Staff
Michelle Cusano,
Beacon Director
Michelle Cusano has worked for RDNC since January 2000, running after school and community programs. Starting out as a Site Coordinator of an ExCEL middle-school site, Michelle has realized the effectiveness of the Youth Development tenets and witnessed first hand the evolution of programming based on these principles. Now, as the Richmond Village Beacon Director, she is responsible for the day to day operations of the BeaconCenter, including programs at Presidio Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, George Washington High School and Adult & Community programs.
Carol Hill,
Director, Anchor Site
Carol has worked in youth development for almost 2 decades. She has taught high school, GED prep, created and run programs and has worked in higher education administration. She got her BA from Wellesley College and Masters from SFSU. When she is not working with youth, she is a fiction writer, dancer and part time yogi. She’s also an aspiring MacArthur fellowship winner — “you should be too!” She lives in Bernal Heights with her 10 year old puppy, Ginga.
From: Washington, DC
Likes: I dance Afro Haitian and afro Cuban folklorico, love vinyasa yoga and capoeira Angola. When I’m not doing those things, I sneak and watch music videos (don’t tell anybody) and lot of bad movies.
Speaks: English, French and ok Spanish (if nobody else is around who could do it better!)
Jennifer Chau,
Evening Programs Coordinator
Since 2001, Jennifer has been proud to be working at the Beacon and having the little white bungalow as her second home. She fell in love with the Beacon during high school while participating in the lunch time and afterschool activities and is now the Evening Programs Coordinator. It is a place where she is able to learn and grow along with the youth and seniors that come and go. Everyday is a new, different, exciting, and challenging experience that makes life more fun. Working along with a group of humorous co-workers and cute senior participants make the work day fly by with interesting stories to bring home. Jennifer coordinates the “Real World” and “Richmond Enrichment” programs during the evening. It’s a challenge bringing the community together, but she’s loving it.
From: San Francisco
Likes: Family, friends, socializing, shopping, traveling, dancing, and karaoke.
Speaks: English, Cantonese, Toisanese
Mary Lohoury,
Office Manager & Youth Employment Coordinator
Mary’s inspiration to work in youth development came as a high school student when youth advocates made a difference in her life by helping make her dream of going to college a reality. Since then, she has graduated from college and has been involved in many youth development organizations throughout San Francisco. Mary hopes to continue to work towards giving youth the empowerment they need to make a difference in their community.
From: San Francisco
Likes: To hang out with family and friends, play soccer with special need and typical children, dance, sing karaoke, watch professional sports and gain new insights from the Bible.
Speaks: English, but understands some Tagalog.
Jonah Klein,
Roosevelt M.S. Site Director
Jonah is a Bay Area native and a graduate of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. As a Cultural Anthropology major, he studied the impact of diversity in community settings. A strong proponent of diversity, Jonah incorporates this passion into his lifelong pursuit: fostering a love for learning in children and young adults. Jonah enjoys working for the Richmond Village Beacon because of its warm atmosphere and desire to better the surrounding community.
From: Berkeley, California
Likes: Cultural events, sports/physical activities, live music and travel.
Speaks: English, Bad Spanish, Pig Latin
