Dr. Dena McManis

Dena has worked with at-risk youth in New York, Oakland, and San Francisco for much of her career, serving populations with real needs and few resources behind them. When the opportunity to work at Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland presented itself, it felt like coming home to that work in a lot of ways.

She believes these kids are every bit as capable and deserving as anyone; they just don't always have the same access to support that others do. As a supervisor, she wants to give her trainees the same grounding she received early on: no assumptions, just showing up for a kid. It is some of the most fulfilling work she does, and she is thrilled to be part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Oakland team.