Sara Tiras (she/her) (pictured on right) currently serves as the Interim DIrector and comes to the Oakland Youth Commission with over 15 years of experience as an educator and youth organizer. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Sara has lived in Oakland for 17 years. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz with honors in American Studies and went onto earn her Teaching Credential and Masters in Education at Mills College. She taught high school history, government and special education for the last decade. She has also been teaching, and mentoring new teachers for the past five years in SFUSD, University of San Francisco, Mills College and in OUSD. Her teaching practice is grounded in a pedagogy of love, social justice, and wellness for youth. Outside of schools, Sara has been an activist and engaged in the on-going struggles for racial justice, reparations, youth empowerment and climate justice. In her free time, she loves to walk around Lake Merritt, practice yoga, hike in Redwood regional park, and stock up on all the delicious local produce at the farmer’s market every weekend.
Philip Jones (he/him) (pictured on left) is the Assistant Program Manager for the Youth Commission and is also a graduate student within San Francisco State University’s School of Social Work. Philip’s biggest passion in life is uplifting those in communities of color who have experienced the same hardships he experienced as a young adult. In his current role working with the commission, he works in collaboration with youth invested in social justice issues, uplifting their voice, and supporting them as they advise and contribute to important projects and decisions in our local government and community. In his free time Philip loves hiking, traveling, golf and fitness. Philip believes the work being done on the commission will continue to ignite change and equity for future generations to come, he is proud to be an ally to youth fighting for what they believe in within their communities.
Kimberly (Kim) Woo (she/her) (pictured in the middle) is the Program Coordinator for the Youth Commission. She greatly enjoys working with and is inspired by youth who advocate for a world that uplifts all communities. Kim is a senior at UC Berkeley studying political science, legal studies, and ethnic studies. During her time with the Oakland Youth Commission, she has empowered the youth in civic engagement, political advocacy, and community building through projects such as Oakland Youth Vote and Citywide Youth Engagement Training. Outside of work, Kim enjoys singing/songwriting, baking, grabbing boba with friends, and advocating for civil rights and social justice. Kim deeply appreciates the passionate Commissioners for their commitment to empowering youth voices in policies that directly affect them, shaping an equitable future that they will live to lead.