Staff

Staff


Executive Leadership Team

Laura Valdéz

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Laura Valdéz was born and grew up in El Paso, Texas on the U.S./Mexico border. Her social justice framework is rooted in the struggles she witnessed growing up…

Saúl Hidalgo L.

Deputy Director

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Saúl has over 25 years of nonprofit experience – most of which has taken place in the Mission. His previous experience includes…

Nolia Yulan Lai

Director Of Human Resources

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Nolia Yulan Lai has over 15 years of human resources management experience. She holds a Master’s in Public Administration and an…


Administration

Jazzman Parks Cardona

Director Of Strategic Projects

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As a Brooklyn-native, Jazzman comes to DSCS with a diverse background in education, finance, and operations. Constantly battling with generational…

Eliana Coria

Accounting Supervisor

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Eliana brings 20 years of experience as an Accountant. She is from Argentina and moved to the US in 2013. She previously worked as a CPA and has ample…


Housing & Shelter Programs 

Manuel Piña

Director of Housing and Shelter Programs

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Manny has over 12 years of experience in Operations, mostly in private corporations. Manny holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering with a Masters…

Enrique Roldan

Richard M. Cohen Residence Senior Manager

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Enrique Roldan was promoted as Program Director of Cohen Residence in 2020. Enrique worked for 5 years as the Dolores Shelter Program Manager…

Yesenia Lacayo

Dolores Shelter Program Senior Manager

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Yesenia has been involved in the non-profit sector from an early age. She was a participant in the Mission Area Federal Credit Union- Youth Credit Union…

Maria Reyes

Mission Inn Program Manager

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Maria was born and raised in Honduras and earned her Master’s degree in Mediation and Conflict Resolutions from the University of Puerto Rico and…

Jaime Torres

Casa Esperanza Program Manager

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Jaime is a San Francisco Native raised in the Mission District by a single immigrant mother. He attended and graduated from John O’Connell High School…

Simon Rodriguez

Associate Manager of Housing & Shelter Programs

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Simon is originally from Los Angeles specifically from the beautiful San Fernando Valley. For many years, he has ben working with the Latin X…


Community Services 

Jacqui Portillo

Community Services Director

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Jacqui Portillo has over 20 years of experience in the social service sector and family support movement. Most recently she worked for East Bay Agency for…

Alejandro Nuno

Access Point Senior Program Manager

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Alejandro Nuno was born in Guadalajara Jalisco, México. His parents brought him to live in the US when he was 10 years old. He grew up in Santa Monica, CA and…

Cindia Diaz

Nuestro Bienestar Program Manager

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Cindia Diaz is a Program Manager for the Nuestro Bienestar Community Wellness Program. She works with a team of Health Promotors to provide wrap around…


Community Engagement & Organizing 

Maria Rinaldi

Director of Community Engagement & Organizing

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Maria is a Latinx immigrant woman with over 17 years of experience working with the Latinx and African American populations in San Francisco…

Sanika Mahajan

Associate Manager of Community Engagement & Organizing

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Sanika Mahajan grew up primarily in the South Bay as the daughter of South Asian immigrants. Her commitment to centering social justice for marginalized groups…

Aradhana Tiwari

Associate Manager

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Aradhana first joined DSCS in 2015 as a legal fellow for the San Francisco Immigrant Legal Defense Collaborative (SFILDC). For several years following…

Guillermina Castellanos

Worker Center Co-Senior Manager

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As co-founder of La Colectiva de Mujeres in 2001, Guillermina has supported hundreds of women to discover and develop dignity, leadership, and…

Francisco Herrera

Worker Center Co-Senior Manager

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Francisco Herrera grew up in the border town of Calexico. A long-time community organizer, Francisco served as the chair of the advisory board…

Sayde Leos Diaz

Worker Center Co-Senior Manager

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Sayde Leos is an accomplished Lawyer in Mexico and Paralegal in the US, with 6 years of law experience in both countries. She enjoys using her skills to…

Melissa Gomez

HOUSING RIGHTS SENIOR MANAGER

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Born and raised in the Mission, Melissa sees the Mission district as a huge part of her identity. When she found DSCS was hiring, she knew it was the right fit…

IMPACT

30

Housing and shelter placements provided for adults, youth, and families

80

Deportations prevented for pre-documented immigrants

4000

Living wage jobs secured for low wage workers