Diana Spatz, Executive Director

Diana Spatz is the founder of LIFETIME, Low-Income Families’ Empowerment through Education, a grassroots organization created by student mothers at the University of California Berkeley who completed college degrees while raising their families on welfare, and who are committed to helping other low-income parents do the same. A former welfare recipient, Ms. Spatz founded LIFETIME in 1996 upon graduating with honors from the University of California Berkeley with a BA in Political Economies of Industrialized Societies, and being awarded an echoing green Public Service Fellowship. An award- winning author and advocate for low-income families, Ms. Spatz won the 1996 I.F. Stone Award for Journalism by The Nation magazine for “ Welfare Reform Skips School,” an article on the role of higher education in welfare reform. Ms. Spatz, currently chairs the Education and Training Task Force for the statewide advocacy group, Californians for Family Economic Self-Sufficiency, and is a member of the California State Legislature Joint Committee to End Poverty in California (EPIC).  

Anita Rees, Associate Director

Anita Rees is a single parent of a teenage son, Alex. While on welfare, Anita completed her BA in Sociology at the University of California Berkeley, where she served as coordinator of the student-run family resource center at the University Village family housing development. As Associate Director for LIFETIME, Anita works closely with the Executive Director on program administration, and directs LIFETIME’s services and organizing activities, including participation in 3 Bay Area IDA programs, outreach to and case management for CalWORKs and other low-income parents, and leadership development of parents to advocate for policies that increase their access to education. Having experienced the challenges of juggling family, school and work responsibilities while on welfare, Anita is committed to LIFETIME’s goal of helping low-income parents enroll in, continue and successfully complete higher education and training programs. Anita is also part of the LIFETIME leadership team that won the Ford Foundation and Advocacy Institute's 2003 Leadership for a Changing World Award, and serves on the board of directors for East Bay Area Local Development Corporation (EBALDC), Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC), and the California Family Resource Association (CFRA).

PROGRAM STAFF

Dawn Love, Lead PEER Advocate

Dawn Love is a single mother formerly on welfare and currently raising one child. She is a part-time student, with a learning disability, attending Chabot College in Hayward, California. In 2002 she received her Administrative Assistant certificate; but decided to pursue a career that would help others in the community as well as lead to self-sufficiency for her family. So, she is currently pursuing an AS degree in Psychology-Counseling Human Services and plans to graduate in fall 2008. Her goal is continue to pursue her education with a BA in Human Service. Dawn is currently a PEER Advocate with LIFETIME, and has been with organization since 2002. She’s heavily involved with community organizations in social justice work, and has been since 2001. Concurrently Dawn is also on the Leadership Council with PLAN (Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network) in Oakland. Additionally, she is a member of the MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Coalition) and has been a representative for low-income families in Alameda County since 2004.

Angelica Ceballos, Southern California Organizing Intern

Angelica Ceballos first became involved with LIFETIME in 2003 as a parent leader, progressing in her volunteer work LIFETIME asked Angelica if she take on their part-time Southern California Organizer role, which she accepted, in August 2007. Angelica is a single mother of three children, and cares for one disabled child with congenital heart disease. She is currently a student at California State University Long Beach in the multiple subjects, bilingual, and special education credential program. Additionally Angelica also works when needed at CBS/Paramount Studios as a Production Coordinator. In the summer Angelica also teaches English to children in Sonora, Mexico. She is very passionate and heavily involved with the education of immigrant children and preserving their native language.

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Sarah Carrillo, Administrative Intern

Sarah Carrillo joined LIFETIME November, 2008 as an Administrative Assistant through the CalWorks Work-study program at Chabot College. She is a full time student, and is in the process of completing the Medical Assisting Program. Sarah is very excited about being part of an organization that supports student parents on their way to success, and cannot wait to be another success story for LIFETIME. Sarah plans to become a Registered Nurse and hopes to one day travel the world helping those in need of medical assistance.

Michha James, Administrative Intern

Michha James joined LIFETIME March 2009 as a CalWorks work-study intern through Chabot College. Michha had prior experience as an administrative assistant working for Kair In Home Social Services, in Sacramento. Michha has already received her Medical Assisting Certificate, while raising her son as a single mother on welfare and is continuing her education to pursue a degree in nursing.

Carolyn Parker, Bookkeeping Intern

Carolyn Parker is LIFETIME's bookkeeping intern. Carolyn is currently attending the College of Alameda while raising her two year old daughter. Carolyn started with LIFETIME at the end of May 2008, and we're very happy to have her on board! Carolyn is currently majoring in Accounting and hopes to gain hands-on experience and in-depth understanding in her new role!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sylvia Cabrales, Board Chair

Sylvia Cabrales is employed as a Placement Specialist for Oakland Unified School District, where she helps parents enroll their children in the school district. Sylvia graduated from Mills College in 2000 with a double BA in Sociology and Anthropology while receiving CalWORKs assistance. Sylvia has been an active volunteer in the Oakland community over 10 years. A single mother of four, Sylvia has been a member of the LIFETIME board since 2001, and began serving as Chairperson of the Board in 2004.

