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YOUNG PROFESSIONALS COMMITTEE

About the Young Professionals Committee

The GLIDE Young Professionals Committee inspires the next generation of Bay Area change-makers to engage in the life-saving work of GLIDE. GLIDE is a nationally recognized center for social justice dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives.

While members of the Young Professionals Committee have diverse cultural, racial and ethnic, sexual orientation, spiritual, socioeconomic and professional backgrounds, every member of the Young Professionals Committee brings a shared commitment and passion for social justice and change. Interested in joining the Young Professionals Committee?

 Email youngprofessionals@glide.org for more information!

Learn more: youngprofessionals@glide.org

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The Young Professionals Committee in Action

The GLIDE Summer Gala

The GLIDE Summer Gala is the centerpiece of the Young Professionals Committee calendar. Each year this black-tie fundraiser celebrates GLIDE’s rich history and looks forward with optimism and commitment to a more just future. Two changemakers who embody the values of GLIDE Co-Founders Rev. Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani are selected to receive Legacy Awards, before attendees dance the night away to live music and world-class DJ's. 100% off the evening’s proceeds benefit GLIDE .

Volunteering

GLIDE’s Young Professionals Committee regularly volunteers with GLIDE programs and at community gatherings like Sunday Streets. Volunteer activities include letter writing, creating Harm Reduction kits, participating in the Holiday Toy Drive and Grocery Bag Giveaway, as well as serving meals at Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Sunday Fundays

Each quarter the Young Professionals Committee gather for 'Sunday Fundays'. The group volunteers with the GLIDE Meals Program, attends Sunday Celebration at the GLIDE Memorial Church (optional) and has brunch together. GLIDE staff and members of the wider GLIDE family often join in the fun!

Young Professionals Committee Fundraisers

The Young Professionals Committee helps raise funds to support GLIDE's programs and services throughout the year. They do this through their own fundraising campaigns, sponsored activities, or their partnerships with local companies like San Francisco bar California Jack’s. Follow the Young Professionals Committee on Instagram or Facebook to hear about upcoming opportunities to get involved!

Social Justice Film Events

For six years the Young Professionals Committee has hosted an annual Social Justice Film Festival, a thought-provoking evening of documentary shorts that focus on the resilience and grace of the human spirit and explore issues that align with GLIDE’s work. In 2022 the Young Professionals Committee also partnered with GLIDE's Center for Social Justice to present their first Justice Movie Night at Piano Fight. This inspiring in-person screening of the critically acclaimed 2016 documentary “13th” was followed by a panel discussion with Prison Rights Activists on ways to fight the prison industrial complex.

Meet the 2024 Young Professionals Committee

Mia White

Co-Chair

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Mia White
Mia (she/her/hers) is compensation leader in the tech sector. Her passion is to create competitive and equitable compensation programs, and sharing her knowledge with other tech leaders so they can do the same. A California native, Mia attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and holds an MBA from Mills College. She began by volunteering with GLIDE’s Meals Program and joined the Legacy Committee in 2018. Inspired by GLIDE's dedication to radical inclusion, she is driven to introduce more young professionals to the organization, in particular bridging the gap between the tech community and our most vulnerable neighbors. In her free time, you can find Mia at SoulCycle or Barry’s Bootcamp, volunteering, or at the dog park with her pup, Scottie.

John Carpentier

Co-Chair

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John Carpentier
John Carpentier's (he/him/his) first ever job was as a community liason at San Francisco Suicide Prevention. Through his work there and his own personal experiences, he developed a steadfast passion for mental health advocacy. This passion led him to study Clinical Psychology at New York University, where he would go on to teach and work in the field of positive psychology. Returning to San Francisco, a proud 3rd generation native, John was drawn to champion the rights and bring light to the suffering of the city's unhoused citizens. His volunteer work at places like St. Anthony's and the SF-Marin Food Bank deepened his empathy for those in need throughout the city and led him to accept the role of GLIDE's Corporate Engagement Lead in 2018. In this role, John worked alongside GLIDE's superstar Fund Development team to build a robust and evergreen corporate donor and volunteer program, which will continue to support the organization for years to come. John now works as a Customer Success Manager at Box. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Harm Reduction Therapy Center, and consults on social impact strategy for nonprofits and corporations throughout the city. He couldn't stay away from GLIDE, and joined the Legacy Committee the day after leaving his full time role. In his free time, John can be found wandering old bookstores, watching movies of questionable quality from the early 2000's, asking strangers if he can pet their dogs, and in search of the city's next great taqueria.

