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Archives: Team Members

Katherin Cantor

KC // Katherin Canton (they/them), based on occupied Nisenan, Maidu, and Miwuk land (Sacramento, CA), was raised on Yelamu (occupied Ramaytush Ohlone land/San Francisco) and Huichin

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January 22, 2025

Sierra Sparks

Sierra Sparks (née Loya) is a prospective parent and fundraising professional in San Francisco. She has devoted her career to advocating for and protecting marginalized

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July 15, 2024

Rini Chakraborty

Rini Chakraborty is NEO Philanthropy’s Vice President of Four Freedoms Fund (FFF) and has been an integral part of the FFF team for over a

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July 15, 2024

Eliah

Eliah brings a wealth of professional and academic experience in Digital Media Arts. With a degree in sociology, Eliah directs their passion towards promoting sustainable

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April 18, 2024

Sophia

Sophia’s passion lies in social justice, community support, and advocating for true resource accessibility. They joined OFC after graduating from the University of Califonia, Davis,

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November 30, 2023

Shane

Shane’s career began with Marriage Equality, working to block state constitutional amendments intended to ban same-sex marriage in California and Maine, and organizing 250,000 marchers

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September 11, 2023
Monna Wong headshot

Monna Wong

Monna is a network weaver, facilitator, organizer, and writer from Queens, New York. She was politicized in New York City’s Chinatown through learning about solidarity

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July 19, 2023
Deborah Wald

Deborah Wald

Deborah H. Wald is the founder and managing partner at The Wald Law Group. A Certified Family Law Specialist, her work has evolved over the

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March 2, 2023
Catherine Teare

Catherine Teare

Catherine Teare is Senior Program Officer at California Health Care Foundation, following service as associate director of its High-Value Care team, supporting policies and care

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March 2, 2023
Amy Simon

Amy Simon

A founding partner at Goodwin Simon Strategic Research, a national public opinion research firm, Amy Simon brings three decades of political experience to her work

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March 2, 2023
James Raycraft

James Raycraft

A San Francisco Bay Area native and proud member of Our Family Coalition, James Raycraft is a husband, father and Emeritus Board member of OFC.

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March 2, 2023
Ora Prochovnick

Ora Prochovnick

Ora Prochovnick is Director of Litigation and Policy at Eviction Defense Collaborative, Inc. Prior to this, Ora served as Director of Clinical and Public Interest

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March 2, 2023
Phillip Parkerson

Phillip Parkerson

Phillip Parkerson is a native southerner who grew up in the Deep South in Georgia, went to college at UNC-Chapel Hill in North Carolina, and

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March 2, 2023
Martin Mitchell

Martin Mitchell

Martin Mitchell is Director of Human Resources Operations for Oakland Unified School District. He’s a transformational leader with a career marked by success in human

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March 2, 2023
Vivienne Ming

Vivienne Ming

Dr. Vivienne Ming was named one of 10 Women to Watch in Tech by Inc. Magazine, she is a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, and author. She

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March 2, 2023
Michael Ginther

Michael Ginther

Michael Ginther’s most important and favorite role is as Papa to Kel(aka Emma) and Audy.  He and his husband adopted the kids at birth 14

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March 2, 2023
Leroy Gaines

Leroy Gaines

Leroy Gaines is Executive Director at New Leadership Council. Previous to this he served nearly a decade as principal at Acorn Woodland Elementary School in

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March 2, 2023
Ali Michael Canon

Ali Michael Canon

Ali Michael Cannon served on Our Family Coalition’s Board of Directors from 2009 to 2017. In his professional life, he serves as Associate Director of

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March 2, 2023
Diana Buchbinder

Diana Buchbinder

Until her recent retirement and move to Arizona, Diana was a human resources professional in San Francisco, working at MUNI, the Exploratorium, and most recently

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March 2, 2023
Alma Soongi Beck

Alma Soongi Beck

Alma Soongi Beck is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Group and is certified by the State Board of Legal Specialization as a specialist

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March 2, 2023

Thank you for joining us in celebrating and supporting LGBTQ families.

Every contribution, whether one-time or monthly, helps us honor the extraordinary LGBTQ families in our community. Our Family Coalition is the only organization in California dedicated to advancing equity and advocating on behalf of our families, and one of the few nationwide. By giving, you stand with us in pride and solidarity, ensuring that every family feels seen, valued, and celebrated. Your support has been crucial and with your help we can continue this legacy for generations.

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Ask About Alternatives

You’re entitled to know if there are other options that might work for you. If a provider presents a single course of action, ask, “Are there other ways to approach this?” or “What other treatments might be possible?” or “Why are you recommending this treatment plan compared to alternative options?”

Pause and Reflect

If you’re unsure about a treatment recommendation, it’s okay to take a pause. Say something like, “I’d like to take some time to consider this before making a decision.” This gives you the space to process without feeling pressured. You can discuss a timeline with your provider that works for you. It is okay to want more time.

Right to Informed Consent

You have the right to understand all aspects of your care, including the risks, benefits, and alternatives. Never feel pressured into any procedure without clear information.

