Category: Behind the Scenes

Isaiah joins the team as an inclusion Concierge Program Intern. He has recently graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied Political Science with a minor in Public Policy. Previously, Isaiah was appointed by Mayor London Breed to serve as a San Francisco youth commissioner, and he interned for Supervisor Jackie Fielder, for whom he worked on issues related to housing, homelessness, and immigrant community protections. In his free time, he enjoys going on long road trips, exploring new hidden gems in the city, and staying engaged in community advocacy. 

David Higuera joins The Kelsey as an Inclusion Concierge Program Intern. He is a rising sophomore at California State University, Los Angeles, studying Nursing. David previously worked at EveryBodyWorld, where he gained hands-on experience with retail and community events, which helped develop a passion for supporting inclusive communities. In his free time, he enjoys drinking matcha, hiking, photography, exploring new places, and listening to music.

About Valerie Pronouns: she/her Valerie Novack is the Senior Manager of Building Code and Land Use at The Kelsey. A policy researcher and advocate with a focus on inclusive infrastructure, she leads initiatives to change policy and practices to increase inclusion and accessibility in housing. Over her career, she has worked at the local, state, …

Our team gathered from across the country for our winter staff retreat. Through strategic planning, team-building, and fun, our retreat energized us for the work ahead.

About Yanaya Yanaya Shields originally joined The Kelsey as an Intern at the San Jose location but was recently rehired as an Inclusion Concierge staff at The Kelsey Civic Center location in SF. Naya would describe herself as someone who loves all genres of music (except for country), is one with a crazy sweet tooth, …

We’re excited to welcome Chijioke Ebbis to the team! Chijioke Ebbis will serve as Managing Director.

As Managing Director, Sam leads The Kelsey’s housing development pipeline, partnerships, and strategy

Diana joins The Kelsey as a Residents Services Manager. She brings over two decades of experience in housing, behavioral health, and community work, always centering equity, healing, and access.