Sally Matsuishi

Experience

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  2044 Collective

  Jun 1997 - Sept 2024

  Education Consultant

  I maintain a selective, private college counseling practice that has served students and families for over 25 years with one-on-one guidance through the admissions process. Services include multi-year academic and extra-curricular planning, standardized test prep, college list creation, college trip planning, personal essay development, interview prep, financial aid advising, and college selection. Extensive experience serving the needs of international students, LGBTQ students, and students of color. Show less

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  Next Generation Scholars

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2019

  Executive Director, Founder

  Management Grew organization from 6 students around a kitchen table to a nationally recognized education access nonprofit. Created and executed 3 strategic plans that exceeded goals; grew a network of partners; built programs that have served as models in the field; trained and launched 100+ BIPOC leaders; raised millions of dollars from a diverse funding portfolio; served as the spokesperson in the media and at conferences.Team Leadership: Established a national reputation as a training program for BIPOC educators. Led a paid staff of 7, a volunteer staff of 30 during the academic year, and 40 paid staff during the summer. Development: Built a robust, balanced profile of grants, individual donors, fundraising and in-kind services, and facilities. Created multiple successful marketing and communications strategies. Tracked trends to identify, attain, and retain funders. Executed small and large-scale fundraising events.Key ProgramsCollege Access: Utilized extensive knowledge of mindset, grit, ethnic studies, and adolescent development to create an award-winning college access program. Guided hundreds of families from diverse communities, resulting in a 20-year 100% acceptance rate into 4-year selective colleges. 95% of students received financial aid within $3,000 of their FAFSA Estimated ContributionCollege Retention and Career Attainment: Created a multi-year program centering first-gen students, yielding a 92% 5-year graduation rate, with 89% of students employed in their field within 6 months of graduationSocial Services: Created and oversaw interlinked on-site mental health, parenting, housing, employment, and food bank programs to ensure wrap-around support of 150+ families. Community Building: Developed a DEI-based process for matriculating 10 years of an engaged constituency. Established long-standing partnerships with Bay Area schools and community organizations. Show less

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  Beyond Differences

  Aug 2021 - Sept 2024

  Director of National Youth Programs

  I lead the development, creation, implementation, and evaluation of central Beyond Differences programs the Activist Accelerators and the National Teen Board. Serving 10,000+ schools and community groups nationwide, my SEL curricula and youth activism-building retreats focus on ending social isolation and empowering youth to engage in social activism.

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  Sandy Hook Promise

  Sept 2024 - now

  Senior Director Of National Youth Programs

  As Beyond Differences has merged with Sandy Hook Promise, I am very excited to continue my role in developing, creating, and implementing youth-centered leadership programs. Our reach will expand to serve 24,000+ schools and engage millions more youth as they create a safer world where every voice is valued and celebrated.