The California School-Age Consortium is proud to highlight the Fellows from our Leadership Development Institute (LDI). These Fellows are leaders of color who demonstrate unrivaled commitment to the field and strive for advanced leadership in afterschool, school-age child care, summer enrichment or preschool.  All Fellows undergo a rigorous selection process and participate in an intensive year long cohort-based program.

This month we are honored to highlight LDI Fellows Cecilia Terrazas and Frances Vasquez. Please join us in congratulating them for the accomplishments they have already made at the local level and for their commitment to advancing our field through continuous professional development and capacity building.

Cecilia Terrazas

Cecilia Terrazas is a Los Angeles native who has over twelve years experience in the field of education, youth development, union organizing and advocacy efforts aimed at building youth power and improving schools and communities in underresourced areas.

Cecilia began her career in working with and for families and youth in 1999, when she worked for 4 years as a preschool teacher for children 0-4 years old. From this experience she was inspired to enter the teacher profession, as well as give back to her own community, and taught at her own high school, Hawthorne High, for 5 years.  She taught both special education and social studies and was a union organizer who has been dedicated to providing at-risk and low-income youth with resources and assistance to reach their educational, emotional, and personal goals.

Currently, Cecilia is the Education and Career Director at the RYSE Center, in Richmond, CA. RYSE is a youth center whose mission is to build youth power to love, learn, educate, transform and heal themselves and their communities. In the 3 years she has been at RYSE, she has contributed to the creation and implementation of the Education and Career Department. The goal of the program is to support young people in successfully graduating from high school and increasing access to and preparation for meaningful educational opportunities that ensure success and sustainable employment and career opportunities. The department has a range of programs from peer tutoring to college access support. Cecelia is responsible for the overall vision of the program, staffing, training, policy implementation, community collaboration, and evaluation of the department.

Cecilia was born and raised in Hawthorne, California and attended the University of California, Los Angeles where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. She was also the first in her family to earn a graduate degree when she received her Master’s Degree in Social Welfare from the University of California, Berkeley. Cecilia is also the proud mother of an energetic toddler, Ollin, and a fun loving 6 year old, Sol, with whom she shares her passion for music and laughter.

Connect with Cecilia on LinkedIn.

 Frances Vasquez

Frances Vasquez has served as a Middle School Specialist for THINK Together for the past four years, and is responsible for program development and implementation for all THINK Together middle school and teen program sites. Responsibilities for this position include curriculum planning, staff development and coaching for middle school staff as well as their Quality Assurance Coaches.

Frances began with THINK Together in January 2004 as a site coordinator at Lathrop Intermediate School in Santa Ana Unified School District, where she established a strong community support system for teens and their families. During the summer of 2005, Frances developed a THINK Together Teen Program for homeless students in Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to joining THINK Together, Frances worked for the YMCA coordinating a mentor program for homeless students. She also worked as a youth director for eight years at a local church.

Frances has been involved with the CalSAC Trainer Network since 2008 as a Trainer, Mentor and Project Leader. Her passion for educating and empowering youth is evident in her trainings. She not only teaches but also inspires youth workers and paraprofessionals by encouraging and motivating them to be the best for the students they serve.

Frances received a B.A. from Vanguard University of Southern California in Religion with an emphasis in Leadership and Ministry. One can always find Frances at a local youth event cheering on her favorite youth as they perform, play or participate in any activity. She is committed to helping youth achieve their dreams and reach for the stars.