Leilani Luia, Vice Chair

Leilani Luia graduated from Cal State Hayward with a BA in Sociology/Social Services in 2001 after earning four associate's degrees from Peralta Community Colleges while raising her family on welfare. Leilani was appointed to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission Advisory Council and served on the board for SAFER, a grassroots organization of communities of color working to end environmental racism in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2001, Leilani was awarded the Management Center Board Award for Leadership for her work on the LIFETIME board. A mother of three, Leilani served as Chairperson of the LIFETIME Board of Directors from 2000-2003, and is currently serving as Vice Chair.

Brenda Rogers, Secretary

Brenda Rogers is a mother who raised her son while a student receiving welfare and has gone from a high school drop out to a PhD candidate. As the parent of a special education student who had behavioral problems and learning disabilities, Brenda became an advocate for her son by applying her law and society educational background to the special education process and beat special education administrators at their own game. Today, Brenda's son is a successful teenager because of her advocacy and in 2004, Brenda founded the California non-profit Access Center for Education (ACE). ACE provides sliding scale and free special education advocacy to parents of disabled children in public schools.

PhD. Mark Toney, Treasurer

Mark Toney is Executive Director at The Utility Reform Network (TURN) a social justice organization focused on protecting affordable utility rates and access to renewable energy for consumers.  Toney was awarded his Doctorate in Sociology from the University of California at Berkeley in 2007.  His leadership accomplishments have been recognized nationally by his selection as a Kellogg National Leadership Fellow, National Science Foundation Fellow, and Echoing Green Fellowship.  Mark is the former Executive Director of the Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO), and serves on the boards of Africa Action, and the National Whistleblower Center, both based in Washington, DC.

Diana Spatz, Executive Director/Board Member

Diana Spatz is the founder of LIFETIME, Low-Income Families’ Empowerment through Education, a grassroots organization created by student mothers at the University of California Berkeley who completed college degrees while raising their families on welfare, and who are committed to helping other low-income parents do the same. A former welfare recipient, Ms. Spatz founded LIFETIME in 1996 upon graduating with honors from the University of California Berkeley with a BA in Political Economies of Industrialized Societies, and being awarded an echoing green Public Service Fellowship. An award- winning author and advocate for low-income families, Ms. Spatz won the 1996 I.F. Stone Award for Journalism by The Nation magazine for “ Welfare Reform Skips School,” an article on the role of higher education in welfare reform.

Ms. Spatz, currently chairs the Education and Training Task Force for the statewide advocacy group, Californians for Family Economic Self-Sufficiency, and is a member of the California State Legislature Joint Committee to End Poverty in California (EPIC).

Rita Saenz, Board Member

Rita Saenz is the Executive Director, Western Region, Health and Human Services for Affiliated Computer Services. In that role she is responsible for consulting with the company on California needs and approaches. She was the chief executive officer of the Academy for Coaching Excellence, which offers consultation, organizational development, and training to develop coaching cultures in business and organizations, including health care providers. In 1999, Ms. Saenz was appointed by Governor Gray Davis as the director of the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and was responsible for a $21 billion budget, 4,700 employees and 51 offices across the state. CDSS managed the welfare-to work program, child welfare services, community care licensing (80,000 facilities), disability evaluation review, adult protective services and services for refugees. She has also been the CEO for several companies, including The Holiday Project which had 20,000 volunteers visit 200,000 people confined in institutions during the holidays. These institutions included hospitals, nursing homes, children’s homes, prisons and jails. Prior to her appointment with CDSS, Ms. Saenz worked with alcohol and drug abuse programs, serving as director of the Office of Alcoholism and later working with the Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs for California. She also worked in the office of Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr., where she oversaw the executive recruitment for gubernatorial appointments.

During her years with community-based organizations, she worked for the International Institute of Los Angeles, the East Los Angeles Health Task Force, the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation and was an on-air moderator for the KCET program, AHORA!, which highlighted the ELA community and Hispanic culture. Ms. Saenz serves on the board of directors of the Plexus Institute, the international nonprofit, Children Uniting Nations, and the California Family Resources Association. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her work, including 100 Most Influential Hispanics in the Nation and the Hispanic Woman of the Year Award, 2001, and has been acknowledged for her support of tribal people in California.

Mary Canoy, Board Member

Mary Canoy is an active LIFETIME parent from Southern California. Mary has been participating in LIFETIME’s policy work and Parent Leadership Committee for over a year. As a high-school drop-out, former gang member, domestic violence victim, and former addict Mary had many obstacles in her way. The strength she possesses allowed her to raise her children into a better situation, and motivated her to go back to school. Mary has won a number of scholarships and now holds Associate Degrees for Mortuary Science, General Studies, Management, Small Business Management, Marketing, and Merchandising and plans to transfer to a four year University to major in Organizational Leadership and/or Public Administration.

Mary currently sits on the Public Housing Authority Board and PHA Resident Advisory Board of Hawaiian Gardens and is a permanent member of the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society. Mary also volunteers her time at the ACLU of Los Angeles, and a member of the 2008 Cypress College Honors Club.