Board of dIRECTORS

jabari scott

founder

Jabari Scott, a proud native of East Oakland, California, has spent his life serving and uplifting the community that raised him. A graduate of Castlemont High School (Class of 2004), Jabari also attended Elmhurst Middle School and Webster Academy, shaping a deep-rooted connection to the very neighborhoods he now impacts. Driven by a passion for health, mentorship, and service, he pursued a degree in Kinesiology at Laney College, merging academic knowledge with lived experience to better serve his community.

Jabari’s commitment to youth development began early—at just 13 years old, he stepped into a leadership role, coaching and mentoring at the Boys and Girls Club of Oakland and the East Oakland Youth Development Center (EOYDC). These early opportunities laid the groundwork for a lifelong dedication to empowering young people, particularly in under-resourced communities.

With over two decades of experience, Jabari has become a respected leader in youth sports and education, coaching football, basketball, and track at various high schools, including his alma mater Castlemont and Envision Academy. 

In 2023, Jabari founded the Surviving Struggles Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing mentorship, resources, and life-skills programs for youth and families across the Bay Area, with a focus on East Oakland. The foundation embodies his mission: to create safe spaces, elevate opportunities, and help young people overcome the structural and emotional challenges they face.

Whether through his coaching, mentorship, or nonprofit leadership, Jabari Scott continues to be a guiding light for his community. His journey from local kid with a dream to impactful changemaker is a testament to the power of purpose, persistence, and service. Jabari’s legacy is one of hope, healing, and transformative leadership—an inspiration for generations to come.

kimberly mosley

ceo

Program Director focused on creating impactful programs that drive youth development and success.

alexis gray-lawson

Vice President/director of sports and education

Born and raised in the Bay Area, Alexis Gray-Lawson emerged as a basketball standout at Oakland Tech High School, where she led her team to two California State Championships and earned MVP honors. A McDonald's and Parade All-American in 2005, she took her talents to the University of California, Berkeley, where she solidified her place as one of the greatest players in program history.

During her collegiate career at Cal, Gray-Lawson was a two-time All-Pac-10 First Team selection (2009, 2010) and was named to the Pac-10 All-Defensive Team in 2010. She left the program as Cal’s all-time leader in three-point field goals made (211) and holds the record for most games played (143). In 2010, she received the prestigious Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, honoring the nation’s most outstanding NCAA Division I women’s basketball player under 5’8”. Today, she ranks No. 4 on Cal’s all-time scoring list.

In 2009, Gray-Lawson earned a Gold Medal representing Team USA at the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia. She was selected 30th overall in the 2010 WNBA Draft by the Washington Mystics and later signed with the Phoenix Mercury. Her professional career extended overseas, where she played in Turkey and Israel. Notably, she became the only female General Manager of Hapoel Petah Tikva in Israel, leading the team to their first Israeli Cup championship.

Transitioning from professional play to coaching, Gray-Lawson took over as Head Coach at Como Park Senior High School in 2015. There, she led the program to two section championships and its first-ever state tournament appearance. She became the youngest girls’ basketball coach in Minnesota history to reach 100 wins and was named the Star Tribune’s All-Metro Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year in 2019. That same year, she received the Humanitarian Award and was later honored with the Woman of the Year Award in 2021.

In 2019, Gray-Lawson founded LEGACY, a transformative organization designed to empower young girls of color to define themselves beyond societal expectations. Through after-school programs, LEGACY provides STEM education, SAT/ACT preparation, mentorship, and internship opportunities—rooted in a curriculum that encourages authenticity and leadership.

That same year, she launched the LEGACY Girls Basketball Program, offering student-athletes the chance to compete globally. The program earned national recognition when it became one of only 28 girls’ teams to join the elite Adidas 3SSB grassroots basketball circuit. Today, LEGACY runs a year-round program that provides high-level skill development, coaching, academic support, and personal growth opportunities for elementary through high school student-athletes.

Alexis Gray-Lawson continues to be a powerful force in youth development, athletics, and community impact—leaving a legacy that transcends the game.

henry linclon jr.

board member/financial literacy director

Youth Advocate striving to provide essential resources and opportunities for disadvantaged youth in the Oakland community.

demario "rio" Lewis

board member

Demario “Rio” Lewis is a dedicated community leader, youth advocate, and multidisciplinary creative born and raised in West Oakland. With over 20 years of experience across the nonprofit and education sectors, his life's work has been rooted in empowering the next generation and fostering transformative change.

