Lewan is a bilingual Chinese-English playgroup teacher. She started in the Lotus Bloom programs as a parent and has developed into a teacher. She has her Associates Degree in Child Development. She introduces several ways of creative learning through language, arts, and socialization into the classroom. She lives in Oakland with her husband Tony and her daughters.

Chiffon is a realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Mason-McDuffie Real Estate, in addition to being the resident Lotus Bloom handyman who assembles toys and indoor play structures. He volunteers in the different programs of Lotus Bloom, and has experience working with infant toddlers at Early Head Start as well with other children at Park Day School in enrichment activities like sports, theater, and outdoor activities. He lives in the Bay Area, and has a son named Aharon and two daughters named Chloe and Satya.

Julia supports teachers and oversees three programs at Lotus Bloom and Garfield Elementary School. She is a former pre-school and kindergarten teacher with ten years of teaching in the field and a passion for literacy. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies from UC Berkeley and a Master of Arts in Teaching. She lives in Berkeley with her husband, son, and two cats. She is bilingual in Spanish and English.

Nicole has over five years work experience in nonprofit institutions in the Bay Area, Hawaii, and Washington D.C. With a Master of Arts from John F. Kennedy University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Hawaii, she is a teaching artist at the Museum of Children’s Art in Oakland and a teacher at Lotus Bloom. She interned at the Smithsonian Institution - Arthur M. Sackler and Freer Gallery of Art. She focuses on community projects, expressive arts therapy, arts education, and early childhood development. Her favorite things to do are visiting museums, urban walking, hiking, sewing, and cooking.

Winnie is a playgroup teacher at Lotus Bloom and was the former Community Health Intern. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Public Policy from UC Berkeley. She was born and raised in Oakland and currently lives in Hayward with her family. She has been working in the education field with youth since she was fourteen, so she is familiar with the education system in Oakland and the many resources for community members. She is also bilingual in Cantonese and English.

Angela is the Founder and Director of Lotus Bloom. She started the program in Fall 2006 on Saturday mornings in the San Antonio neighborhood and has helped Lotus Bloom expand into five sites with programs running six days per week. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Child Development and a Master Degree in Public Administration. Angela brings a blend of education, public relations, community, and political organizing experience to Lotus Bloom. She lives in the San Antonio neighborhood with her husband Mervyn, daughter Sienna, and dog Nani. She is bilingual in Chinese and English.

Johnasies is the Operations Manager at Lotus Bloom who handles Human Resources, organizational development, and all operational needs for all five centers. He has an extensive experience working in community development and has worked in the nonprofit sector for over ten years. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is pursuing his Master Degree in Urban Planning. He lives in the San Antonio neighborhood with his partner and dog.

Yuen has worked for Lotus Bloom since its first beginnings. She enjoys building stronger communities by creating a safe and happy space for children and families of different backgrounds to play together and learn together. Speaking Cantonese, Spanish, and English, she helps strengthen connections among families in her playgroup. She has eight years of work experience in early childhood development and has a Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology and Asian American Studies and a Master Degree in Public Administration.

Marcie started in the Lotus Bloom programs as a parent and developed to become a teacher and now a Parent Resource Specialist. She assists families with enrolling for public benefits, preschools, community services, and administers Developmental Screenings. She has her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and has over six years experience working in Head Start programs. She is bilingual in Spanish and English. She lives in Oakland with her husband, daughter, and two sons.

Elena is a bilingual playgroup teacher. She has been working with children between the ages of 0-5 years old for the last fifteen years. She has five years of experience and teacher training through work in Montessori schools and has an Associate of Liberal Arts and Fine Arts in Child Development. A former parent participant in Lotus Bloom, Elena is a mural artist and lives in Berkeley with her twin girls.

Olga has loved childcare since she was a teenager, and always dreamed of being a teacher. She has worked as a teacher’s aid and has over twenty-five years experience working in childcare with parents and the community in both a school and church setting. She is a proud mother of a son and daughter, and a happy grandmother of three grandsons.

Stacey is a native of Oakland. He teaches in the East Oakland Youth Development Center Playgroup program. He comes to Lotus Bloom with a wealth of experience working with young children and youth. He is an active volunteer with TRYBE, and dedicates his time to his church and art community. He is a poet, musician, and is part of a group, Laalup. Stacey loves playing and learning with children and enjoying watching them progress over time.