Last week our Executive Director, Kate Hoepke, was interviewed by Diane Hullet for the podcast Best Life Best Death. Kate talks about her previous experience in community building and the path that led her to San Francisco Village. She also highlights the importance of villages as infrastructures of care and how Village Movement California came to life. Click on this link to listen to the interview.
Gina Fiorentino joined SFV in May 2024 as the Administrative Coordinator for the Grief Program. She previously volunteered with Dr. Patrick Arbore, providing administrative support to his Grief Groups since 2020. Gina is passionate about connecting individuals with resources and finds a strong sense of purpose in contributing to the grief community.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Psychology, Humanities, and Philosophy) from NYIT (2006) and an AA Design Degree in Visual Communications from FIDM (2001). Gina has built a fulfilling career serving others in luxury retail and design. Since 2018, she has also been a Heart Valve Ambassador, sharing her personal health journey to raise awareness and connect patients to resources through advocacy.
In her free time, Gina enjoys biking, exploring nature, spending time with family and friends, and pursuing creative mixed-media collage and crafting. After 30 years in the Bay Area, Gina relocated to Connecticut in 2023 to be closer to family and now works remotely.
Contact Gina via email: gina@sfvillage.org
Avi Rose is a long-time social worker and nonprofit leader who has worked extensively in health and human service organizations. Since retiring in 2020 after fifteen years as Executive Director of Jewish Family & Community Services East Bay, he has served as an Interim Executive Director for several groups, including a year-long engagement with Ashby Village in Berkeley. He also served for three years on the Village Movement California board of directors and has a deep understanding of village philosophy, culture and programs.
Avi has distinguished himself by his work supporting staff, providing guidance to boards, and facilitating decision-making processes that empower people and move organizations forward. He draws on extensive experience with program development, strategic thinking, fund development, and public policy advocacy.
Avi earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Brandeis University, a master’s in social work at the University of Southern California, and an additional master’s degree in Jewish Studies at Hebrew Union College. In recent years he has undergone training to become an end-of-life doula and is honored to serve in that role.
Contact Avi via email: avi@sfvillage.org
Jessica joined SFV in 2019 as the Wellness Program Coordinator to build and implement the Hospital Readmission Prevention Program, a pilot program created through the partnership of SFV and the California Pacific Medical Center- Mission Bernal Campus. Prior to that, Jessica worked in Behavioral Health Integration and community-based services for over five years in the Boston area. She has helped build communities, managed a local government election campaign, and provided support and services to underrepresented groups. Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Spanish, from Framingham State University. She has a master’s degree in Public Administration from Clark University, which has deepened her understanding, appreciation, and interest in public health and the healthcare system. When not working, Jessica spends her time with her family exploring the outdoors and learning about gardening.
Contact Jessica via email: jessica@sfvillage.org
Nidhi has spent most of her early childhood moving from one state to another. Having had the opportunity to live in various communities around the country, each vibrant and lively in their own way, she’s met a myriad of people who each have had a story to tell and love to share. Now, after earning her Bachelor’s in Marketing at San Francisco State University, she hopes to use her experiences and background to share the stories of as many communities as she can.
Contact Nidhi via email: nidhi@sfvillage.org
Jill has been working in the field of aging for 20 years, starting as an in-home care provider until going back to school to earn her Masters of Gerontology from San Francisco State in 2013. She has experience as an Activities Coordinator at an assisted living facility, a Resident Services Coordinator at a low income senior housing complex and has also been a hospice volunteer. While she joined the staff in 2018, Jill has been part of the San Francisco Village community since 2014, when she began as a volunteer. In her free time she loves spending time at the beach, cycling, hiking and knitting.
Contact Jill via email: jill@sfvillage.org
Sarah has spent the past 15 years working in creative and non-profit settings in Chicago, Baltimore, Juneau, and San Francisco. She is passionate about community building, art making, accessibility, and social justice. Sarah studied social work, art, and psychology at Loyola University Chicago and spent two years post- graduation volunteering with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. She enjoys reading, biking to playgrounds and parks with her two young kids in tow, making feasts from farmer’s market finds and scheming her next creative project.
Contact Sarah via email: sarah@sfvillage.org
Sara joined the team in 2018. She brings with her 20 years of experience in community development, philanthropy, and organizational management. She completed her bachelors at George Washington University and her masters at UC Berkeley. Her career focus has been on evaluating how community groups run from year-to-year and strengthening daily processes to increase institutional success. Sara loves travel and global development issues, particularly a non-profit she founded 10 years ago focusing on students’ access to school in Cambodia. Sara is raising her family here in San Francisco.
Contact Sara via email: sroliz@sfvillage.org
Maya is a public relations and communications professional with more than a decade of experience; her expertise includes consumer products and technology PR, as well as event management and content development. She has been a pro-bono consultant with the Taproot Foundation since 2012, and has participated in three service grants to date. Maya attended the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with a BA in mass communications and a minor in political science.
Contact Maya via email: maya@sfvillage.org