Gabrielle Struckell

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Gabrielle Struckell
Growing up in the flat landscape of landlocked Texas, Gabrielle Struckell (she/her/hers) always dreamed of living in a city where the opportunity for nature adventures is limitless and the water views are ubiquitous. She was ecstatic when a job opportunity in finance led her to San Francisco in the summer of 2019. She immediately fell in love with the city and developed a desire to experience everything the city has to offer – including understanding the needs of the communities within it. She found Glide while looking for opportunities to further engage with the San Francisco community and is looking forward to continue her efforts volunteering, building community, and raising awareness around the injustices in the Bay Area. Today, Gabrielle works as a Corporate Strategy Lead at Bodily, a start up that offers judgment-free, inclusive, evidence-led resources and design-forward products to women at often ignored points of their healthcare journey. Gabrielle graduated from University of Virginia with a BA in Neuroscience and an MS in Commerce.

Holly Smith

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Holly Smith
Holly Smith, an accomplished events professional with over a decade of experience, currently serves as the Associate Director of Events at Got Light in the vibrant landscape of San Francisco. With a profound passion for social justice and community empowerment, Holly excels in orchestrating unforgettable experiences incorporating GLIDE's values of radical inclusivity, celebration, and unconditional love into every aspect of her work. Her tenure as the Special Events Manager at GLIDEsf showcased her love for GLIDE's mission. Holly's expertise and dedication continue to drive her as she illuminates the events industry with her innovative approach and unwavering commitment to excellence.

Adrian Napolitano

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Adrian Napolitano
Adrian Napolitano was born and raised in Oakland and has been a Glide member since 2019. A lifelong dreamer and perennial optimist, Adrian finds solace in Glide’s community of radical inclusion and unconditional love. Adrian currently works in the Oakland Housing Authority’s Office of Real Estate Development and is particularly passionate about building affordable housing in walkable, transit rich communities. Prior to his current role, Adrian held various positions in affordable housing, including as a project manager at Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation, where he worked on both the renovation of a historic Single-Room Occupancy hotel down the street from Glide and a 100% affordable high-rise in SOMA. Along with his role on the Young Professionals Committee, Adrian volunteers as an Usher during Sunday Celebration. He currently lives in Hayes Valley but dreams of living with his chosen family on a bungalow court someday.

Advisory Committee

Amy Gardner
Connor Santel
Derek Orth
Divya Kaushal
Kevin Pong
Laura Thompson
Lauren Jamiolkowski
Moya Robinson
Niki Thach
Vincent Vasquez
Will Telfer

Past Young Professionals Committee Events

The 2022 GLIDE Legacy Gala

On August 19, 2022 the GLIDE family gathered together​​​​ to celebrate the Annual GLIDE Legacy Gala in-person for the first time in three years – and what a night it was! The event honored the incredible work of 2022 Legacy Awardees Aimee Allison and Dr. Connie Wun. We heard inspiring speeches from both of them along with Host Priya David Clemens and our beloved Rev. Cecil Williams. Attendees were also treated to the world-renowned GLIDE Ensemble, led by Musical Director Vernon Bush, the rhythms of DJ KingMost, and a rousing performance by poet Ramona Webb.

'Women Leading Change' Panel

On August 11, 2022, Priya David Clemens moderated a powerful virtual conversation with our 2022 Legacy Awardees Aimee Allison and Dr. Connie Wun and GLIDE President and CEO Karen Hanrahan. The participants grappled with recent decisions on Roe v. Wade and other timely topics surrounding equity and fundamental freedoms. Re-watch this incredible conversation here.

The 2020 Virtual Legacy Gala

On Saturday, August 15, 2020 the GLIDE community gathered together virtually for the first time to celebrate the 11th Annual GLIDE Legacy Gala! Over 500 attendees  watched 2020 Legacy Award Honorees, Michael Franti and Amanda Gorman in conversation with GLIDE President and CEO Karen Hanrahan and Minister of Celebration Marvin K. White. Everyone then danced the night away to the intoxicating rhythms of DJ KingMost. Re-live the night here!

10 Years of the Young Professionals Committee!

In 2019 the GLIDE Young Professionals Committee celebrated their 10 year anniversary! Watch this commemorative video to learn more about their decade of activism and the legacy of unconditional love they are helping build in San Francisco and beyond!