Johanna Rasmussen has been advocating for youth and families in San Mateo County for over thirty years. Her advocacy work in the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice System began when her own daughter entered the system at the age of 13.
Johanna has worked both locally and on the state level to increase funding for community based mental health, substance abuse, and dual diagnosis programs and services for youth and adults. In addition to her criminal justice reform work, Johanna advocates for underserved community members and families on issues relating to housing, special education, disability and employment, and seeks to increase equity and improve transparency at all government levels. Johanna is Chairwoman of the Farm Hill Neighborhood Association in Redwood City and Coordinates the Confirmation Program at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish.

Shakeel Ali is a lifelong resident of San Mateo County. He grew up in Midway Village and has lived in Daly City for over 45 years. He currently serves as the Governing Board President of the Jefferson Elementary School District and has been a Trustee for more than 15 years. Shakeel holds a master’s degree in special education from San Francisco State University. With a career spanning over 30, years, he is currently teaching at El Camino High School in South San Francisco. Shakeel is a founding advisor for YEEE (Youth Empowerment, Entrepreneurship, and Employment), a trainer for Ripple Effects, and a Community Health Advisor at the Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council. Additionally, he serves on the Community Fund Review Panel for the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation in Redwood City. As a survivor of gun violence, Shakeel is committed to addressing the root causes of violence in underserved communities. He has worked in the San Francisco Bayview neighborhood, as well as the Youth Guidance Center and Log Cabin Ranch juvenile detention facilities. Shakeel has also worked extensively with transitional age youth aging out of the Foster Care system.

Jennifer Blanco, a first-generation individual of Cuban and Salvadorian descent, has dedicated nearly three decades to serving the San Bruno community. As a Trustee of the San Bruno Park Elementary School District for 17 years, Jennifer has had a lasting impact on children and families. Jennifer was instrumental in bringing the national Día de los Niños, Día de los Libros annual celebration to San Bruno back in 2009, emphasizing the importance of literacy for children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Jennifer’s unwavering dedication to providing essential support to all students has earned her the title of an equity warrior.

Paul Bocanegra is the cofounder of Reevolution Group, a human rights watch officer for the Children's Division of Human Rights Watch, and a certified drug and alcohol counselor. Paul was sentenced to life without parole when he was 16 years old and served more than 25 years in adult prison. He describes himself as a survivor of Juvenile LWOP and the California prison system. Today Paul works to reform the juvenile criminal justice system by sharing his experiences and struggles within the juvenile and adult systems and institutions.

Whitney Genevro is a native of San Mateo County and resides in the Belle Haven neighborhood of Menlo Park. She graduated with a BA from California State University East Bay and a JD from Golden Gate University School of Law. Whitney currently works as a conflicts attorney for Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a program manager and grant writer for Second Harvest of Silicon Valley for 10 years. A core value of Whitney’s is to be supportive of her community – she grew up with a strong volunteer ethic and became a youth leader at 17. She currently volunteers her time as a youth leader at her church, with Project WeHOPE, Bayshore Christian Ministries, is working on a community garden project at Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School and continues to support Second Harvest as a food sort volunteer. She is also a Law Program facilitator with Fresh Lifelines for Youth in Santa Clara County. Whitney has made it a priority to learn about the juvenile justice system; her goal is to bring more attention to the needs of the system and be a part of positive changes for youth in our county. She has already begun her work as a volunteer with the JJDPC, joining a project team to understand what restorative justice practices are in place in high schools in San Mateo County.

Niklas Klemmer, a Menlo Park resident and student at Menlo-Atherton High School, is deeply committed to law, political advocacy, and public service. He currently interns with Senator Josh Becker and Stanford’s Deliberative Democracy Lab, where he contributes to research on policymaking and deliberative processes.

An active member of the National Honor Society, Niklas also participates in debate and Model United Nations. He has attended Yale’s prestigious Young Global Scholars program, further honing his understanding of global issues and leadership.

Beyond academics, Niklas dedicates his time to community service. He volunteers with the Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto and serves as Director of Outreach for Justice Bound, a youth-led nonprofit in San Mateo County focused on public policy and criminal justice reform.

