Meet the B2B Team

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Home > MESD Schools & Programs > Bars to Bridges > Meet the Team

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From: Oregon​
Education: Master’s degree, Portland State University

Aketi
Transition Specialist

“Pursuing education is a powerful and effective way to reduce recidivism and increase life success.”

Aketi seeks to inspire students to achieve their dreams by encouraging them to discover their skills and push beyond their challenges through consistent encouragement, creativity,  mentorship, and positive role modeling.  She worked in juvenile detention with incarcerated youth before joining B2B. Aketi enjoys cooking, biking and spending time in nature.

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From: Oregon
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Oregon State University

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Amanda
Court Intervention Lead Transition Specialist

“I hope to help youth recognize and achieve their educational goals.”

Amanda champions for youth who often go unheard and supports them in pursuing an education. She has a background in criminal justice and juvenile justice. In her spare time, Amanda discovers new vegan dining spots in Portland.
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From: New York
Education: Associate degree, Nassau Community College

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Amanuel
Transition Specialist
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“I'm here to show students they can achieve anything with a little hard work.”
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Amanuel supports youth by focusing on their personal hopes for the future to help them pave a clear path to their academic goals. He worked in youth corrections before joining B2B. Amanuel enjoys spending time with his family, working out, and venturing outdoors.

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From: Oregon
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Grand Canyon University

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Charles
Family and Work Lead Transition Specialist

​“My goal in working with youth is to get them engaged in school.”

Charles encourages students to use their strengths. He thinks incarcerated youth are often misunderstood. His previous work with youth was at Portland Public Schools. He likes to play basketball when he’s not chasing his spirited daughter around the house.

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From: Oregon
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Portland State University

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Hannah
Community Relations & American Indian/Alaska Native Lead Transition Specialist

“I introduce academic resources and build strong relationships to ensure the youth I work with feel supported.”

​Hannah advocates for youth and with them, creating an atmosphere of opportunity. She actively seeks community resources that make a systematic change in the lives of youth and their families. Hannah has served youth at organizations such as Outside In, Schools Uniting Neighborhoods and develops diversity equity and inclusion curriculum for SoValTi. Her other passions include kayaking, surfing, boogie boarding and collecting too many houseplants. 

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From: Nevada
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Warner Pacific University

From: Arizona
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Portland State University

From: Oregon
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Oregon State University

​From: Texas
Education: Master's degree, University of Texas

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Kadeem
Transition Specialist

​“I hope to help guide students in areas of their best interest.”

Kadeem hopes to help guide youth in the B2B program toward a more positive education experience. He focuses on bridging gaps in the justice system for Black and Multiracial youth. Outside of work, Kadeem enjoys exercising, cooking, and spending time with family. 

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Micaella
Senior Transition Specialist & Professional Learning Lead

“Education is an important aspect of our lives and I want to encourage others to pursue it.”

​Micaella strives to help students actualize their potentials after leaving detention. She discovered her passion for youth services when she was a camp counselor for Portland Parks and Recreation. Micaella enjoys D.I.Y. projects and watching baseball with her family.

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​Sidonia
Transition Specialist

“I'm looking forward to bringing stories of resiliency to students.”

Sidonia connects students with school activities that inspires their participation in school. She encourages students to be engaged in their communities. Sidonia worked in public health before joining the B2B team. She loves getting outside to garden, hike, or to go on road trips. She also recreates crafts from Pinterest.
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Christine Otto
Project Director
cotto@mesd.k12.or.us

"The success of our youth is critical for both that youth and our broader community. Everyone benefits when we support educational attainment."

​Christine has worked with youth for over 20 years as a classroom teacher, building administrator and program administrator. She feels passionately about education, the touchstone of her career. Christine seeks to ensure every youth has the opportunity to achieve academic success. Outside of work, Christine loves to explore the outdoors and read good books.

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​From: Oregon/Washington
Education: Master's degree, Western Washington University
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From: Florida
Education: Bachelor's degree, Portland State University

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Christy Lucus
Data & Communications Specialist
clucus@mesd.k12.or.us

“I feel strongly about working to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline and supporting more access and equity in education."

​Christy hopes to be a positive resource, advocate, and team member, working to make a difference for our youth in their education and beyond. She was a school counselor for nine years, leading the development of many different programs. Christy loves music and plays guitar, piano, and ukulele. She enjoys family outings like hiking and day trips.

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Jaime Dunkle
Data & Communications Specialist
jdunkle@mesd.k12.or.us

“I want to see more inclusive and culturally responsive engagement in schools because I believe students need a sense of belonging to thrive in the pursuit of education.”

​Jaime provides data and communication support for the B2B program. She has led writing and journalism groups inside youth correctional facilities for The Beat Within Magazine and Morpheus Youth Project. Jaime also writes comedic stories and screenplays; she lives for making people laugh.

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