The people stewarding DrawBridge's next chapter bring something rare: personal experience with the transformative power of creative expression, and a deep commitment to the communities we serve.

DrawBridge has been led by many dedicated people over 37 years. Today, our team is guided by two leaders whose personal histories are inseparable from the work — an Executive Director who has experienced the power of art across cultures and contexts, and a Program Director whose own childhood gives her an intimate understanding of the children we serve.

Evelisa Genova, Executive Director

Stewarding the past, present, and future of our expressive arts programs.

As a Sicilian-Canadian woman who has been a lifelong painter, I have personally experienced the transformative power of the arts in many personal and professional contexts. Whether through my most vulnerable experiences as a child or leadership roles throughout my career, the arts have always been a way to bring individuals and groups closer to the timeless parts of our humanity. Art will always be my main modality for personal and societal transformation, and for this reason, I am excited to nurture and support the way DrawBridge extends an invitation for children to be free and safe to express themselves creatively.

I believe our current work reflects that conviction: by investing in our organizational maturity — our evaluation systems, facilitator support, and storytelling capacity — we create the foundation to reach more children while preserving the process-centered approach that makes DrawBridge distinctive. This is a turning point and an opportunity to ensure that the transformative power of art can reach even more children across the Bay Area who need it most, with our time-tested quality.

I am grateful for the opportunity to steward this organization and co-design the next chapter with the communities that we serve.

Mariah Parvizi, Program Director

As an artist who experienced homelessness during childhood, I come to this work with the belief that art-making is world-building, play is resistance, and joy is resilience.

My work at DrawBridge is rooted in a lifelong commitment to collective liberation. Our expressive arts groups are not just enrichment — they are vital, culture-shifting, community-literacy practices where resilience is built and imaginations are flexed. My background in youth mentorship, mindfulness, and community organizing informs my commitment to walking alongside children and communities with care, creativity, and solidarity.

This is how we shift culture, one DrawBridge group at a time.

DrawBridge is also supported by a dedicated board of directors, a team of skilled facilitators, and community volunteers across the Bay Area.