Mischa Freeman

Experience

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  UF Travel and Recreation Program

  Jan 2005 - May 2011

  Trip Leader

  I look back at my time as a trip leader with fond memories. As an organization we led outdoor adventure trips throughout the Southeast United States for other undergraduate and graduate students. I personally led over 30 weekend-long trips, primarily backpacking and rock-climbing in the Appalachian Mountains. I developed training, served on the Executive Board for many semesters and taught the semester-long course for one of the classes. It was through this experience I developed not just a love for the outdoors, but a love for the way in which people build community in the outdoors. Show less

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  Outward Bound New Zealand

  May 2008 - Oct 2012

  Lead Instructor

  Outward Bound changed my life! That was the goal for each of the 10 courses I planned and led and I heard that refrain more often than not. In four summers I went from Intern to Lead Instructor in one of the most technical and unforgiving course areas Outward Bound utilizes. I fostered empowerment, community and difficult yet rewarding conversations on courses from 7 to 30 days. Through several of my courses I met Summer Search students, who motivated me to move up the chain and ensure experiential education is available to more young people who do not have the resources to access it. Show less

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  University of Florida

  Aug 2009 - May 2011

  Graduate Assistant

  As part of my assistantship during my Master's program, I had the opportunity to create and deliver a course (EAP 5836) for International Teaching Assistants. I welcomed them to the university and supported them through their first semester teaching. We met on a weekly basis and discussed the challenges of language, culture and undergraduates. I also observed their teaching on a regular basis, coaching them afterwards on ways they could make their presentations more dynamic and connect with their students. Show less

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  Summer Search

  Jan 2012 - Aug 2016

  As a Program Manager at Summer Search I work with an incredible team to deliver quality mentoring, rewarding summer experiences and focused college access support to incredible teens from low-income backgrounds. In this role specifically I manage 5 full-time program associates with about 40 students each. In addition, I oversee the summer experience aspect of the program, ensuring that each of our roughly 300 sophomores and juniors has a trip that matches their interests and goals. For the past three years I've achieved network-high rates of summer trip completion while at the same time reducing cost per student by 8% on a $700k budget. I strive every day to center our students and families, as well as lift up the value of cultural humility in every relationship. Show less As a program associate my primary role was mentoring talented high-school students from low-income backgrounds from sophomore year through college matriculation. I met some incredible young people, who at every step amazed me with their intellect, thoughtfulness, compassion, and sense of service. As a sort of guide through the rigorous Summer Search program, I helped over 40 students get ready for two summer trips, navigate life and academic challenges and for the most part be the first in their family to apply to college. Over 95% of my students matriculated to post-secondary institutions, with 85% headed to four-year universities. During this time I also planned and delivered a 500 person 5k personal challenge event. Show less

  • Program Manager

    Jun 2015 - Aug 2016

  • Senior Program Associate

    Oct 2014 - Jun 2015

  • Program Associate

    Jan 2012 - Sept 2014
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  Justice Outside

  Mar 2015 - Jan 2016

  Rising Leaders Fellow

  During the Rising Leaders Fellowship, I took a journey with 19 other Bay Area outdoor education professionals to see if we could create examples of culturally relevant outdoor programming. Our cohort met on a monthly basis and discussed all aspects of outdoor ed organizations, from curriculum to board structure. Within my small group of four we created a mock organization from start to finish, weaving cultural relevancy and social justice throughout. I not only took a leap forward personally and professionally, but I also made lasting relationships with people intent on decolonizing the outdoors. Show less

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  Jobs for the Future (JFF)

  Aug 2016 - Jul 2018

  Program Manager

  As a Program Manager at Jobs for the Future, I am working on expanding career pathways for low-income young people across California and the western United States. I am currently engaged with the Regional Hubs for Excellence initiative, a project to increase high quality career pathways for youth, including Linked Learning pathways, in the East Bay, Long Beach, San Bernardino and Tulare-Kings regions in California. In addition, I'll be providing technical assistance to California Career Pathways Trust designated sites. I'm located in our new Oakland office at the Oakland City Center. Happy to connect about any aspect of career pathways, from K-12, post-secondary institutions, employer side engagement to government/policy work. Show less

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  Camp Common Ground

  Dec 2016 - Jan 2019

  Board Member

  Our mission is to disrupt racial and economic segregation in the Bay Area by building a diverse, integrated, and loving youth community at summer camp that will continue back in the city during the school year.

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  Instituto Familiar de la Raza

  Aug 2018 - May 2019

  Clinician, Early Intervention Program
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  LYRIC: Center for LGBTQQ+ Youth

  Aug 2019 - Jul 2021

  • Program Manager

    May 2020 - Jul 2021

  • Therapist

    Aug 2019 - May 2020
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  UCSF Health

  Aug 2019 - May 2020

  Social Worker, Child and Adolescent Gender Center
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  QUEER LIFE SPACE INC

  May 2020 - Sept 2021

  Therapist
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  California Institute of Integral Studies

  Sept 2021 - Dec 2021

  Adjunct Professor
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  Healing Together

  Sept 2021 - Jul 2023

  Program and Operations Director
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  Alchemy Community Therapy Center

  Sept 2021 - now

  Clinical Social Work Intern