Board of Advisors
Kimberly Young
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Kimberly Young, Ed.D., is a teacher at Culver City High School where she is co-chair of the Social Science Department and a lead Ethnic Studies teacher. She has been passionate about all things Ethnic Studies since selecting it as her undergraduate major at UC Berkeley. Kim has an unwavering belief in the power of education to transform lives. Her research at UCLA centers Ethnic Studies curriculum and instruction and explores what it means to be an effective Ethnic Studies teacher in K-12 education. Her passion for social justice and equity has kept her rooted in the Social Science classroom for close to two decades. She began her career in education at Stanford University as a first-generation college student in the STEP program.
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James Smith
James Smith is a committed advocate for youth. Currently he works as a school counselor at Culver City High School where he is also an alumnus. He earned a BA in history at California State University, Long Beach and an MA in counseling from Loyola Marymount University. Outside of work you might find James at his local record store, on a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains, or a run on the Ballona Creek path.
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Cathy Grasso
Cathy Grasso grew up in upstate NY and attended SUNY Cortland where she earned a bachelor's degree in Biology and Environmental Science. She worked for two years in environmental consulting until she decided to go back and pursue a Master's Degree in Biology. While working and applying to graduate school, she started a job as a teacher's aid for at-risk students. She loved the job and decided to get a teaching credential instead. She later earned a Master's Degree in Education with a focus on improving literacy across the curriculum. She has taught in every setting imaginable including public school, private schools, and juvenile detention centers. Her favorite thing about teaching is the students and she feels that she learns at least as much from them as they do from her. One concerning thing she has witnessed over her 22 years of teaching is the sharp increase in mental health issues that teens are experiencing today, (particularly, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideology, and eating disorders.)
In her spare time she loves to volunteer in animal rescue, hike, take long walks, cook and spend time with her friends - trying new vegan restaurants is her favorite past time.
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Catherine Lenke
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Catherine Lenke attended UCLA where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History with a minor in Education. Because of her experiences as a peer mentor at UCLA, she found her calling in supporting students with mental health challenges. She pursued her Master of Arts degree in School Counseling at Chapman University to earn her Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential. Currently, Catherine is a school counselor at Culver City High School where she supports students with their academics, future plans, and emotional wellbeing. As a counselor, her priority is to provide mental health services that support the “Whole Child” in the academic setting. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and traveling.
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