program called “Take to the Sky” - encouraging young people, especially young women, to pursue their dreams, like she did.

When Malvika isn’t flying airplanes and/or inspiring young people to follow the lives of their dreams; she loves meditating, painting, hiking, kayaking, dancing, being in nature, music, trying out new recipes and hanging out with her 3 dogs, Wiggles, Dobbie and Mooshu.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I love chocolate, I have even had chocolate covered olives, pickles and jalapenos.
• I love superhero cartoons! Breakfast on Saturday mornings is not complete without my cartoons :)
• I love travelling. I want to see the world, experience different cultures, meet new people and eat some delicious food.
• I believe that the universe works in beautiful and mysterious ways and that everyone and everything that happens in our life is another opportunity for us to grow.
• My goal is to live my life with ease, grace and in a state of surrender.

Kekoa Won

Kekoa Won was born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii. He attended Berkeley University on a football scholarship. After receiving his B.A. in Criminal Justice, Kekoa worked for Boys and Girls Club of America. Over the course of his six years with Boys and Girls Clubs, he served as an Athletic Director, Director of Operations and finally as a Club Director in Martinez, Napa and East San Jose. While there, he was also responsible for several National Program Initiatives, Packard Foundation Project Learn, Lucille Packard Smart Girls Project, Intel Computer Clubhouse Project, 2001 Northern California Youth of the Year Awards Banquet as well as serving on the 2001 Pacific Region Youth Development Conference Committee.

Kekoa has also worked in Alcohol and Drug Abuse prevention/intervention for Contra Costa County as well as serving as a counselor for the Contra Costa County Youth Detention Facility.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I live every day like it's my last.
• I love my family – they are the most important thing to me.
• I believe every kid, no matter what their circumstances, experiences, struggles or issues can be successful. It's not what happens in our lives that defines who we are; it's what we do with it that defines us – our character and our legacy.
• I would say to everyone I meet, "Don't ever let anyone tell you that you're not enough. We all have blessings and gifts to share with the world."

NeEddra James

NeEddra is a writer, graphic designer and activist from Oakland, California. She earned a BA in Religion from Bowdoin College, and a MA in History of Consciousness from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

While working toward her doctorate degree and struggling with low self-esteem, NeEddra began to understand that personal transformation is at the heart of sustainable social change. So in order to take better care of herself so that she would ultimately be of greater service to others, she left graduate school and invested time in her spiritual practice, her art, and grassroots organizing. NeEddra now sits on the board of the Common Fire Foundation which supports the development of intentional communities that manifest more just, sustainable and loving communities in the here and now, and on the board of Planting Justice, an urban permaculture and food justice nonprofit.

As a Challenge Day Leader, NeEddra combines her love for teaching with her belief in the power of loving-kindness, forgiveness and compassion to transform our relationships. When she is not traveling for Challenge Day, she lives in a cooperative urban homestead in Oakland, California with three other people, four chickens and her dog, Lylah.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I believe my life’s work is to infuse my public life with my spiritual practice in order to help others manifest their dreams.
• I am developing a San Francisco Bay Area eco-village with 20+ adults and children through the Common Fire Foundation.
• I have an eclectic cultural taste that ranges from a love of museums and fine art to kitschy diners.
• Discovering Buddhism and Science of Mind saved my life.
• I have an aerial imagination and would love to learn how to fly planes one day.
• I love hiking, camping and getting dirty outdoors.

Pam Dunn

Pam grew up in the small town of Sierra Vista, AZ, about 70 miles southeast of Tucson. She graduated from Buena High School, and attended Arizona State University and New College of California.

Prior to her entry into the Challenge Day community, Pam spent much of her professional life consulting nonprofit agencies, first as part of an evaluation firm and then on her own. In addition to evaluation and documentation, she has also provided support to agencies by facilitating such processes as strategic planning, program and staff development, and conflict resolution. As a trainer for the nationally-recognized Be Present, Inc. (BPI), she has helped countless women and girls understand and develop leadership, in their own lives as well as in their families and communities. Pam has been a member of this organization for over 10 years, working locally in their Sisters and Allies Training Project, and nationally as a facilitator for retreats and training workshops. Pam also leads the evaluation efforts and provides consultation for their organizing core group with the national Board of Directors, the Executive Director, and other BPI facilitators.

