Welcome to our 2024 CPCE Fellows

Congratulations to our newest Community Partner Co-Educator Fellows (CPCE)! We applaud the dedicated work of nonprofit staff, service providers, public servants, activists, artists, and local change agents who have joined this collaborative learning community. The CPCE Fellowship is committed to fostering equitable relationships between USF and our community partners, prioritizing the integration of community wisdom in decision-making and actions at the McCarthy Center. Through maximizing student learning via community engagement, the fellowship empowers our partners to collaborate effectively with USF students, addressing their organization’s priorities and needs. 

Martha Lopez
Volunteer & Corporate Engagement Manager
Boys and Girls Club of San Francisco 

Martha is a dedicated professional serving as the Volunteer & Corporate Engagement Manager at the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco. With a passion for community service and youth development, Martha plays a pivotal role in fostering partnerships between the organization and corporate entities, as well as mobilizing volunteers to support the club’s programs. With over ten years of experience working directly with youth, she has spent the last year working in the fundraising and development team of her organization. When she is not working she can be found volunteering at other organizations, going on urban hikes, finding new vegan restaurants and catching up with friends.

Casandra Uriarte Madueño
Youth Program Coordinator
Booker T. Washington Service Center 

Casandra currently works at Booker T. Washington Community Service Center as the Youth Program Coordinator. Her family is from Sinaloa, Mexico and she grew up in Delano, California. She moved to the city six years ago. In her free time, she enjoys cooking and baking new recipes. Casandra stumbled into the world of community-engaged work almost three years ago by accident. Although  new to working at nonprofit organizations and youth education she has always had a passion for working with youth and supporting communities.  She leads her work with radical love and holding space all. She currently serves youth in the Western Addition/ Fillmore making sure, with the help of her team, to holistically care for her kids, support their families, and support future minds and creators.

Jasmine Itliong
Executive Director
City Youth Now

As a graduate of San Jose State University, Jasmine found her passion of working in non-profit organizations dedicated to youths during one of her volunteer classes. Having both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Communication Studies, Jasmine now dedicates her time and experiences to giving back to the community in any way she can, offering a helping hand wherever it may be needed, and supporting youths in all areas to overcome any barriers to reach their personal – and educational – goals. During her free time, Jasmine loves to try new food, explore new places, or binge-watch Netflix shows at home with her hyperactive pup.

Ivonne Garcia
Senior Director of Community Programs
Buchanan YMCA

Ivonne has dedicated most of her professional life to community and youth development work through various non-profits and has thrived on getting to know people and their stories from all ages and backgrounds. Through her work at the YMCA of San Francisco, she has had the opportunity to connect San Francisco youth with nature and the outdoors, supported people of all ages in their health and wellness goals, collaborated with after school and Beacon staff at SFUSD sites, and provided physical and social wellbeing programs to seniors in the Fillmore and Japantown districts. Ivonne has her Bachelor’s in Biology and Environmental Science & Policy from Smith College and is currently in her last semester of her Master’s in Women and Gender Studies program at San Francisco State University. When she is not studying or working, she can often be found running trails throughout the Bay Area, spending time with her family in the Mission, and daydreaming about life alongside her cat and bearded dragon.

Zihir Unique Terrence-Smith
Community Outreach Manager
Friends of the Urban Forest

Zihir Unique is a seasoned Community Outreach professional with over a decade of direct service experience spanning education, housing and climate justice, and LGBTQ advocacy. Zihir is on a mission to foster safe, inclusive, and healthy communities through his role as the Community Outreach Manager at Friends of the Urban Forest. His multifaceted approach is fueled by his educational background in Political Science from Baldwin Wallace University, his DEI and Servant Leadership studies at Cornell University, and a deep commitment to the liberation of all colonized people and land. His passion for community and diverse skillset makes him a driving force in creating environments where all individuals can thrive. Zihir’s dedication extends far beyond the professional realm. He enjoys DJ’ing, playing the bass guitar, and whipping up delectable dishes with friends in his free time.

Jessica Lynn Granat-Zlotnick
Workforce Development Program Manager
San Francisco Beacon Initiative

Jess is an experienced and versatile workforce development and non-profit professional. She has a background in education, program management, and international education development with expertise in teaching, teacher training, research, and career advising for youth. Educated in public schools, she holds Master’s in Community and Regional Development from UC Davis and a Bachelor’s in Socio-Cultural Anthropology from UC San Diego and is dedicated to supporting people, families, and communities through the power of public schools. In her off time you can find her traveling, exploring trails with her dog, trying new recipes and restaurants, making jewelry, and possibly watching the latest binge-worthy post-apocalyptic show.

Interested in becoming a CPCE Fellow? Learn more here.