Staff
Kym Luqman
Executive Director
510-625-0316 ext.101
kym@rtoakland.org
Kym Luqman has been the Executive Director of Rebuilding
Together Oakland since January 2008 and is fulfilling her dream to
lead a community-based organization serving the people of Oakland,
her adopted hometown. Prior to joining Rebuilding Together Oakland,
Kym worked in the telecommunications and information technology
field for over 20 years as a Business Development Manager selling
to Fortune 100 companies.
Kym has an MBA from the University of San Francisco, received
her undergraduate degree in Marketing from San Francisco State
University and holds a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from
California State University - East Bay. A native New Yorker,
she misses the fall colors of autumn, but loves the tapestry of
people and culture that Oakland and the greater Bay Area
provide.
"When I'm not working on behalf of Rebuilding Together Oakland,
I enjoy watching my daughter play lots of club and varsity soccer
and basketball games and volunteering to help and support Oakland
students."
Rachel Matthews
Program Director
510-625-0316 ext.100
rachel@rtoakland.org
A 20-year veteran of the now-defunct music industry, Rachel
remains true to her Oakland roots in her role as Cajoler-in-Chief.
Eight years (and counting) with RTO seems like a drop in the
proverbial bucket of life for this dyed-in-the-wool Taur-babe. Her
free time is spent walking in the woods.
"Year after year, RTO volunteers defy all expectations in terms
of their commitment, reliability, capabilities and sense of humor
-- especially with respect to the shirts we insist they wear with
pride."
Alice Matthews
Program Associate
510-625-0316 ext.102
alice@rtoakland.org
Alice Matthews lived in the Bay Area until she moved with her
husband and children to Niger in West Africa in 1991. There
they lived in a village and her husband worked in rural
development, helping Nigerien farmers with subsistence
farming. Alice home schooled her children, enjoyed being part
of village life, and kept the books for the project. In 2006,
while in the US waiting for a new assignment, she worked as program
assistant at RTO and enjoyed herself until she moved to
Kenya. In Kenya she took classes towards a degree in social
work at the Daystar University, where her husband taught.
Alice enjoyed using her gift of hospitality with the many students
at the university.
"When I realized I was moving back to the Bay Area I found out
that Rachel had an opening for my old position, and I jumped at the
opportunity to once again join the team at RTO helping low-income
seniors and disabled throughout Oakland. It's great to serve
the community!"
Ed Leahy
Safe-At-Home Program Coordinator
510-625-0316 ext.103
ed@rtoakland.org
Ed Leahy is the Safe At Home Coordinator, managing the year
round home safety program. He trains and manages the
volunteers who install range of home safety and mobility items such
as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, bathroom grab bars and
other items. Ed was a long-time volunteer before joining the
staff of Rebuilding Together Oakland. He also serves as a
House Captain for the April rebuilding program, managing the repair
and rehabilitation of the homes of seniors and persons with
disabilities.
John Bongivanni
Safe-At-Home Volunteer & IT Coordinator
johnb@rtoakland.org
AmeriCorps Members
Garner Takahashi Morris
AmeriCorps Member - Community Engagement & Outreach
510-625-0316 ext.106
garner@rtoakland.org
Garner is excited to be serving her second year as the Community
Engagement and Outreach Coordinator. She grew up in North
Carolina and Virginia, and studied Sculpture and Education at the
University of Massachusetts-Amherst and UC Berkeley.
Previously, she worked on crew at several theaters, as an
elder companion, in a coffee shop, and in a toy store. She's
excited to have found a place put her lifelong passion for
construction, housing justice, and service to practical use!
"RTO provides an amazing opportunity to gain a deeper
understanding of Oakland, learn from our homeowners, and give them
the respect, dignity, and helping hand they cannot find anywhere
else."
Isa Hopkins
AmeriCorps Member - Community Engagement & Outreach
510-625-0316 ext.104
isa@rtoakland.org
Americorps member Isa Hopkins is a native of Cleveland, Ohio,
who moved to the Bay Area six years ago after graduating from
Georgetown University. She has previously served as an
Americorps member with Habitat for Humanity and interned with Build
It Green, and she devotes her free time to writing and performing
jokes and stories as well as eating as much In-N-Out Burger as
possible.
"Although I'm still new to the organization, I've been so
impressed by the commitment of both staff and volunteers to the
mission and work of Rebuilding Together Oakland - the Americorps
motto is "getting things done," and that's exactly what we do every
day here at RTO!"