Meet Our Team
Priscilla Bustos
Program + Operations Coordinator
Priscilla is a nonprofit professional with experience in community building within culturally diverse communities and is passionate about mental health and wellness. Prior to joining SVCN, Priscilla worked with Public Profit as a project assistant to help strengthen programs and empower mission-driven organizations to promote sustainability and enhance their reach through data and evaluation. Priscilla earned her B.S. degree in Public Health, concentrating in Community Health, at San Francisco State University, where she displayed a passion for community building by leading wellness workshops as a Student Peer Health Educator & Ambassador for Campus Health & Wellness. In her free time Priscilla is getting lost on a hike admiring nature’s beauty, dancing, or simply sipping her favorite herbal tea enjoying the sunshine with a book in hand.
Danna Elneil
Learning + Member Engagement Director
Danna is a nonprofit strategy leader and community organizer. She has played various roles in organizations within the Muslim community throughout California and is passionate about leadership development, capacity building, and movement building. Previously, she served as the first full-time staff member for MSA West where she led strategy & organizational development. Danna is a UC Davis alumna, where she majored in International Relations, minored in Spanish, and was active in leadership roles on campus that worked to mobilize and support marginalized communities. She sits on the board of A Continuous Charity (California chapter) and is an advisor for MSA West. She lives in San Jose with her husband and in her free time can be found exploring coffee shops and spending quality time with her family.
Marvah Gorlorwulu
Learning + Member Engagement Specialist
Marvah is a nonprofit professional and community advocate. A resident of the South Bay since 2014, Marvah has lived in a variety of states and countries including Ghana and Senegal. She graduated from Santa Clara University with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Science. Her nonprofit career began at Seneca Family of Agencies in the quality assurance department. While in this role, she advocated for and developed an affinity group for grief and loss. Marvah has a passion for the visual arts and hopes to integrate her artistic abilities in her professional life. In her free time, she can be found drawing portraits, building structures for her cats, and watching bad movies with her partner
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Alan Gouig
Policy + Advocacy Associate
Alan is a community advocate and grassroots organizer based in Downtown San Jose. Originally from San Leandro, CA, Alan is a proud graduate of San José State University (SJSU), with a B.S. in Business Management and Administration. As the Founding Co-Chair of the Filipino Alumni Network, Alan continues to remain involved with his alma mater. Additionally, Alan has furthered his community work as an Organizer with LEAD Filipino, serving on the City of San Jose’s Transportation Equity Task Force, and serving on the Board of Directors for the South University Neighborhood (SUN) Association. In his free time, he also takes great pride in being a long-time boba aficionado, avid news junkie, and AMC A-list Stubs Member.
Yvonne Jimenez
Policy Director
Yvonne is a policy professional and community organizer with over a decade of federal and local government experience. Yvonne graduated from San José State University (Go Spartans!) with a B.A. in Political Science. Previous to her role at SVCN, she served as a senior policy advisor to Supervisors Ellenberg, Wasserman, and Yeager; focused on behavioral and public health, justice reform, and social services. Yvonne is a passionate advocate for equitable and inclusive policies and increasing opportunities for underrepresented communities. She lives in Eastside and in her free time can be found hiking around the east foothills with her husband, twin boys, and two dogs.
Kyra Kazantzis
Chief Executive Officer
Kyra has been a long-time nonprofit professional, community leader, and public servant in our Silicon Valley community. Previous to her role at SVCN, she was senior policy advisor in the City of San José’s Mayor’s office, focused on housing and homelessness, and, before that, directing attorney at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, leading teams of public interest attorneys in high impact policy advocacy and litigation. Kyra has a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and a BA from the University of Arizona. Kyra is an American Leadership Forum senior fellow, a recipient of the SCCBA Professional Lawyer of the Year, and a Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of Influence. She lives in downtown San José with her husband Eric and daughter Kassia.
Marissa Martinez
Communications + Fund Development Specialist
Marissa is a community organizer, arts advocate, and playwright born and raised in East San Jose. Previously, Marissa led the youth program at AACI amplifying youth voices with arts, media, and leadership development. With over eight years of experience in communications and events, she is committed to sharing stories and uplifting underserved youth and communities. Marissa earned a B.A. in English and Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University. She is a founding director of More Más Marami Arts and is involved with genARTS Silicon Valley and KQED as a member of the Community Advisory Panel. When she isn't writing or teaching art with youth, Marissa enjoys ice cream, decorating her planner, and watching movies and live theatre.
Loani Nguyen
Chief of Operations + Finance
Loani comes to SVCN with experience in business operations at both private and nonprofit organizations. She previously worked with a nonprofit which partnered with educational institutions across the U.S. and in other countries. Loani also worked at several local community colleges. She is a certified online instructor and has managed a unique business and computer science learning center that served both youth and adults in the community. Loani has an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University and a B.S. in Business Administration from San Jose State University. She is a member of the SNHU chapter of the National Society for Leadership and Success. Loani is a life enthusiast who enjoys traveling, hiking, SUPing and experiencing new adventures with family and friends.
Caroline Glaser
Policy Intern
Caroline is a senior at Santa Clara University studying economics with a passion for public policy and social justice. In addition to her internship, she is a full-time student, writing tutor, peer advisor at her university and loves exploring the Bay Area with her friends.
Charlotte Zhang
Marketing + Communications Intern
Charlotte(she/her/hers) is a student at Santa Clara University studying Marketing and Real Estate. As a Silicon Valley native, she loves giving back to the community and has seen her hometown rapidly evolve over 2 decades. With a passion for uplifting diverse communities and learning to create innovative solutions from businesses big and small, Charlotte is excited to be with SVCN and get to work supporting our local community so it can match the pace at which Silicon Valley is evolving. Her previous experiences harken to social enterprise Streetwell and Genesys, Telecommunications market leader. In her free time, Charlotte enjoys walking in the park with her brother, making art, and trying to knock books off her reading list.