Rio began his journey in 2003 with the Youth Employment Partnership, serving as a Junior Camp Leader at YMCA MRB in West Oakland—a role that ignited his enduring commitment to uplifting his community. Since then, he’s left a meaningful mark through a range of impactful positions: from coaching and mentoring youth at Westlake Middle School, to coordinating programs at United Roots, and leading healing-centered initiatives as the Community Healing Program Manager at Urban Peace Movement.

His dedication to justice and reentry support has guided his work with B.O.S.S. (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency), where he served as a Case Manager and Job Developer for individuals returning from incarceration. At Bay Area Community Resources, he advanced that mission as Senior Project Coordinator for Transformative Pathways, supporting over 80 participants through personalized case management and life planning.

Currently, Rio serves as a Culture Keeper within the Oakland Unified School District, championing restorative justice, student voice, and a positive school climate. He also brings his mentorship and competitive spirit to the court as the JV basketball coach at Skyline High School.

Beyond education and social impact, Rio is a talented graphic designer and screen printer. Whether through bold visuals or grassroots programs, he continues to honor his West Oakland roots—blending art, advocacy, and leadership to inspire healing, hope, and community resilience.

demario "rio" Lewis

board member

Demario “Rio” Lewis is a dedicated community leader, youth advocate, and multidisciplinary creative born and raised in West Oakland. With over 20 years of experience across the nonprofit and education sectors, his life's work has been rooted in empowering the next generation and fostering transformative change.

Rio began his journey in 2003 with the Youth Employment Partnership, serving as a Junior Camp Leader at YMCA MRB in West Oakland—a role that ignited his enduring commitment to uplifting his community. Since then, he’s left a meaningful mark through a range of impactful positions: from coaching and mentoring youth at Westlake Middle School, to coordinating programs at United Roots, and leading healing-centered initiatives as the Community Healing Program Manager at Urban Peace Movement.

His dedication to justice and reentry support has guided his work with B.O.S.S. (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency), where he served as a Case Manager and Job Developer for individuals returning from incarceration. At Bay Area Community Resources, he advanced that mission as Senior Project Coordinator for Transformative Pathways, supporting over 80 participants through personalized case management and life planning.

Currently, Rio serves as a Culture Keeper within the Oakland Unified School District, championing restorative justice, student voice, and a positive school climate. He also brings his mentorship and competitive spirit to the court as the JV basketball coach at Skyline High School.

Beyond education and social impact, Rio is a talented graphic designer and screen printer. Whether through bold visuals or grassroots programs, he continues to honor his West Oakland roots—blending art, advocacy, and leadership to inspire healing, hope, and community resilience.

demario "rio" Lewis

board member

Demario “Rio” Lewis is a dedicated community leader, youth advocate, and multidisciplinary creative born and raised in West Oakland. With over 20 years of experience across the nonprofit and education sectors, his life's work has been rooted in empowering the next generation and fostering transformative change.

Rio began his journey in 2003 with the Youth Employment Partnership, serving as a Junior Camp Leader at YMCA MRB in West Oakland—a role that ignited his enduring commitment to uplifting his community. Since then, he’s left a meaningful mark through a range of impactful positions: from coaching and mentoring youth at Westlake Middle School, to coordinating programs at United Roots, and leading healing-centered initiatives as the Community Healing Program Manager at Urban Peace Movement.

His dedication to justice and reentry support has guided his work with B.O.S.S. (Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency), where he served as a Case Manager and Job Developer for individuals returning from incarceration. At Bay Area Community Resources, he advanced that mission as Senior Project Coordinator for Transformative Pathways, supporting over 80 participants through personalized case management and life planning.

Currently, Rio serves as a Culture Keeper within the Oakland Unified School District, championing restorative justice, student voice, and a positive school climate. He also brings his mentorship and competitive spirit to the court as the JV basketball coach at Skyline High School.

Beyond education and social impact, Rio is a talented graphic designer and screen printer. Whether through bold visuals or grassroots programs, he continues to honor his West Oakland roots—blending art, advocacy, and leadership to inspire healing, hope, and community resilience.