mariavida

Movement has always been the thread in Shai’s life.  As a tiny grom, she was always in motion; running through and out of New York City in pursuit of surf, sand, and open spaces. Her passion for athletics eventually led her to compete as a four-year NCAA athlete at Occidental College, and the joy and purpose she found through sport continue to guide her today. Shai aims to contribute to a sporting culture where inclusivity and community are at the center. She earned her MA in the Cultural Studies of Sport and Education at UC Berkeley, where she presented research on LGBTQIA+ surfers that was later published. Shai’s work has taken her across agency, nonprofit, academic, and entrepreneurial spaces in sport. She is also a passionate coach and athlete advocate, holding certifications in strength and conditioning, personal training, and nutrition coaching. Outside of work, you’ll likely find her running, biking, or convincing her friends to join her on a “big send.”

Jessica Knox is a wholehearted ocean enthusiast and long-time member of the Salted Roots community, where she has taken part in over ten years of programming. Born and raised in Oakland, she started her journey as a participant before transitioning to a rising leader, surf instructor, and advocate.  And through her role as the Youth Advocacy Specialist, she has since developed her leadership through program facilitation, ocean advocacy, and representing the organization at events like Capitol Hill Ocean Week. Jessica’s work centers on fostering inclusive access to the ocean and strengthening youth voices in conservation and justice spaces. Her involvement has deepened her commitment to community engagement and empowering others to find confidence and belonging through ocean connection. Jessica will lead youth advocacy engagement during the grant cycle and implementation.

A mixed-race queer artist, naturalist, educator, musician and surfer, Ava comes to Salted Roots with ten years of experience in nonprofit youth and family arts education, as well as eight years managing an art collective in San Francisco. Ava is passionate about fostering reciprocal relationships with the natural world. Her work is grounded in the belief that embodied self-expression can inspire personal healing, collective healing, and care for our more-than-human community. Ava holds an M.F.A. in Book Art and Creative Writing from Mills College, a B.A. in Literature and Creative Writing from U.C. Santa Cruz, and a California Naturalist certification from U.C. Davis.

Ava grew up playing on the unceded Ohlone land and waters known as San Francisco, and now lives in Huchiun (Oakland). When not in the ocean, they can be found hiking with their dog Iggy, nerding out about plants, or playing in the indie bands Galore and Healing Potpourri. 

Born in California, raised mostly in Japan and Europe, the ocean and nature was always a source of refuge and grounding for her as someone who grew up as a mixed-race, ethnically ambiguous and often culturally “confused” human. Madoka comes to Salted Roots with a decade of experience in nonprofit organizing and development. She also had stints of working as a full time yoga / mindfulness / sex-ed teacher for high schools across the Bay Area, followed by a chapter of being a full time gardener for some time. Madoka earned her B.A in Comparative Literature at Chapman University – her apartment table is full of books she is reading simultaneously. She is a passionate advocate for decolonizing the wellness world, creating more access to movement for those who are limited in mobility and/or access to embodiment and somatic practices of healing – which includes surfing! On her days off, you can find Madoka floating, swimming or surfing in the ocean or completely covered in soil while tending to her back yard. 

JR’s love for the ocean started from a very young age. Lips blue and goosebumps all over, their parents would pull them out of the Pacific Ocean just for them to cry to get back in the water. Despite being born and raised in landlocked Louisville, Kentucky, JR created an unwavering attachment to the underwater world, leading them to earn their B.S. in Aquatic Biology from University of California, Santa Barbara. A proud trans, neurodivergent, Haitian-American, JR saw a need for better representation and accessibility in marine sciences, influencing their shift in career paths to environmental education centered in equity and belonging for systematically excluded youth from the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. JR brings a wealth of experience in youth mentorship to Salted Roots, along with a deep passion for bridging knowledge gaps, celebrating each person’s unique connection to the ocean, and uplifting the next generation of ocean stewards. Outside of work, you’ll find JR staring out the window with their dog, Bodhi, training with their local swim team, and laying in the sun trying to photosynthesize. 

Growing up in the valleys of Tovaangar (Los Angeles Basin), Tricia relished every rare opportunity to touch the ocean on school field trips and boogie board during annual family beach camping trips. Access to the ocean expanded for her when she was a dance/theater arts student at UCSC (unceded territory of the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe), then later when she moved to Ohlone land (SF/ Oakland BayArea) to pursue work in the arts. Almost two decades later, she and her daughter participated in a Salted Roots community event that opened up the world of surfing for them. She is grateful to have this space to develop as a wave rider, support increased access to surfing, and feel the joy of community connection at the ocean. 

Her work with youth and families in various organizations is driven by her desire to support the cultivation of healthier lives through connection to land, water, and culture. She is a member of the healing advisory for Filipino Advocates for Justice, a bodyworker at Kokko Wellness, and an artist/facilitator with the Agasan project. 

Adriana comes to Salted Roots with over 13 years of experience in education and youth development. A common thread that weaves Adriana’s professional aspirations and beliefs together is her pursuit of social justice with a youth development-lens and community-based approach. Over the last decade, Adriana has worked in a variety of capacities in the nonprofit sector across the globe with communities ranging in their socioeconomic, cultural, and language backgrounds. Outside of work, Adriana has served on the leadership team for Women’s March Oakland and currently serves as the Secretary on the Board of Directors at Camp Phoenix, and the Alpha Chi Omega Chapter Advisor at UC Berkeley. Adriana holds a B.A in Psychology from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco. Adriana resides in Huchiun/Oakland with her partner and their dogs, Nova & Roux.