In the local Bay Area, Pam is a trainer in the Family Childcare Training Project, a project that provides licensed Family Daycare Providers with peer-support facilitation, childcare business administration, and computer technology training.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I am a bicultural African American woman who grew up spanning the divide between the community and family I was born into and the predominantly white community where I lived.
• I was 17 years old when I realized that my primary attraction was to other women and I had to move away from home to learn that it meant I was a lesbian.
• Becoming a Challenge Day Leader was a gift to me from the Divine.
• I have been learning Congolese drumming for the past 3 years, and still feel like I am brand new to the voice that the drum calls out of me.
• I always felt "called" to perform, either on the stage, in film or from the pulpit.
• I have never been further away from this continent than Alaska and Hawaii and just got my first passport!

Randy Fortes

Born and raised in Livermore, CA, Randy is the youngest of two boys. Randy's father was a professional musician and Randy and his older brother followed in his footsteps with a great passion for music. In his school days, while Randy was very outgoing, music was the only way he was able to express the isolation he truly felt. As he continued to struggle with finding his place he began getting involved in drug related activities.

After graduating high school Randy began working at a job that would change his life perspective and his career path. Randy started working with children. His passion for helping others and music became a driving force in his life, helping him to gain a better understanding of who he was and how his choices affected other people. He took it upon himself to change his ways. He committed to making a positive impact on the world through his music and his actions.

Now, Randy is a member of the soulful hip-hop group "Sol Rebelz", who last year released their debut album "The Foundation". He also works with youth through a B-boy and break dancing class. For Randy, seeing the light in children's eyes and being a positive contribution, brightens his everyday. Being a Challenge Day Leader is a blessing for him. He sees that as a leader he has the ability to channel the energy that young people have towards creating something positive, opening their awareness and reminding them of their power to make change.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• You would know how much I value my family and their willingness to stay close to each other.
• You would see my passion to make a positive change in my community and the world.
• You would know how I'm turning every challenge I face into my dance.
• You would know that when I step on stage, I pour my heart out and feel completely at peace with myself. I was born to perform.
• You would know that my biggest fear is not being good enough, and that I spent a lot of my life blaming and shaming and holding myself back.
• You would know the child in me yearns for that connection.
• You would know that I see myself as a bridge between the streets and main stream America.
• You would know that I bring hope to overcome struggle because I overcame it.
• You would know that I represent a side of hip hop that is true to itself and not based on outside perception, which is exactly what Challenge Day teaches.

Rich Dutra St John
Co-Founder of Challenge Day

A former high school teacher and championship wrestling coach, Rich has worked with teens and families since 1978. As a licensed family therapist and drug intervention specialist, he was recruited to open and direct two different adolescent treatment facilities in Northern California, most notably the Thunder Road Adolescent Recovery Center in Oakland where he served as the founding clinical director. Currently, he is an adjunct faculty member at Cal State East Bay University.

A gifted facilitator and counselor, Rich is viewed as an expert in working with youth and families. With a shared vision that every child could someday live in a world where they feel safe loved and celebrated, Rich and his wife Yvonne combined their collective passion and experience to co-found the Challenge Day Program in 1987. Their work has positively affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of youth and adults in 39 states and 6 Canadian Provinces. Rich now serves as a Challenge Day trainer/facilitator, board chairman and head of development.

Romeo Marquez Jr.

Romeo Marquez Jr. was born and raised in Union City, California. Although confusion, failure, pressure, and negative influences have crossed his life journey, Romeo has still managed to keep his head up and keep moving forward.

As the first male in his family to graduate from college in the United States, Romeo earned an Associates Degree in Fine Arts from Ohlone College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Acting from the Theatre, Film and Television school at University of California, Los Angeles. He has worked with incredible people such as Oscar Winner Anthony Hopkins, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and the Black Eyed Peas.

