Welcome to Shine Bay Area
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News
Making Great Strides in Fresno
In April 2024, Shine Together was recognized alongside 59 outstanding organizations making an impact in Fresno at the Nene Casares Celebration of Service Grant Reception. This event celebrated the achievements of community service organizations, and we were thrilled to be included!
We also recently made significant progress in expanding our evidence-based curriculum. Our team is now preparing to participate in the Girasol training with the National Compadres Network. This training focuses on transformational health and healing, equipping our staff with innovative tools and techniques to better support our community.
May gave us an opportunity to celebrate our members’ accomplishments and honor Mother’s Day. We spent a joyous occasion recognizing their hard work and achievements and celebrating one of our recent graduates, the remarkable Sky Lopez. Sky’s journey from foster care to teen motherhood and her recent high school graduation is truly inspirational. She is now pursuing her dream of helping others and furthering her education. Her biggest motivator? Her son, Shadrach. Sky shares, “His presence in my life is a constant reminder of why I work so hard and why I am determined to succeed.”
We are so proud of all our members and their incredible achievements!
Events
ANNUAL EVENTS
- Shine Mixer, Back to School Backpack Drive Event
- Spooky Celebration
- Friendsgiving
- Christmas in the Park Tree Trimming Event
- Holiday Gift Drive and Celebration
- Galentine’s Celebration
- Spring Egg Hunt
- Mother’s Day Celebration
- Graduate Commencement/End of the Year Celebration
- Summer Field Trips: Children Discovery Museum, Aquatic Adventure Water Park, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, Mommy & Me Cooking Class
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Saturday 8/10 Deunas Car Club BBQ Fundraiser Event
- Monday, 8/12 Shine Mixer: Backpack Giveaway
Special Programs
- Ambassador Program
Our Team
Meet the Bay Area Shine Team
Each and every member of the Shine team is dedicated to empowering young mothers and impacting multiple generations. Together, we bring decades of experience in youth and community services, social justice, and research and evaluation.
Kathy Williams
Bay Area Regional Director
Kathy joined the team in January 2022 as the Bay Area Regional Director. Kathy is a passionate social worker who’s spent her whole career serving transitional age youth in academic, nonprofit, workforce, and social impact capacities. Kathy earned her B.A. in Sociology and Education at UCSC and her MSW at Columbia University, concentrating in Social Enterprise Administration. Kathy is working her way to become an LCSW to dismantle systems of oppression and to close the Opportunity Divide. In her free time, Kathy loves to work out, try new breweries, restaurants and throw pottery.
(408) 892-7203
Becky Herrera
Office Manager, San Jose
Born and raised in San Jose Ca
Becky was a teen mom herself that had to overcome obstacles of raising a child at such an early age. With the support of family she was able to graduate High school with her class and attend college.
Becky joined Shine in March 2022 & has worked with non profit organizations for 10 years helping and serving the Bay Area communities. She loves working with young moms & their babies.
On her free time she spends time with family and being outdoors.
Isabel Chavarria
Advocate, San Jose
I joined the team in early September of 2022. I have experience serving numerous underserved populations from all ages and backgrounds; through my time working with non-profits from the past 6 years.
I was born and raised in the “Garlic Capital” of the world, Gilroy. Growing up I have always had the passion to support my communities and empower the youth. I believe our youth are tomorrows future and the only way to impact change is through education, support, and guidance. As a first-generation Latina, I was not guided a path, I believe it’s my responsibility now to pass down my expertise and knowledge to others to empower and assure them of their true potential.
I am currently pursuing my degree in Sociology, with the ambition to become a family and marriage therapist.
In my spare time I enjoy staying active by playing soccer, reading, baking, and traveling to new places.
(408) 593-0293
Karolina Cabanillas
Advocate, San Jose
My name is Karolina Cabanillas and am a first-time mommy of a baby girl. I am Hispanic and the eldest of 4 children. My family and I are from Sinaloa, Mexico and are very proud of our roots. I am bilingual and love to help my community with any resources I might have.
