Our Mission

Melanie Mueller began her 27 year career working with young children and their families, with a deep passion for education, inspired by her own Kindergarten Teacher. Her dream of becoming a Teacher was first realized as a young student volunteer in a preschool classroom, and it grew into a multi-faceted experience over decades, including classroom teacher work, as well as roles in family services, and early childhood program administration. Melanie earned an MA in Early Childhood Education, which opened up the opportunity to teach as an adjunct faculty at the university level. Melanie has been an administrator for Head Start, Early Head Start and State… Read More

Diego Serna is a Success Coordinator at the YMCA of the East Bay with a background in research administration and digital marketing. He graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in Social Welfare and Anthropology, which inform the community-driven and social justice work he does at the Y. Diego brings a unique flavor to the Workforce Development team with an eagerness to meet new people and develop relationships with our partners. In his free time, Diego practices design and photography and enjoys indoor bouldering and trail running around the Berkeley Hills.… Read More

Rishneel Maharaj is a Success Coordinator at the YMCA of the East Bay Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program. He joined the team in January 2024 and is excited to combine his joy of Workforce Development and Education here at the YMCA. He brings a year plus of workforce development and five years plus of education experience and is excited to help grow the next wave of educators. He graduated from California State University – Sacramento with a Bachelors of Arts in Social Science. As a child of immigrants, Rishneel is excited to use his experiences and voice to continue to support… Read More

Melanie Gibson has been a Success Coordinator with the YMCA of the East Bay Early Educator Apprentice Program since March 2023. A Southern California native who moved to the Bay Area in 2013 to attend college, she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and then went on to achieve a Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis. She comes with 10 years of experience working in the Special Education field serving families and students from different socioeconomically diverse populations within Contra Costa and Alameda County. Melanie comes with a skill set in client advocacy, program implementation, case management and strives… Read More

Rosie De Vera is our Workforce Program Assistant here at the YMCA of the East Bay Early Childhood Apprentice Program. Rosie has received an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts, with a specialization in Behavioral Sciences. Before joining our team, Rosie spent three years as a preschool teacher, where she honed her skills in nurturing growth and fostering development. Her time in the classroom taught her the importance of patience, empathy, and effective communication – qualities that continue to define her approach to her work as the Program Assistant. She brings a distinctive mix of administrative experience and enthusiasm for education… Read More