Confidentiality Protections

HIPAA laws safeguard your privacy and health information. Healthcare providers must keep all your personal health information confidential.

Anti-Discrimination Protections

Federal laws like Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act prohibit discrimination in healthcare on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), age, or disability.

Advocate for Comprehensive Explanations

You have the right to fully understand any diagnosis, treatment, or procedure. Don’t hesitate to ask for explanations that make sense to you. For instance, say, “Can you walk me through how this treatment will work?” or “What are some possible side effects?” “What should I look out for?” 

Trust Your Own Knowledge

 

While healthcare providers bring expertise in medicine, you are the expert on your own body, experiences, and needs. If something doesn’t feel right, trust yourself and communicate your concerns. Phrases to lean on: “This is not normal for my body” “I have never experienced these symptoms before now” … 

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Teacher Trainings and Professional Development

Each of OFC’s outstanding and practical workshops include:

  • Content learning, lesson plans and book lists​ that support teachers to have effective
    and developmentally supportive dialogue when teaching LGBTQ History
  • Reflective activities​ that allow participants to connect with their intersectional identities,
    gender stories and explore the dynamics of implicit bias to better challenge gender stereotypes
  • Current language and techniques​ to support families and teachers to talk more fluently
    and comfortably about all types of difference
  • Frameworks and models for effectively organizing coalitions​ interested in accountability
    and policy change in schools and organizations

Workshop topics:

  • LGBTQ History​: Teaching the New California History and Social Science Framework
  • LGBTQ-Focused Education Law and Policy​:​ Understanding Obligations and Protections
  • Implementing LGBTQ History:​ From Policy to Practice in your Region
  • Family Diversity:​ ​ The Early Childhood Classroom and Making All Families Visible
  • Gender Inclusion:​ ​ What is a Gender Spectrum and How Do I Reduce Gender Bias?
  • Transgender and Non-Binary Students​:​ How to Create Inclusive Spaces for All Genders
  • Anti-Bullying & Social Emotional Learning​:​ A Welcoming Schools Approach
  • Family and School Advocacy:​ Building Coalitions for Sustainable Change

For more information or to schedule a workshop, please contact the OFC Education Team: ​education@ourfamily.org

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Community Annoucements

Share your event or opportunity

Announcements will appear:

  • in a blog post on our blog (published and archived on our website, which is viewed by over 2,500 unique visitors each month)
  • highlighted in our monthly e-newsletter (distributed to over 7,500 email addresses)

Listings must be:

  • Designed for or of particular value to LGBTQ families and children and/or prospective LGBTQ parents
  • Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, if in person, or available online/ virtually, if outside Northern California

Deadline:

  • Content submitted by the third Tuesday of the month will appear in in the following month’s newsletter.

We love lifting up the good work that members of our community and other social change organizations are doing in the Bay Area and beyond! Let us know if you wish to share a community event or opportunity with our families.

Community Announcements
Title of event or opportunity, including host organization if applicable. For example: "LGBTQ Parents & Parents-to-Be Support Circle" or "Seeking Gay Dads for Study"
Location and address in one line, if applicable. For example: "Natural Resources, 1367 Valencia St., San Francisco"; "Link to the Study or Info Page”
Up to 300 characters (with spaces; about 50 words), describing the event or listing. For example: "This group is offered for LGBTQ-parents and parents-to-be who are awaiting adoption, the birth of their child(ren) through surrogacy, or who are pregnant. Share newborn care tips and learn simple mindfulness practices to increase ease during this time of so many unknowns and exciting transitions.”
Upload a logo or an image you'd like to accompany your listing. (optional)
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Events can be distributed up to 3 times. For events far in advance, please specify which months you would like the event to run in our e-newsletter.

Share your story

We’re looking for stories by or about LGBTQ+ parents/caregivers or prospective parents, as well as the grandparents or adult children of LGBTQ+ headed families.

Generally, we hope your story will not only inform other families on LGBTQ+ family topics, but also let others know that they are not alone in the journey of advocating for our families.

Whether you feel like you’ve arrived, or your story is not yet complete, know that we can keep one another company all along the way. And it always helps to feel a little less alone.

  • How is your family structured?
  • What is your family formation story?
  • Have you faced challenges in forming your family or parenting because of your identity?
  • How were you able to navigate these challenges?
  • What has been the impact on you/your spouse/children?
  • What systems/people helped guide you?
  • What advice would you have for other LGBTQ-headed families – or perhaps just your younger self?
  • How have you or your family dealt with challenges at schools, medical providers, or elsewhere?
  • Were there times when you expected resistance and instead were welcomed?
  • Do you have opinions you’d like to share about current events, or perhaps movies, TV shows, music, or more?
  • Do you have a story about how Our Family Coalition has had an impact on your or your family that you’d like to share?
Share your story

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By checking this box, I consent to the content I've uploaded here, both written and photographic, to be published on Our Family Coalition's blog.

I understand that the content will be freely available on the internet and may be seen by the general public. I further understand that Our Family Coalition cannot be held liable for the theft and re-publication of this content.

I further understand that I will be given an opportunity to review (or revoke) the piece before it is published.

This consent will be treated confidentially.

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