Brenda is a Bay Area native, born and raised in Richmond, CA. After a tough journey through college, Brenda graduated from Sacramento State and received her BS in criminal justice in December 2020. Prior to joining Beyond 12, she had the opportunity to work with the Richmond Promise where she served as the AmeriCorps VISTA college success coordinator. With the Richmond Promise, she helped redevelop the mentorship program and supported students from Richmond through their college journeys, many who are first-gen and low-income like herself. She also worked with Bay Area Community Resources (BACR) as an after-school program leader where she focused on teaching 2nd-5th graders how to build positive relationships, and participate in meaningful academic and enrichment activities. Brenda hopes to continue providing support to students like herself and increase equity and college access for all.