Education is a catalyst for economic prosperity.

"I believe the difference between poverty and a brighter future is usually dependent on the existence of opportunity. I joined Tipping Point Community, because I’m dedicated to helping create more opportunities for individuals in the Bay Area."

Prior to joining Tipping Point Community, Nick was an Orfalea Fellow at the William J. Clinton Foundation in Harlem, where he worked on domestic programs focused on entrepreneurship and helping individuals gain access to the financial mainstream. He earned his M.P.A. from the University of Southern California and his B.A. in Political Science from Sonoma State University. He has worked as an Analyst at Wildan Financial Services and a Project Coordinator at the Sonoma Economic Development Board. Born in El Salvador, his Latino heritage inspires his passion for life, dancing and spicy food.

"I believe that meaningful collaboration across sectors and boundaries is essential if we are going to make real progress towards a more equitable Bay Area. I am proud to be a part of an organization that values collaboration and puts community-building front and center in its mission."

Prior to joining Tipping Point, Leslie spent 10 years leading programs and strategic operations in the nonprofit and education sectors. Most recently she served as the Growth Operations Lead for the Summit Learning Program, an educator-powered nonprofit organization that partners with diverse schools and districts throughout the United States to support equitable classroom redesign. Leslie was born and raised in Evanston, Illinois and received her BA in International Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Drawn to California for its natural majesty, Leslie loves spending time outdoors, backpacking in the Sierras, soaking in hot springs, and enjoying ocean sunsets.

"Lasting reform happens through a steadfast commitment to using our resources and expertise to bring down systems of advantage and build power for those most affected."

Katherine joined Tipping Point because she believes in a poverty-free Bay Area and that transformative educational experiences change a student and their family’s trajectory for generations. Katherine is a results-driven leader with over 15 years of experience leading large, complex organizations centered on academic and curricular development. Most recently, she led Presentation High School in San Jose as Principal, where she overhauled core infrastructure, implemented innovative new programs, and steered the organization through its most challenging times. Earlier in her career, she worked in management consulting and public policy. Katherine received her B.A. in Economics and Political Science from University of California, Davis, holds a M.A. in Education Administration from Santa Clara University, and a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School Online.When she’s not at work, Katherine enjoys running, sailing in the Bay, and before-bedtime dance parties with her kids.

"Growing up in the Bay Area, I saw the barriers and challenges my peers and others have faced day-to-day, specifically homelessness and poverty. I am joining Tipping Point Community because I believe I am able to utilize my skills and knowledge in data analysis and evaluation to help end poverty in the Bay Area."

James first got into the nonprofit sector after the 2014 midterm election. He remembers feeling helpless and a little bit lost thinking about what to do next in his career/life. He spent months soul-searching and thinking about how he could ultimately make a difference in his community. He made a decision later that year to dedicate his life to making an impact in his community through his work.James earned his Master’s in Public Administration in 2017 from New York University – Wagner. Prior to joining Tipping Point Community, he was the School Support Data Manager at the Urban Assembly. In this role, he supported the program team through evaluating the impact of their programs through analysis and Tableau dashboards.In his spare time, James enjoys going to Broadway shows, live music shows, and sporting events (Go Lakers and 49ers!).

“We must take care of the most vulnerable among us to thrive as a community. So long as we are content to allow the suffering of others, we will never achieve true prosperity.”

Hunter Meyer is happiest when he’s helping people. He comes to Tipping Point from the food and events world, where he ran large-scale food truck events for Off the Grid. Originally from Maine, Hunter earned a B.A. in Economics from Bard College. Since moving to the Bay Area over a decade ago, he’s fallen in love with the region, and is committed to making it even better through his work at Tipping Point. Outside of the office, Hunter enjoys spending time in nature with his young daughter, wife, and dog, and he is always on the lookout for a great taco.

"We all have a responsibility to create a just society." - Bryan Stevenson

Rohit joined Tipping Point because it marries a moral imperative to serve the Bay Area community with a commitment to meaningful action. Prior to joining Tipping Point, Rohit worked at UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab on participatory, evidence-based policymaking. Earlier in his career, Rohit worked for ten years at MIT's Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab on impact evaluations around the world. In this role, he worked with a number of local and state governments in the U.S. on anti-poverty programs covering topics from homelessness to violence prevention to take-up of welfare benefits. Rohit graduated with an M.A. and B.A. from the University of Chicago. When he isn't trying to make research serve the public good, Rohit enjoys running with his speedier wife, working his way through a stack of books, and doting on his two dogs.

"I believe that to be truly compassionate, one must directly support their neighbors who are struggling with poverty and also work to change and improve the systems that have allowed that poverty to exist."

Ali joined Tipping Point to more directly serve her community while also continuing to work on the critical system changes necessary to ensure meaningful reductions in poverty. Prior to joining Tipping Point, Ali served as the State of California’s Deputy Secretary for Homelessness where she oversaw the state’s interagency council on homelessness and several large state homelessness grant programs. Earlier in her career Ali served as a Senior Advisor for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, focusing on a range of anti-poverty programs within the Administration for Children and Families. Ali graduated with a Masters in Public Policy from the University of California – Berkeley, and received her B.A from the University of Iowa. When not working to alleviate poverty, Ali can be found hiking, backpacking or reading a good book…outdoors!

“As long as poverty, injustice, and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.” — Nelson Mandela

The fight to end poverty hits close to home for Sam. When he was 11 months old, his birth mother placed him on the steps of an orphanage in Vietnam and walked away. She simply could not afford to raise him. Sam was dealt an early lesson on the power of community — its capacity to open doors, to radically change lives, and to break the cycle of poverty. His origin has molded his self-concept and forged his desire to pursue a career that enables others to thrive no matter their background.Prior to Tipping Point, Sam helped bring books into the world in marketing and editorial roles at HarperCollins and Pearson. He attended The Paideia School in Atlanta, Georgia and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. In his spare time, Sam can be found running and training for upcoming races on the track and the roads around Lake Merritt and the East Bay.

“Inequality and injustice are built into our systems and institutions. It is our duty to transform our systems until everyone, regardless of identity or background, has equal opportunity to thrive.”

Bing is honored and humbled to be able to apply her research, business intelligence, and data analytics experience in support of Tipping Point’s empathetic and multi-faceted approach to fighting poverty. Prior to joining Tipping Point, she supported economic research and Cash Services strategy and operations as an analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. Her passion for public service motivated her to pursue an M.S. in data science at the University of San Francisco, to better serve her community in an analytic capacity. During her master’s program, she interned at Human Rights Data Analysis Group, where she contributed to statistical analyses that enable accountability for human rights violations. Bing also holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago. Bing is a proud first-generation Chinese-American immigrant and a Bostonian, and she enjoys running, exploring cities through food, and listening to pop punk.