Meet Our team
Co-Founder & Executive Director
In 1999, Bridget Alexander (she/her) got on a bike and rode alongside 17 youth overcoming homelessness, depression, and addiction as they tackled a 2300 mile bike trip across America, proving to the world that when you focus on the strengths of youth who have spent a lifetime defying poverty and the impacts of injustice, they dazzle. The trip tested the ideals of the newly hatched nonprofit, Waking the Village (WTV), and confirmed the belief that youth achieve big things when surrounded by relentless support, meaningful opportunities, and adults who look upon them daily with belief.
Bridget also co-chairs Sacramento’s Homeless Youth Task Force. Prior to launching WTV, Bridget taught school for 7 years, working with youth impacted by injustice. She loves sharing life with her wife and 3 kids, wood working, tromping around the river to spot coyotes, and seeing how many songs can be played on a guitar using the same 9 chords.
Co-Founder & Early Childhood Programs Director
Blithe Raines (she/her) also hatched this WTV vision and peddled across America that Summer in 1999. Since then she has done just about everything to support WTV and its youth. She has coached, developed programming, been at countless births, written grants, and advocated for youth and children in offices, schools, and local government halls. Now, Blithe oversees and trains WTV’s early childhood education teams, provides aftercare to Tubman House graduates, and teams with Bridget for continual program planning. She has 20 years experience teaching children and youth overcoming homelessness, including 4 years as a teacher at Mustard Seed School for Homeless Children. She holds a BS in Community Development with an Education emphasis. Her weekends and evenings are claimed by the joys of parenting three teenagers, baking something tasty, and exploring the world.
House Director & Programs Administrator
Mazelle Lolmaugh (she/her) is the Programs Administrator at Waking the Village and one of our House Directors. She is responsible for partnering with youth to build a warm home culture that nurtures all those living there through traditions, rhythms, and the development of communicative, responsive relationships. House Directors are a key presence in the evenings, ensuring family rhythms and community wellness are maintained. Mazelle has over 27 years of experience in the nonprofit sector with an emphasis on Youth Development. She has been a House Director for Waking the Village since 2004, living on-site, in community with residents and their children. Mazelle also manages a wide range of administrative tasks for Waking the Village.
Director of Racial Equity and Housing Staff Support
Latisha Simms (she/her) joined Waking the Village in 2009 and brings over a decade of experience as a House Director. In addition to helping families maintain healthy evening rhythms within the house, Latisha gives residents the opportunity to experience a supportive and nurturing home environment. As an infant and toddler teacher, Latisha draws upon her parenting expertise to care for the hearts and minds of Sacramento’s youngsters.
The Creation District Director
Grace Loescher (she/her) is a practicing artist, published poet, part time emcee/host, and full time lover of all things creative. She is also a failed gardener and semi-professional tinkerer. Grace holds a BA in Studio Art and has exhibited works in a variety of locations including an interactive installation of a life size confessional booth in the Cornell Fine Arts Museum in Orlando FL. In our village, Grace runs the Creation District, a safe haven for creation, discovery, activism, daring, and dream-making for Sacramento’s youth and young adults. When taking a break from work, Grace can be found building wind chimes out of forks, performing in poetry slams, or jamming with her newly found queer folk band.
Staff Training and Integration Lead
Shelly Hubertus (she/her) began serving Waking the Village in August of 2016 as a volunteer through the Jesuit Volunteers Corps (JVC). After completing her year of service as a JVC volunteer, Shelly continued working at Waking the Village as a Youth Development Coach, supporting youth in the Doorway Program and Audre’s Emporium of New Tomorrows, then as the Prevention and Intervention Specialist, connecting youth to resources, fostering their familial and community support network, developing strategies and actively working to reduce Youth Homelessness in all of Sacramento. She is now the Staff Training and Integration Lead for the agency. Shelly graduated from Texas A&M University with a major in Communication and minors in Psychology and Spanish.
House Director
Bryce Chiodo (he/him) is the House Director for Audre’s Emporium of New Tomorrows. A graduate of the University of San Francisco, he majored in International Studies with honors while minoring in both Jewish and Peace and Conflict Studies. Bryce brings with him a rich history of experience having worked in health care communications, harm reduction, behavioral and sexual health education alongside underserved and often marginalized populations globally. As a queer man, he feels fortunate to be given the opportunity to actively support queer youth at WTV in fostering relationships and in building community and the other personal and professional skills needed to thrive. Bryce strongly encourages practicing sustainable development through meeting folks where they are at, elevating voices from within effected communities, and aiding in strengthening the relationships, expertise, power, and resilience that already exist among communities. A country queer at heart, he can always be found gardening or trying to play with your dog.