Our Team

MISSSEY is Black femme and survivor led. 

Our lived experience gives us the perspective and presence to achieve healing and freedom for ourselves while making the world safer for Black girls and nonbinary youth of color. We know what the young people we serve are going through because many of us have gone through it too. This work is personal for us and we are passionate and focused on healing ourselves and each other. We are devoted guides, always there to listen, comfort and lift up the young people we serve, and capable partners to the ecosystem of organizations and professionals we work with. Our dedication to ending sexual exploitation and the systemic conditions that uphold it – racism, sexism and capitalism – fuels our tireless commitment to serve and center young people.

Our Team

MISSSEY is Black femme and survivor led. 

Our lived experience gives us the perspective and presence to achieve healing and freedom for ourselves while making the world safer for Black girls and nonbinary youth of color. We know what the young people we serve are going through because many of us have gone through it too. This work is personal for us and we are passionate and focused on healing ourselves and each other. We are devoted guides, always there to listen, comfort and lift up the young people we serve, and capable partners to the ecosystem of organizations and professionals we work with. Our dedication to ending sexual exploitation and the systemic conditions that uphold it – racism, sexism and capitalism – fuels our tireless commitment to serve and center young people.

Senior Leadership

Admin Team

Training Institute

Integrated Services

Youth Engagement

Engagement Services

Our Board

Kym Johnson

Board President

Kym is the CEO of BANANAS, Inc., an early care and education organization that provides resources for families and child care providers to support and educate our youngest learners. She is committed to MISSSEY because she is committed to protecting our young people so they have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. Her prior executive level positions include CEO of Harambee Community Services and Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Oakland. Kym is also on the executive committee of Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, a ten-year initiative focused on creating universal access to high-quality early learning and a Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her previous volunteer experiences include board member of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals – Golden Gate Chapter, the San Francisco Autism Society, Mentor with East Bay College Fund, board trustee at Head-Royce School, Advisory Board member Heads Up Program, co-founder of the Nia Endowed Scholarship Fund, board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the East Bay and co-founder of the San Francisco Alumnae Delta Community Foundation.

Kym has an MBA from the University of San Francisco, a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from California State University – East Bay and a BA in Marketing from San Francisco State University. A native New Yorker from the Bronx, she misses the beautiful colors of autumn and the diversity of the seasons but loves Oakland – her adopted hometown. A former traveling soccer mom and proud mom of a Fulbright Scholar, she now enjoys having her weekends to do whatever she wants! Kym lives and works in Oakland, CA.

Jyotshna Kansakar

Board Treasurer

Jyotshna was born and raised in the foothills of the Himalayas in Kathmandu, Nepal. She moved from Nepal in 2004 at the age of 19 to pursue an accelerated Bachelors and Masters degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. After graduating, she obtained her CPA license in 2010 in the state of New Jersey. Since 2009, Jyotshna has held different roles within internal and external audit functions, gaining experience across several industries including energy, financial markets and technology. She is currently working at Google in the third party risk management and compliance space.

Coming from a society where patriarchy still reigns and women are actively trafficked across the border to neighboring countries, Jyotshna is deeply passionate and remains a strong advocate for the welfare of women and children. She believes that empowering women is one of the most critical elements to ensure a functioning society. This interest has led her to volunteer her time with women at elderly homes in Nepal, be an active micro-financer supporting women in agriculture, and join the Board of MISSSEY.

Kelly Paschal-Hunter

Board Member

Kelly Paschal-Hunter is the Chief Curator for Fruition Multimedia, providing services in event management, business development, intellectual property development and social impact investing. Her prior work experience includes Product Management roles at Kaiser Permanente, leading and supporting projects for several departments including Healthworks & Product Innovation, Member Services Compliance and Community Benefits. Before her transition into healthcare, she spent 10 years as a marketing and product development professional for Universal Music Group (Interscope Records, MCA, Geffen Records, Blue Note, Verve). She also served as the only all genre Director of Marketing for A&M Records. As an entrepreneur, she has over 25 years of contemporary art curation experience, representing visual artists and producing art exhibitions, including ICONIC: Black Panther, an art exhibition fundraiser celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panther Party.

