Zaheeda Gagan was born and raised in San Francisco and received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University. She worked for the California Public Interest Research Group in Oakland, with her main project being the Lead Free Schools Campaign. This sparked her passion to improve the lives of low income students. She started volunteering with Mission Graduates at Everett Middle School’s summer program. Shortly after, she became an after school teacher, educating and supporting low-income youth of color. She later became the Assistant Director at Everett Beacon for two years, and worked with her team to figure out how to continue to support students and their families throughout the pandemic by innovating virtual classes, continuing academic support for daytime subjects, wellness checks and connecting families to local resources for essential needs.

Most recently, Zaheeda has shifted from being at a school site and has stepped into her role as the Development Manager. The insight and critical thinking skills she obtained from her previous roles guides her in fundraising efforts, strategy, and supporting the many different programs our organization offers.