Niklas is excited to bring his passion for criminal justice reform and public service to the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Commission. He aims to promote meaningful change and contribute to a more equitable society.

Asteris Ling is a dedicated youth advocate with lived experience and a strong commitment to equity, civic engagement, and community empowerment. As an active member of the Redwood City Teen Advisory Board, he has led and supported initiatives that elevate youth voices, including the Youth Police Department Town Hall held in collaboration with the Redwood City Police Advisory Committee. He has also played a key role in projects like the Racial Equity Mural and “Teen Talks” forums, all aimed at ensuring young people have a seat at the table in local decision-making.

Asteris is especially focused on reaching underserved communities and improving access to substance abuse treatment and educational opportunities for youth at risk. He brings a unique understanding of the systemic barriers young people face and consistently works to address these challenges through collaborative, community-based approaches. His insight, energy, and vision would bring valuable youth perspective to the Commission and reinforce our commitment to youth empowerment, inclusion, and equity across the county.

Trena Patton brings extensive experience, commitment, and insight that align closely with the mission of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission.

With decades in public service and social work, Trena has dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable populations—especially youth and underserved communities. She has served as a Social Worker for foster youth in Alameda County, Executive Director of the Iris Center, an outpatient substance abuse treatment program for women focused on HIV/AIDS education, and as a Deputy Public Guardian for at-risk individuals in the San Francisco Bay Area. Across these roles, she has consistently demonstrated compassion, leadership, and the ability to navigate complex systems to advocate for those in need.

Trena holds a BA in General Psychology from CSU Long Beach and an MA in Clinical Psychology, which enhance her understanding of mental health, trauma, and behavior—key factors in both juvenile justice and foster care. Her long-standing civic engagement, including tutoring incarcerated youth at the Southern Reception Center and Clinic, underscores her lifelong commitment to youth development and social equity.

Her insight into the needs of system-involved youth, combined with her professional integrity and lived experience, will make Trena a valuable asset to the Commission.

Jiya Venkatesh is a Belmont resident and a sophomore at Carlmont High School. Before moving to California in 2024, she lived in South Africa for 12 years, an experience that shaped her worldview and fueled her passion for law and policy. She hopes to pursue a career in law and policy to work on legislative reforms that impact marginalized communities.

As a student journalist of the Scot Scoop publication, Jiya reports on some of the pressing community issues in San Mateo, including affordable housing, homelessness, and criminal justice. Her investigative work earned her an award for an article on a local juvenile manslaughter case. She is dedicated to making a difference in her community for underserved populations. Additionally, she is a member of the Belmont Youth Advisory Committee and a Youth Commissioner in the Belmont Parks & Recreation Commission, where she advocates for inclusive and accessible events, and works on fostering community outreach.

Jiya is committed to improving conditions for incarcerated youth and expanding outreach programs to support affected young people in San Mateo County.

Celina Chen is an accomplished student at Menlo School with a strong focus on criminal justice, civic engagement, and public policy. She brings legislative and policy experience from internships with Margaret Abe-Koga and Assemblymember Evan Low, where she supported research and event planning, as well as from her work submitting legislation to Senator Josh Becker and serving as a fellow at the Los Altos Institute, where she has published papers in political science and international relations. At Menlo School, Celina has demonstrated leadership through continuous service on Student Council and as President of the Students in Politics Club, and she brings seven years of experience in debate and mock trial as a 10 skilled advocate and public speaker. She also volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club and is fluent in Mandarin, strengthening her ability to engage diverse communities. Her commitment to school-based prevention, probation reform, and youth-centered justice initiatives contributes meaningfully to the work of the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission.

Enya Yuan is a high-achieving student at the University of California, Berkeley, pursuing a double major in Political Science and Economics, with strong training in statistics, quantitative analysis, and political theory that supports the analytical work of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission. She brings hands-on experience from internships with the Superior Court of Santa Clara County, the San Mateo County Juvenile Courts, the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, and the Office of Congresswoman Jackie Speier, where she worked on legal processes, policy research, and issues impacting system-involved youth and families. Enya also serves as Project Coordinator for Undergraduate Research at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and Head Chair of Berkeley Model United Nations, and was selected to participate in Girls Nation.