Our Staff
Cynthia Chase, co-founder & executive director
Cynthia Chase is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years’ experience in juvenile and criminal legal system reform as a Social Worker, Probation Officer, Corrections Director of Programming, and the Executive Director of the original Gemma Program. Cynthia has been recognized as a dedicated leader and tireless advocate in her work at the intersection of justice and gender. As a subject matter expert, Cynthia has worked to improve systems and outcomes for marginalized individuals at the city, county, and state level. Cynthia has also created and advocated for policy change as a City Council member and Mayor of Santa Cruz CA. Cynthia is committed to creating more equitable and just outcomes for women, families, and communities because when women lead, individuals and communities thrive. Chase lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Howard and their menagerie of animals and plants.
Sylvie Wilson, grants & operations coordinator
Sylvie Wilson is a public health researcher and community educator. She is passionate about advancing holistic health and reproductive justice for women, particularly those impacted by incarceration. She has facilitated Gemma’s programming for women at West County Detention Facility, and is deeply supportive of creating spaces centered on healing, education, and self-determination. She holds a Master of Science in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience from Pitzer College. Sylvie is committed to bridging research and community impact to ensure that women have access to culturally affirming, accessible health information and the resources needed to thrive.
Cinthia Sanchez Diaz, continuing care coordinator
Cinthia Sanchez Diaz holds a B.A. in Social Welfare with double minors in Education and Public Policy from UC Berkeley. With a background in community advocacy and organizing, she brings a deep personal commitment to supporting and uplifting all marginalized people. Cinthia is a byproduct of her community, bringing lived experience of the injustices and hardships that come with limited access to resources. Cinthia previously served as a Resource Specialist for at-promise youth at an alternative high school and supported incarcerated men at San Quentin State Prison in earning their GEDs through the Teach in Prison program. She continues to be driven by the belief that access to education and culturally & gender-responsive care can truly be transformative. As a bilingual advocate, she is especially passionate about expanding gender-responsive, trauma-informed support for Spanish-speaking justice-involved women.
Edinna Obaseki, continuing care coordinator
Edinna Obaseki, MS, is a full-spectrum community Doula, health advocate, and researcher with a background in Global Health, Biology, and Women’s/Gender Studies. Raised in East Oakland by Nigerian and Tanzanian immigrant parents, she is deeply grounded in community care, mutual aid, and collective liberation. Her work lives at the intersection of science, social justice, and ancestral wisdom, centering the needs and voices of those most impacted by systemic oppression. With experience across reproductive care, trauma-informed healing, and global health sectors, Edinna is passionate about expanding access to affirming, culturally rooted care. Her efforts extend into grassroots organizing, health equity education, and co-creating spaces for healing, resistance, rest, and joy. Outside of her Doula practice, she co-leads a nonprofit focused on menstrual justice and community-based advocacy [Grace Period Now].
Nadia Vargas, continuing care coordinator
Nadia Vargas is a proud first-generation Mexican American and UC Berkeley alum who holds a B.A. in Ethnic Studies and Chicanx Latinx Studies. Originally from Los Angeles, she is now growing roots in the Bay Area while continuing her commitment to community care and holistic support. As a single parent and advocate for educational equity, Nadia’s lived experience informs her compassionate approach to this work. Before stepping into her role as a Continuing Care Coordinator, she worked in student advocacy, human resources, and community engagement, creating inclusive spaces for families and underrepresented students. Nadia believes in investing in and supporting women, recognizing that they are at the core and foundation of strong families and thriving communities. Rooted in empathy and cultural understanding, her work is guided by the belief that access to education, healing, and opportunity can be transformative. Outside of work, she loves to travel and experience new cultures.
Breehana Leffall, continuing care supervisor
Breehana brings a background in psychology, community work, and tech, with a strong commitment to supporting women impacted by systems not built for their success. She began her career working with underserved youth in New Orleans and earned her B.A. in Psychology from Dillard University. After several years in the tech space helping people create flexible income opportunities, and becoming a mother, she felt called to return to work rooted in care, healing, and justice. In her role as a Continuing Care Coordinator, Breehana is passionate about walking alongside women as they navigate reentry and reclaim their lives. She is planning to pursue her Master of Social Work to deepen her ability to serve with intention. Outside of work, she enjoys painting, beach days, family game nights, long walks, and the occasional spa day. This work is deeply personal to her, driven by the life she’s building for her daughter and the change she wants to help create for other women.
Emily Rodriguez, continuing care coordinator
Emily Rodriguez is an educator, advocate, and community leader dedicated to supporting underserved youth, families, and justice-involved women. As a first-generation, low-income college graduate, Emily brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her work helping individuals navigate educational, financial, and social systems. Emily earned her Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity and a notation in Cultural Rhetoric from Stanford University, where she spearheaded multiple initiatives supporting low-income and non-traditional students. Emily founded an organization dedicated to students impacted by homelessness, foster care involvement, and other systemic adversities and has worked closely with youth, young adults, and families. Her work is grounded in equity, empowerment, and the belief that every person deserves access to opportunity, dignity, and meaningful support systems.
Ariel Azcunaga, data & design
Ariel Azcunaga is a marketing and operations consultant who is deeply committed to supporting this community by partnering with the incredible team at the Gemma Project to make their work easier while they help others thrive. She supports this work through technical operations consulting, workflow infrastructure maintenance, and creative design for print and digital materials, with a focus on building thoughtful systems and creating clear, engaging materials that help teams do their best work. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics with a teaching concentration from UC Berkeley, where she continues to fundraise in support of students from all walks of life. As a first-generation immigrant from El Salvador, Ariel is fluent in Spanish and brings both analytical and multicultural perspective to her work. She enjoys working in environments where people, purpose, and creativity intersect. A SoCal native, Ariel enjoys the outdoors, video games, puzzles of all kinds, teaching Sunday school, and experimenting with new recipes. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and dog, Delta.