Kelly became a mentor at MISSSEY in 2014 and never looked back. As a Board member at MISSSEY and as an advocate for social and systemic change, she believes in protecting the most vulnerable and believes it is the responsibility of the community to enact change. Her previous volunteer experiences include Florence Crittenton Home for Teenage Mothers (SF), Operation Dignity, Contra Costa County Food Bank, Alameda County Food Bank, Harbor Lights 1 HOA (VP & Secretary), Henry J. Kaiser Elementary School (SSC Council, PTA) East Oakland Community Project, East Oakland Collective, Children’s Hospital Oakland, La Casa de las Madres, and A Safe Place. Kelly was born and raised in San Diego, CA, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders, with an emphasis in Speech Pathology from San Francisco State University. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sepia Collective, and board member of the Dublin Arts Collective.

​​Denishia L. Clark

Board Member

A Bay Area native and public health advocate, Denishia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University, a Masters in Urban Public Health (MPH) from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Social Justice (Ed.D.) from Saint Mary’s College of California. She is the Associate Director for Stanford BioSci Careers, where she supports emerging leaders in Biosciences to expand their professional networks.

Experienced in the improvement of health practices and systems for underserved communities; Denishia also has over a decade of experience in program management, curriculum development, and building sustainable partnerships; skills that she developed while working with Stanford University, School of Medicine as the manager for Global Health Education and Experiential Learning and at the Black AIDS Institute, the only national HIV/AIDS think-tank in the country, as the manager for Training and Capacity Building. At BAI, she collaborated with countless community-based organizations and partners representing various sectors to increase the utilization of high-quality HIV and sexual health services.

Inspired by her grandmother, who dedicated her life to public service in Black communities, Denishia is devoted to equity and social justice with a particular interest in the intersectionality of health, science, and education. MISSSEY’s mission and beliefs align with her vision for solidarity, healing, advocacy, community empowerment, and meaningful systemic change. She joined the board of directors to contribute to our strategic efforts that advocate and support youth who are sexually exploited. Denishia loves Oakland and cares about the empowerment of girls and gender-expansive youth.

Christina Li

Board Member

Christina was born in San Francisco and grew up in the South Bay and began volunteering with MISSSEY in 2017, working anywhere she could, including tabling, organizing fundraisers, and helping with our annual financial audit. Now, she is excited to be a new member of the board. She currently works as program manager at First Republic Bank and brings a background in app /web development, process improvement, reporting and capital markets. As the newest MISSSEY board member, Christina is very motivated to continue to contribute her time in impactful ways, especially for youth in the community, which is something she finds very motivating!

Our Board

Kym Johnson

Board President

Kym is the CEO of BANANAS, Inc., an early care and education organization that provides resources for families and child care providers to support and educate our youngest learners. She is committed to MISSSEY because she is committed to protecting our young people so they have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. Her prior executive level positions include CEO of Harambee Community Services and Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Oakland. Kym is also on the executive committee of Oakland Starting Smart and Strong, a ten-year initiative focused on creating universal access to high-quality early learning and a Golden Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her previous volunteer experiences include board member of the Association of Fund-Raising Professionals – Golden Gate Chapter, the San Francisco Autism Society, Mentor with East Bay College Fund, board trustee at Head-Royce School, Advisory Board member Heads Up Program, co-founder of the Nia Endowed Scholarship Fund, board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the East Bay and co-founder of the San Francisco Alumnae Delta Community Foundation.

Kym has an MBA from the University of San Francisco, a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from California State University – East Bay and a BA in Marketing from San Francisco State University. A native New Yorker from the Bronx, she misses the beautiful colors of autumn and the diversity of the seasons but loves Oakland – her adopted hometown. A former traveling soccer mom and proud mom of a Fulbright Scholar, she now enjoys having her weekends to do whatever she wants! Kym lives and works in Oakland, CA.

Jyotshna Kansakar

Board Treasurer

Jyotshna was born and raised in the foothills of the Himalayas in Kathmandu, Nepal. She moved from Nepal in 2004 at the age of 19 to pursue an accelerated Bachelors and Masters degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. After graduating, she obtained her CPA license in 2010 in the state of New Jersey. Since 2009, Jyotshna has held different roles within internal and external audit functions, gaining experience across several industries including energy, financial markets and technology. She is currently working at Google in the third party risk management and compliance space.

