Sofia’s background is in college preparation and navigation, youth workforce development, program design and implementation, and community engagement. Born in Emiliano Zapata, Michoacán, Mexico, she immigrated with her family to East San Jose at the age of nine, and grew up as the proud daughter of Lety and…

Justina is a Stockton native and earned her B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management from San Francisco State University. She is an alum of Rising Sun’s Climate Careers program, where she started as an intern while in college. After graduating, Justina stepped into a temporary…

What is it about Rising Sun’s mission and vision that resonates with you? The part about Rising Sun’s vision and mission statement that resonates with me the most is the company’s mission to serve disadvantaged and reentry populations and women. I love how this program promotes career opportunities that lead…

Samara earned a B.S. in Conservation & Resource Studies from UC Berkeley and has worked in green nonprofits ever since. Prior to joining Rising Sun in 2019, she spent 12 years as a Program Director for a nonprofit focused on sustainable food systems, where she gained experience securing…

Glendie has worked within community engagement and higher education administration for the past decade. After receiving her B.A. in sociology at UC Berkeley, she worked with a college access nonprofit in San Francisco, where she helped first generation high school students with their admissions to secondary institutions. She…

What is it about Rising Sun’s mission and vision that resonates with you? I have worked with other pre-apprentice programs and I just felt that Rising Sun was sincere in what they were offering. Just in the short time I’ve been here, all of my expectations have been achieved. What…

What is it about Rising Sun’s mission and vision that resonates with you? Resources necessary to thrive; produce and sustain racial and gender equity. What do you love about working at Rising Sun? The opportunity to interact with and help develop the career possibilities of all students in the cohorts.

Sam has been at Rising Sun since 2022. She is rooted in Oakland and an army veteran with a deep commitment to public service. She has spent nearly a decade managing government contracts and grants in the nonprofit sector, primarily in workforce development and social services. Her experiences…

Julia started her career at Rising Sun in 2012 as Director of Youth Programs, going on to become Director of Programs, Director of Strategy Development & Policy, and Interim Co-Executive, before stepping into the role of CEO in early 2020. She has played a leadership role in the…

Marlin is a former Laborer in Local 304, the Laborers’ International Union Of North America. He is an alumni of the Land Together program and now on their Board of Directors. He is also on the Board of Directors for 7th Step Foundation, and is a member of…