I have been working with various non-profit organizations for over 8 years now. I have worked with K-12, migrant families and elderly people. I am honored to have been given the opportunity to help my community and our future generations. I am a firm believer that a strong community outweighs everything else. The sky is the limit and I wish to continue spreading that energy to the community.
I am very excited to see what the future holds here at Shine and am very excited to be a part of the journey as an advocate. I am motivated to make a positive impact and am looking forward to serving my community. My door will always be open so please don’t hesitate to reach out for anything.
Cecilia Moreno
Advocate, San Jose
Cecilia Bueno Moreno (she/her). I was born and raised in San Jose, CA. I have a bachelor’s in Sociology from Stanislaus State. I joined Shine in December 2022. I’m happy to be part of the Shine team because I’ve always loved to help the community and empower others. By being an advocate, I can support young mothers to achieve their goals. In addition, I have six years of experience working with youth. You can find me spending time with my family in my free time. Family is important to me. Another hobby is trying new foods and being adventurous.
(408) 593-0294
Deja Smith-Robinson
Advocate, Bay Area
Hello, my name is Deja Smith-Robinson. I am 24 years old and have a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, along with three Associate’s degrees in History, Psychology, and Criminal Justice. Though I graduated from San Jose State, I’m originally from Madera, CA. I come from a family where my mother was a teen mom, and I have seven siblings. I am proud to be the first in my family to attend and graduate from college.
In my free time, I enjoy going to the beach, reading, meditating, cooking, watching anime, and spending time with loved ones. Before joining Shine, I worked with individuals with special needs, specifically those on the moderate to severe spectrum of autism. I’ve also worked as a caregiver for elderly adults and those on hospice care.
Helping others has always been a passion of mine, and I’ve dedicated my life to doing meaningful work that I love. Two quotes I live by are: “Failure is a bruise, not a tattoo,” and “I can do anything I put my mind to.” I look forward to making a difference here at Shine Together.
Maria Medrano
Advocate, Bay Area
I joined Shine in July 2024, and I’m excited to share my knowledge, guidance, and resources with young mothers and their families. I have over five years of professional experience working with underserved, low-income populations of all ages. My passion for supporting these communities comes from volunteering with nonprofit organizations throughout high school and college.
Originally from Anaheim, CA, I moved to San Jose after high school to attend San Jose State University, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development with an emphasis on Community Focus and a minor in Sociology. I plan to pursue a Master’s in Social Work to further assist my community.
In my free time, you’ll find me at community gatherings, resource fairs, trying out new recipes, or re-watching my favorite shows and movies.
Our Partners
Our Sponsors
- Baby2Baby
- Bay Area Furniture Bank
- Bay Area Legal Link
- Bay Area Medical Academy
- Bella Vista Foundation
- Cake4Kids
- Child Care Careers
- Chortek Weisman
- City of San Jose BEST
- Department of Family and Children Services, Emergency Response Team
- Education Liaison, National Center for Youth Law
- Family Giving Tree
- First 5 Santa Clara
- Glikbarg Foundation
- HopSkipDrive
- Kaiser
- Nicholson Foundation
- Nurse Family Partnership SCC
- Old Navy
- Opportunity Youth Academy
- Project Glimmer
- San Jose Conservation Corps
- San Jose Job Corps
- Santa Clara Valley Medical NICU, HRIF Program
- SCC Board of Supervisor D1
- SCC Board of Supervisor D3
- SCC Board of Supervisor D4
- SCC Probation Department
- Second Harvest of Silicon Valley
- Seneca Family Agencies
- South County Youth Task Force
- Stanford Children’s Health
- Step Forward Foundation
- The Foundation for Hispanic Education
- Valley Health Center Sunnyvale
Our Donors
Regional Boundaries
All cities in Santa Clara County.
Headquarters & Bay Area Office
Shine Together
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits
508 Valley Way
Milpitas, CA 95035
How to find us
Donate Now
Help A Young Mom Shine Bright
We need your help to empower young moms and their children. Together, we can create economic advancement for families and communities, two generations at a time.