Romeo’s greatest passion is empowering the younger generation to their full potential. He has over 12 years of experience working with youth, including the implementation of artistic and leadership programs in inner-city schools. As a writer and educational theatre performer, Romeo has toured to over 200 schools and conferences throughout California with Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre Programs; adressing issues of violence prevention, intelligent decision-making, bullying, and active living. He has recently been chosen to be part of an elite group of professionals lead by Jack Canfield (co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul Series) to train in the area of human potential development.

With love, passion, and grace, Romeo continues to find new ways to inspire the younger generation to their true greatness.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I see every single person as a gift to this world
• I love being around people but I also love having quiet time to myself
• I love: being around nature (especially around water), reading, laughing, dancing, traveling, music, and writing
• My family is extremely important to me
• I value each connection I make with every person that crosses my life’s path
• I write in my gratitude journal almost everyday
• I am living my dreams
• The 3 things that guarantee a smile on my face are fortune cookies, comedic movies, and cookie dough ice cream.

Ron Gensler

Ron Gensler was born in Alabama, though he moved around a lot when he was growing up. He was raised by his grandmother and grandfather until he was twelve years old, when his mother and father came into his life and moved him from Alabama, across the country to San Diego California. Soon after, his father - who was in the Navy - received an order to move again; this time -- to Japan!

Ron spent his high school years in Japan. It was there that he first worked closely with youth in summer fun programs and childcare. This was when he realized his love for coaching and working with kids.

When he returned to the United States, Ron played football and very shortly after became a football coach. Every day of his15 years as a coach, Ron made sure his players knew that he believed in all of them and had faith in all of them - no matter their position on the team or in life. While being a coach, Ron was also a manager at Kaiser Permanente, where he worked in conflict resolution and problem-solving for their unions.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I believe strongly that life is a journey we all go through together
• If I can teach someone to have hope in their life and in themselves, my message has been delivered
• My heart’s desire is to see every young person rise to their full potential
• I want you to laugh and play and take every day as a gift
• Every moment is a new opportunity for growth

Schan Baker

Schan is one of three children, born and raised in south Philadelphia. At a young age, he encountered many struggles, and learned how to appreciate the blessings in his life. After finishing school, he began traveling throughout North America, visiting every city in all 50 states; and almost every national park!

Eventually, Schan settled down on Kauai - one of the smallest islands in Hawaii. There, he pursued his passions: introducing youth to sustainable agriculture; helping them connect with nature, and each other, through the use of outdoor unity-building activities. Being immersed in the Hawaiian culture has been greatly enriching for Schan. He continues to build a spiritual foundation through his work with Native American communities.

Schan feels his diverse range of experiences have prepared him to do this incredible work.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I love my family and would do anything for them.
• I draw a lot of strength from my faith in God.
• I am extremely passionate about working with youth.
• I have a big heart for people, and try my best not to take anything for granted.
• I love travelling and experiencing different lands and cultures.

Sean Flikke

Sean spent most of his childhood in the small town of Cheney, Washington. Back then, his primary interests were collecting sports cards, action figures, rocks, and comic books; cruising city parks and swimming pools; making mischief while camping with his friends; and being a full-time dreamer.

After graduating from high school, one of Sean's dreams came true when he was admitted to Stanford University and made the baseball team as a walk-on. He played all four years while earning a B.A. in Public Policy with a focus on Social Policy (studying crime, poverty, and discrimination). During his senior year, Sean was honored by his teammates as the Most Inspirational Player.

Sean has worked with young people and the young-at-heart for over 15 years. Since college, he has worked a two-year stint as a professional baseball player (another dream come true), a literacy tutoring coordinator, a baseball coach, a small business owner, a professional musician (releasing an album of original music in January 2007 - another dream come true), a screenwriting assistant, a bartender, and an investigative researcher.

Sean's current interests include collecting vinyl (old records), cruising the planet's parks and swimming holes, making mischief that brings joy to people's lives, and being a full-time dreamer.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I was adopted and was raised in a total of nine different homes.
• I am blessed with an unusually large family tree, especially since finding my natural family.
• Challenge Day came to me as an answer to a prayer.
• I am living the life of my dreams.