Coming from a society where patriarchy still reigns and women are actively trafficked across the border to neighboring countries, Jyotshna is deeply passionate and remains a strong advocate for the welfare of women and children. She believes that empowering women is one of the most critical elements to ensure a functioning society. This interest has led her to volunteer her time with women at elderly homes in Nepal, be an active micro-financer supporting women in agriculture, and join the Board of MISSSEY.

Kelly Paschal-Hunter

Board Member

Kelly Paschal-Hunter is the Chief Curator for Fruition Multimedia, providing services in event management, business development, intellectual property development and social impact investing. Her prior work experience includes Product Management roles at Kaiser Permanente, leading and supporting projects for several departments including Healthworks & Product Innovation, Member Services Compliance and Community Benefits. Before her transition into healthcare, she spent 10 years as a marketing and product development professional for Universal Music Group (Interscope Records, MCA, Geffen Records, Blue Note, Verve). She also served as the only all genre Director of Marketing for A&M Records. As an entrepreneur, she has over 25 years of contemporary art curation experience, representing visual artists and producing art exhibitions, including ICONIC: Black Panther, an art exhibition fundraiser celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Black Panther Party.

Kelly became a mentor at MISSSEY in 2014 and never looked back. As a Board member at MISSSEY and as an advocate for social and systemic change, she believes in protecting the most vulnerable and believes it is the responsibility of the community to enact change. Her previous volunteer experiences include Florence Crittenton Home for Teenage Mothers (SF), Operation Dignity, Contra Costa County Food Bank, Alameda County Food Bank, Harbor Lights 1 HOA (VP & Secretary), Henry J. Kaiser Elementary School (SSC Council, PTA) East Oakland Community Project, East Oakland Collective, Children’s Hospital Oakland, La Casa de las Madres, and A Safe Place. Kelly was born and raised in San Diego, CA, she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communicative Disorders, with an emphasis in Speech Pathology from San Francisco State University. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Sepia Collective, and board member of the Dublin Arts Collective.

​​Denishia L. Clark

Board Member

A Bay Area native and public health advocate, Denishia holds a Bachelor of Science degree from San Diego State University, a Masters in Urban Public Health (MPH) from Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Social Justice (Ed.D.) from Saint Mary’s College of California. She is the Associate Director for Stanford BioSci Careers, where she supports emerging leaders in Biosciences to expand their professional networks.

Experienced in the improvement of health practices and systems for underserved communities; Denishia also has over a decade of experience in program management, curriculum development, and building sustainable partnerships; skills that she developed while working with Stanford University, School of Medicine as the manager for Global Health Education and Experiential Learning and at the Black AIDS Institute, the only national HIV/AIDS think-tank in the country, as the manager for Training and Capacity Building. At BAI, she collaborated with countless community-based organizations and partners representing various sectors to increase the utilization of high-quality HIV and sexual health services.

Inspired by her grandmother, who dedicated her life to public service in Black communities, Denishia is devoted to equity and social justice with a particular interest in the intersectionality of health, science, and education. MISSSEY’s mission and beliefs align with her vision for solidarity, healing, advocacy, community empowerment, and meaningful systemic change. She joined the board of directors to contribute to our strategic efforts that advocate and support youth who are sexually exploited. Denishia loves Oakland and cares about the empowerment of girls and gender-expansive youth.

Christina Li

Board Member

Christina was born in San Francisco and grew up in the South Bay and began volunteering with MISSSEY in 2017, working anywhere she could, including tabling, organizing fundraisers, and helping with our annual financial audit. Now, she is excited to be a new member of the board. She currently works as program manager at First Republic Bank and brings a background in app /web development, process improvement, reporting and capital markets. As the newest MISSSEY board member, Christina is very motivated to continue to contribute her time in impactful ways, especially for youth in the community, which is something she finds very motivating!

Careers

MISSSEY recruits and hires talented and passionate people who will be outstanding contributors to our organization. We maintain a strong commitment to survivor leadership and inclusion. We highly encourage commercial sexual exploitation survivors, women of color (trans-inclusive), and former systems-involved youth to apply for any of our open positions. Applications are generally accepted on a rolling basis. 

APPLY TO OPEN POSITIONS