Amanda Deering - Director of Operations and Strategy

Hello, my name is Amanda! I grew up in the Bay Area and am excited to serve my community! I have been working with children for over 10 years and am inspired by their curiosity and creativity. My passion for working with children and understanding the learning process led me to study psychology at UCLA and complete my Masters in Education at the Teachers College at Columbia University. I have worked with children and their families as a behavioral therapist, art teacher, kids yoga teacher and Montessori teacher. I am excited to be a part of a community that allows kids to be kids! In my free time you can likely find me on a hiking trail, a yoga mat or a music venue. I am excited to see these beautiful souls grow!

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Taylor Vecchioni - Program Director

Hello, my name is Taylor! I grew up in Michigan where I attended Central Michigan University and earned a degree in Online Journalism and Leadership. I truly found my passion working with kids when I was a recreation leader for the City of Dublin. I love working with youth and watching their creative spirits and minds grow!In addition, I have always had a passion for sports, especially soccer, and I recently was a coach for a youth soccer team back in Michigan. In my free time, you can find me on the soccer field, snowboarding in Tahoe, on a hike up in the mountains, camping, reading, writing, photography, creating art projects and spending time with family, friends, and my little blind dog named Lamar! I am also an avid adventurer and I love to travel all over the world. I can’t wait to begin working with these amazing kids!

 

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Megan Moore - Recreation Leader

Hello, my name is Megan Moore. I spent last summer in Italy working at the boys home for refugees and a refugee camp in Greece. I have volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club in North Beach. I enjoy working with kids a lot and plan to pursue a career working with youth. I am interested in pursuing a degree in Child Development and Sociology. I am excited to get to know the Mariposa Kids. I enjoy playing games and art projects. I am a kid a heart and love spontaneous adventures!

Dalinda Taylor - Recreation Leader

Hi, I am DeeDee. I was practically raised in San Francisco. I'm currently a student at San Francisco State University. I've been working with kids at YMCA since I was in high school. This is my second school year working with Mariposa Kids. I am open to new adventures with children. Working with kids is my passion, so much so that I want my future career to be as a social worker. I am really excited for another magical year with Mariposa Kids and the team!

Cairo Santiago - Recreation Leader

Hi! My name is Cairo I'm originally from New Orleans but I was a Military kid so I've moved around a lot. I've lived in Germany, Turkey, Japan, Colombia and many US states. I had my first job in child care on a military base daycare center in Japan at 18. My second child care job was teaching English to Japanese kids. I currently go to college for 2D Animation and Storyboarding. I enjoy drawing and storytelling and like to think I'm good at it. I aspire to work for studio such as Disney, Pixar, Cartoon Network,etc. Also to lead my own projects to be shown worldwide. I love sharing my knowledge with young aspiring artist. So I'm willing to teach Mariposa Kids what I know :)

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What is a Mariposa Kid?

An explorer. An artist. A dreamer. A dancer. A reader. A skater. A community member. At Mariposa, we look at the world from every angle, then try to climb on it, jump on it and dance around it. Take a look at the many ways we adventure!

Programs

- Arts and crafts
- Cooking with local chefs
- Sports
- Games
- Restorative Justice Circle
- Eco-literacy
- Dance and movement
- Meditation
- Skateboarding
- And so much more!

The Mariposa Codes of Conduct

- Be the best you can be
- Bring out the best in others
- Do what you can, where you are, with what you have
- Practice gratitude