Board members

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Ignacio Ferrey is a father and advocate committed to eliminating health and educational disparities as they impact communities of color. His “fatherhood journey” started with the birth of his first child in 2001, and often reflects on how his family and career have grown up together. Ignacio has 20+ years of experience in health, education, leadership development, as well as father and family services throughout California. Ignacio is a Certified Professional Coach (co-creator, Water & Fire Coaching) and works with Alameda County Health Care Services Agency, with a focus on school health partnerships and expanding fatherhood services. Before joining Alameda County, Ignacio expanded fatherhood services and teen programs at a family service agency and before that, eight years overseeing program and strategic planning at a Federally Qualified Health Center. Since 2013, he has been an active member of Alameda County Fathers Corps. His affiliations include the National Compadres Network, Gamma Zeta Alpha Fraternity, and International Coach Federation.As a first-generation student, Ignacio has earned a BA in Sociology from San José State University, a Master of Public Health (MPH) and a Master of Arts (MA) in Latin American Studies from University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 

Norah Alyami is a native to the Bay Area and grew up in Contra Costa County. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami, Florida, and is a life-long Miami Hurricane.  Norah earned her Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law and was admitted to the California Bar in Spring 2014. After spending time working in local government, private and non-profit law firms, Norah began her own family and domestic violence solo practice with the Lawyers for Family Justice at the Richmond Family Justice Center in 2017. Through the Family Justice Center, she assisted families of all backgrounds, a majority of which were in serious crisis. Norah is currently creating an online platform and consulting practice to support self represented litigants in family court. Her commitment to families, survivors of domestic violence and access to justice is unwavering. Norah is active with the Alameda County Bar Association, Earl Warren Inns of Court, Charles Houston Bar Association and Women Lawyers of Alameda County. She was nominated to and selected by the California Supreme Court to sit on the standardizing panel for the state bar exam, in addition to being named a 2021 Thomson Reuters Super-Lawyer "Rising Star" - a designation of top-rated practicing attorneys selected through extensive evaluation.  

Jason Seals currently serves as Department Chair of Ethnic Studies and Professor of African American Studies at Merritt College, where his work focuses on student preparation and development, innovative instructional practices, curriculum development, concurrent enrollment and institutional learning outcomes.  Prior to joining the Merritt College faculty, Jason was the Program Director at Leadership Excellence, a non- profit organization committed to educating and empowering African American youth for personal and social change. Jason has over two decades of experience in youth service and community work. He has taught ethnic studies and manhood development courses at multiple Bay Area colleges and high schools. Beyond the traditional classroom, Jason has facilitated professional development and cultural sensitivity training for local schools, mental health agencies and community-based organizations. Jason is committed to social justice, so he carries on the tradition of the “activist-intellectual”, using his knowledge and experience to address critical social issues and empower individuals for personal and social change.  Jason earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from San Jose State University. After serving children and families in the East Bay for several years, he went on to earn a Master’s degree in Africana Studies from University at Albany SUNY and a second Master’s in Counseling Psychology from University of San Francisco.