Sela Gaglia
Co-Director of Training Department and Challenge Day Leader

I was born in Butte, Montana and am the older of two girls. I received my BA in English from San Diego State as well as a Masters of Fine Arts.

My family moved so many times when I was a kid I can't even count how many schools I went to and I lived six years in England because of my Dad's job. I know from personal experience that the same problems exist in every school across the country and it gives me a way to identify and connect with youth in each school I work.

My son's father brought Challenge Day to his school and his family kept it going for 13 years. After Columbine when they knew they needed to add leaders, I was referred because of my work in college. That work was mostly drug, alcohol and violence prevention and I was speaking at national conferences across the nation on these topics. I also taught in the Social Work Department at San Diego State so this was a natural fit for me.

Since coming to Challenge Day, in the last six years I grew up! I became a mom, the most important thing in the world to me, and I am an active part of my son's very progressive school. I have touched the lives of tens of thousands of students' lives and been the recipient of some of the most incredible testimonials about the power of this work any one could imagine. That is what keeps me going.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• If you really knew me, you'd know I believe in the power of our young people.
• I am passionate about travel and the lessons that it brings. You would also know that the study of other cultures fascinates me.
• If you really knew me, my 5 year old son makes my life a comedy routine and I love every minute of it.
• The love of my family, my mom, dad and sister, is supremely important to me. It is the foundation for all my growth and the roots to which I return again and again. I am very blessed in this way.

Tony Lowe

Tony Lowe was born in Toledo, Ohio and raised on a farm 50 miles outside the city. Surviving disease early in life and witnessing his mother's struggles and victories with mental illness imbued him with an unusually strong sense of empathy and a deep compassion for those around him. Tony studied Education, Political Science and Jazz Guitar in college. After working as an Audio Engineer and then as a Vintage Guitar Salesman, he found his stride in the field of Special Education. In Ohio, Tony worked as a Special Education Aide and in-home Care Provider. He also co-designed a Teen-Mentorship program for a large public High School, writing custom curriculum, recruiting participants, and leading inspirational rallies. After seeing Challenge Day, Tony moved to California to be closer to the organization. In California, he has worked as the Director of a Vocational and Life Skills Training Program for the California Autism Foundation, as a consultant and Quality Assurance Coordinator for Easter Seals and, of course, as a Challenge Day Leader.

When he isn't inspiring young people to live the lives of their dreams, Tony skydives, kayaks, meditates, writes music, reads detective novels (the cheesier, the better!) and plays lots and lots of guitar.

If you really knew me, you would know…

• I refuse to let my dreams be dreams.
• My personal faith and spiritual practice give me peace and inner quiet in the place of fear.
• I tell countless bad jokes and laugh at them even if no one else does.
• I am honored and grateful to serve as part of this organization.
• My Mom makes me proud today, and that she has modeled bravery and determination in love for my entire life. I am proud of my family.
• I love music of all varieties and that I write songs, play guitar, sing, and my band has an album out that has gotten great reviews.
• I have the best girlfriend in the world, and I live quite the life.

Yvonne St John Dutra
Co-Director of Training Department, Challenge Day Leader, and Challenge Day Founder

Working with teens and adults, for over 26 years in a variety of settings, Yvonne has been instrumental in designing and implementing over 17 different nationally recognized prevention and intervention programs for teenagers.

Yvonne's earliest experiences varied from doing classroom presentations and school assemblies, to media programs on gender roles and eating disorders. She later focused her attention on working with at risk youth, addiction and social oppression issues.

A gifted speaker, program designer, trainer, and educator, Yvonne has received many honors and won numerous awards for her work with teens and families. In 2003, Yvonne was selected to receive the Contra Costa County Woman of The Year Award. In August 2005 Yvonne and her husband Rich were recognized as "Champions of Forgiveness" by the World Wide Forgiveness Alliance.

As parents of four daughters, Yvonne and Rich co-founded the award winning Challenge Day Program in 1987. In addition to leading Challenge Day Programs, Yvonne leads Challenger Trainings, Mentorship Programs, Next Step and Living the Change Community Workshops.