Nicole Green, therapy intern
Nicole Green, MSW, ASW is a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker at The Gemma Project, specializing in providing trauma-responsive and gender-responsive therapy to formerly incarcerated women. Informed by her own lived experience with incarceration, Nicole brings a unique depth of understanding and empathy to her work. Her clinical practice includes facilitating therapeutic workshops, leading supportive group therapy sessions, and offering tailored individual therapy to address the complex behavioral health needs that can arise from incarceration and trauma. Nicole's commitment lies in utilizing evidence-based practices to promote resilience and empowerment among the women The Gemma Project serves.
Our Board
Lara Love Hardin, co-founder & chair
Lara Love Hardin is a literary agent, author, and president of True Literary. Lara is a formerly incarcerated woman with lived experience navigating the obstacles, bureaucracy, and stigma of incarceration and reentry. She is a graduate of the original Gemma Program. Lara has a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and is a four-time New York Times bestselling writer. In 2019 she won a Christopher Award for her work “affirming the highest values of the human spirit.” In 2019 she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award and short-listed for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Lara is the author of The Many Lives of Mama Love chronicling her time in jail and the decades spent rebuilding her life. Love Hardin currently lives on the Big Island of Hawaii. She has four children, two step-children.
Sarah Schwartz, board treasurer
Sarah Schwartz is a Retirement Plan Consultant, Registered Investment Advisor, and Head of Financial Wellness at Newfront Retirement Services (now a part of WTW), where she helps companies optimize their retirement plans and drives financial literacy and engagement strategies that improve outcomes for employees. With nearly a decade in the industry, she has been recognized as a NAPA Top Advisor Under 40, NAPA Top Woman Advisor, and named an Influential Woman in Institutional Investing by Pensions & Investments (2025). Sarah's commitment to access and opportunity extends beyond her professional work - she was a Founding Coach at the Oakland Athletic Rowing Society, a nonprofit club democratizing the sport of rowing for East Bay youth. A former NCAA Division I national champion with Cal Berkeley Women's Crew, she brings the same competitive drive and team-first spirit to everything she does. Sarah came to the Gemma Project through The Many Lives of Mama Love, and knew immediately she wanted to be part of this community. When she's not in the office or on the water, you'll find her hiking, biking, or running - she just completed her first marathon at CIM this past December.
Kate Mermelstein, vice chair
Kate Mermelstein is a Capital Formation professional at Harbert Management Corporation, where she raises capital and builds investor relationships across private markets, with more than a decade in financial services including roles at Top Tier Capital Partners, Alpine Investors, Blackstone, and J.P. Morgan. Originally from the Boston area, Kate attended Merrimack College, where she rowed and helped build a financial capabilities program providing economic empowerment and financial coaching to the local community, before moving to New York to start her career in finance and eventually landing in the Bay Area. Kate came to the Gemma Project through The Many Lives of Mama Love and was immediately drawn to Lara's story and the organization's mission as a fierce advocate for women in recovery, and she's excited to bring her experience in fundraising, relationship building, and strategic communications to a cause she deeply believes in. Outside of work, she's happiest outdoors, whether cycling, skiing, running, traveling, or on the water and is passionate about building meaningful relationships and giving back to her community.
Kristel Cosio, secretary
Kristel Cosio is a 2025 UC Berkeley graduate with a degree in Microbial Biology and a background in community health, social justice, advocacy, and biomedical research. While at UC Berkeley, she served as a Public Health Congressional Intern in the U.S. House of Representatives and as a Represent Justice Ambassador, supporting the organization’s work to elevate the voices of people impacted by the criminal legal system. In 2024, Kristel wrote and directed Breaking Barriers, a documentary exploring the experiences and resilience of system-impacted individuals. Breaking Barriers received a Silver Telly Award, was screened at universities across California, and was featured on CDCR TV, the television network of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The film is also available to stream for free on Tubi through Represent Justice. Kristel is trained as a Full Spectrum Doula and EMT. She is passionate about trauma-informed care, social justice, and expanding opportunities for people impacted by incarceration. She hopes to combine medicine, advocacy, research, and storytelling to promote more equitable communities.
Yanira Armster
Yanira Armster is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor and Program Supervisor who brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. After serving 24½ years in prison, Yanira transformed her experiences into a passion for helping others heal, grow, and recognize their own potential. Today, she works in substance use treatment and with youth impacted by the juvenile justice system, where she uses her journey to connect, mentor, and inspire. Yanira is deeply committed to creating opportunities for second chances and believes that no matter where a person’s story begins, change, purpose, and a meaningful future are always possible.
Janae Reynolds, MHA
Janae Reynolds, MHA is a mission-driven public health leader with over a decade of experience designing and leading complex healthcare and community-based programs. She currently serves as Program Manager at HEPPAC (HIV Education Prevention Project of Alameda County), where she oversees a 24/7 harm reduction program supporting individuals experiencing substance use, homelessness, and complex health needs. Janae brings deep expertise in program operations, Medi-Cal/CalAIM implementation, workforce development, and equity-centered care. Throughout her career, she has successfully led multidisciplinary teams, built strategic partnerships across healthcare and government sectors, and driven initiatives that improve access, quality, and outcomes for underserved populations. Prior to her current role, Janae held leadership positions in multiple hospital settings across the Bay Area where she advanced organizational strategy, community engagement, and population health initiatives. She is recognized for her ability to translate frontline public health work into sustainable, scalable systems that create lasting impact. Janae holds a Master of Health Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management/Project Management from the University of Phoenix. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys reading fiction and romance novels and traveling.