Meet the YJI Team
Executive Director
Mental Health
Mentoring
Finance + Admin
Executive Director
Gena Castro Rodriguez, MFT (license #49717) is the founder and executive director of Youth Justice Institute. Ms. Castro Rodriguez has worked in nonprofit organizations with youth in the juvenile justice and foster care systems for 18 years and has developed and implemented several successful prevention and intervention programs to meet the needs of at-risk youth or those in the juvenile justice system. Ms. Castro Rodriguez holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Sacramento State University and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco. In addition, she is currently completing her PsyD at the California Institute for Integral Studies where she is also an adjunct faculty in the community mental health program. She says, "I am constantly inspired and amazed at the capacity of the young people we work with to persevere, overcome and excel. It is meaningful and powerful to work with, for and alongside them as they make great changes in their lives." Contact Gena
Mental Health
Alexis Aragon, MFTI is a mental health program supervisor and a registered marriage and family therapy intern at Youth Justice Institute. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Northeastern University and a master's degree in counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco. Ms. Aragon has experience with children, adolescents, families and couples in community-based organizations in San Francisco and the South Bay. She says of her work, “I am inspired by the tenacity and resilience exhibited by my clients and am passionate about supporting them whole-heartedly.” Contact Alexis
Christian Henricksen, MFTI is a mental health program director and a marriage and family therapy intern at Youth Justice Institute. He began working with YJI in 2008 as an MFT Trainee where he provided individual counseling to incarcerated and at-risk youth. Mr. Henricksen holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Framingham State College in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of San Francisco. Contact Christian
Ebony Sinnamon Johnson is a marriage and family therapy trainee at Youth Justice Institute. She has worked in the special education field for the past seven years, first as a paraeducator for two years and then as a high school special education teacher for the last five years. Ms. Sinnamon Johnson currently teaches at Richmond High School as a resource specialist, and is enrolled in the masters in counseling psychology program at the Wright Institute completing her practicum as an MFTT with YJI. Contact Ebony
Karen Palamos, LMFT, CLinical Supervisor is a mental health program ... Contact Karen
Mentoring
Kaina Terrazas Walker is the director of mentoring programs at Youth Justice Institute, and has been with YJI since 2003. Ms. Walker has worked with youth at the Juvenile Justice Center since 1998 and is the co-founder of the Inside Mentoring Program for youth in detention. Previous to working at YJI, Ms. Walker directed ASI: Project Rebound at San Francisco State University (SFSU), helping incarcerated adults enroll into SFSU upon release from prison. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice from SFSU. She says, "I do this work for all the friends I grew up with who are locked up in prison till this day, for all of those who never made it past our neighborhoods, for all of those who have passed away due to violence and for all of our children currently in the streets on their way." Contact Kaina
Karen Moore is a mentoring program supervisor at Youth Justice Institute. Prior to working for YJI, Ms. Moore worked with dependency and delinquency youth in a placement. It was there that she first experienced her passion in working with these youth to advocate for their social justice. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Fresno and plans to get her master's in marriage and family therapy. Contact Karen
Therese Rodriguez is a mentoring coordinator at Youth Justice Institute. She received her bachelor’s degree in social work with a minor in La Raza studies from San Francisco State University. She is working on obtaining her master’s in social work and a pupil personnel services credential. Ms. Rodriguez has experience working with children, youth, families and seniors in many capacities. She has experience in providing social work, case management, advocacy, facilitating groups, and one to one clinical counseling. She has extensive training in providing play, art, sand tray and talk therapy for children and youth. Ms. Rodriguez is committed to social justice and change and has a passion for empowering children and youth. Contact Therese
Alejandro Ante III is a mentoring coordinator at Youth Justice Institute. Before working as an Advocate, he volunteered as a mentor through the Inside Mentoring Program at YJI for over a year. Alejandro is currently enrolled at City College of San Francisco and soon will transfer to San Francisco State to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Alejandro has volunteered through many other non-profit organizations but has found passion working with incarcerated youth while as a mentor and hopes in future to work with at-risk youth as a substance abuse counselor. Contact Alejandro
Watch Alejandro's video testimonial about being a mentor
Maria Reynoso is the mentoring coordinator for Alameda County at Youth Justice Institute. Ms. Reynoso has worked with detained youth through the YJI Mentoring Program. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from San Francisco State University and plans to obtain a master’s degree in counseling. She is inspired by the words: "What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others is immortal." Contact Maria
Willie Gray, Jr. is the mentoring coordinator for San Francisco County at Youth Justice Institute. He previously worked with detained youth through the YJI mentoring program. Mr. Gray is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in criminal justice at San Francisco State University and plans to enter the juvenile probation department. Contact Willie
Finance + Admin
Blase Hents Contact Blase