#Thursdaytalks with Denise Riggins of the Design Innovation in Supportive Housing

Denise is a Class of 2027 Emerging Women of Color LeadStrong fellow. She is a Black, queer mother of three, Nana to four and wife whose leadership is grounded in healing, equity, and collective care. With over 15 years of experience in permanent supportive housing, she practices trauma-informed leadership that centers the lived experiences of marginalized Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities impacted by homelessness and systemic harm.

Through her work with Delivering Innovation in Supportive Housing (DISH) , an organization deeply committed to bringing people home, building community, and dreaming big—Denise leads with compassion, accountability, and care for both tenants and staff. She believes leadership is an act of love that creates safety, trust, and belonging.

The LeaderSpring cohort has offered Denise space for deep self-reflection: clarifying how she wants to walk in the world, honoring what she has carried as a Black woman, and releasing what no longer serves her. She has already learned so much through the cohort, strengthening her commitment to leading with wholeness. In these dark and uncertain times, Denise holds fast to the belief that love, healing, and community will prevail.

Learn more about DISH: https://dishsf.org/

#Tuesdaytalks with Curt Yagi of the Real Options for City Kids SF

Curt Yagi, Class of 2007 San Francisco alumni, joined the R.O.C.K. family as a volunteer in 1998, a Board Member/Chair in 2000 and finally as the Executive Director in 2003. Prior to R.O.C.K., Curt spent several years in the corporate sector where he held a variety of business and technology consulting positions at small and large companies. He 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 R.O.C.K. today. Curt was the 2006 YNPN Executive Director of the Year, a 2006 graduate of Leadership San Francisco, a 2007 fellow at LeaderSpring and the 2012 Unsung Hero Award awardee of the Golden State Warriors. He holds a BS degree in Computer Science from the University of California at Davis. In his spare time, you might find Curt hanging out with his wife and two kids, practicing Brazilian jiu jitsu, surfing or performing original music throughout the Bay Area.

Learn more about Real Options for City Kids SF: https://rocksf.org/

We’re excited to invite you to our upcoming P.R.I.A. Series — a three-part community engagement journey designed to offer a grounding and generative space in these challenging times.

Rooted in the leadership of our alumni leaders, P.R.I.A. is an invitation to:
Pause amidst the noise and urgency
Return to ourselves and our communities, Remember our shared truths and collective power
Imagine bold, inclusive futures
Act from a place of deep self and community care

If you’re ready to replenish your leadership and connect with others committed to justice and community well-being, Save your spot today: [REGISTER]

This is a chance to chat about the fellowship, application, or anything else you're curious about!

Program Agenda here: 

• Welcome & Introductions

• About LeaderSpring/LeadStrong

• Alumni Experience/ Perspective

• Q&A / Closing

Program Agenda here: 

• Welcome & Introductions

• About LeaderSpring/LeadStrong

• Alumni Experience/ Perspective

• Q&A / Closing

This is a chance to chat about the fellowship, application, or anything else you're curious about!

#Thursdaytalks with LaShawn Route Chatmon of National Equity Project

LaShawn Routé Chatmon is the founding Executive Director of the National Equity Project, leading the organization’s transition from the Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools (BayCES). Under her leadership, the National Equity Project has become one of the leading voices in a movement to change the conversation and approach used to achieve racial equity in education. She previously served as director of the high school redesign initiative, where her team pioneered new school design processes, principal network development and site coaching that transformed educational experiences and outcomes for teachers and students in Oakland, CA. LaShawn earned a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley; a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Brown University; and an Administrative Credential from California State University, Sacramento’s Urban Leadership Program.

She is also a LeaderSpring Center Class of 2014 East Bay Fellow.

Learn more about the National Equity Project: https://www.nationalequityproject.org/

#Thursdaytalks with Madeleine Lim of Queer Woman of Color Media Arts Project (QWOCMAP)

Madeleine Lim is QWOCMAP's Founding Executive/Artistic Director and an award-winning independent filmmaker with 30 years of experience. Her films have screened at sold-out theaters at international film festivals around the world. Her documentaries include Jewelle: A Just Vision (2022); The Worlds of Bernice Bing (2013); Sambal Belacan in San Francisco (1997) which continues to be banned in Singapore.

Lim is also a LeaderSpring Center Class of 2013 San Francisco Fellow.

Learn more about QWOCMAP: https://qwocmap.org/

LeaderSpring Center’s Alumni Mixer

Join us on December 17th for our End-of-Year Mixer—a special opportunity to celebrate the incredible community we’ve built together. This gathering is for everyone who has participated in our programs or supported our organization throughout the year. The event will be held at Drake’s Dealership in Oakland from 4:30 to 7:00 PM.

We look forward to connecting with you, reflecting on the year’s shared accomplishments, and celebrating all that we’ve achieved together. We hope to see you there!

#Thursdaytalks with Neva Walker of Coleman Advocates

#Thursdaytalks with Jill Zawisza of W.O.M.A.N Inc

#Tuesdaytalks with Malcolm Yeung of Chinatown Community Development Center

#Thursdaytalks with Anu Cairo of S.H Cowell Foundation

#Thursdaytalks with Claudia Leung of New Breath Foundation

#Tuesdaytalks with Luis Arteaga of Y & H Soda Foundation

#Thursdaytalks with Linda Gonzalez

#TuesdayTalks with Raynelle Rino of Hike It Out Coaching

#Tuesdaytalks with Yolanda Alindor of The San Francisco Foundation (TSFF)

#Thursdaytalks with Estella Owoimaha-Church of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC)