On Thursday, February 25, 2021, GGU Presents, the GGU Race & Justice Task Force (RJTF), and the GGU’s Black Law Student Association (BLSA) co-hosted an engaging conversation with social change activist, organizational development consultant, and Golden Gate University School of Law alumnus, Gregory Hodge ’85.
Mr. Hodge is a social change activist and organizational development consultant with Khepera Consulting. As a strategist, meeting designer, racial equity trainer, facilitator, and coach, Mr. Hodge works with a range of groups from small non-profits and foundations to public agencies—particularly school districts and foundations. He is also the the Chief Network Officer for the Oakland-based Brotherhood of Elders Network and is a coordinating partner in designing the Healing Generations Institute with the National Compadres Network.
As a leader in his community, Mr. Hodge served two four-year terms as a member of the Oakland Unified School District Board of Education beginning in January 2000; including a year as president of the board. Mr. Hodge is also a Fulbright-Hays Fellow, recipient of a Gerbode Foundation Fellowship, and board chair of the Rockwood Leadership Institute.
With an introduction by Prof. Jyoti Nanda, student leaders Marthea Alley-Caliz, representing the RJTF, and BLSA President Amye Osakue co-hosted Mr. Hodge for a discussion on: his education and career path; working for racial equity; key personal and organizational considerations for moving from talk to action with an equity agenda; and the racial disparities in health outcomes related to COVID-19.
Marthea Alley-Caliz has over twenty years of experience working with nonprofit, small business, and government groups which provide important community-based services. Currently, she works for Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services as a special projects lead for the Child and Young Adult System of Care, a recent transition as the lead for contract oversight of language and culturally-specific services, and previously worked for the Alameda County Probation Department running their data unit and launching a number of its first grant-based programs to support cross-over youth and adults re-entering our communities.
Before moving to the Bay Area, Ms. Alley-Caliz managed the Contracts Administration Unit for the County of Riverside, Department of Public Social Services. Prior to working for local government, she served as the Executive Director of the Resource Center for Nonprofit Management, a nonprofit administrative training and advocacy center for nonprofits in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Prior to that, she served as the Project Director for the Marriott Foundation for People with Disabilities, Los Angeles site.
Outside of work, Ms. Alley-Caliz serves as a consultant with an emphasis on organizational, leadership, and board development, as well as program sustainability. She is a part-time evening student at Golden Gate University, School of Law. She holds a BA in Public Administration from U.C. Berkeley. She is a board member of Beyond Emancipation and Advisory Member of BlackFemaleProject and Bay Area Youth Arts. She is the mother of two and enjoys volunteering for church and community programs, particularly those that support youth, African American history, and the arts.
Amye Osakue is currently a 2L at Golden Gate University School of Law. Her passion for social justice has led her to become a member of the Race and Justice Task force and also serve as President for the Black Law Student Association. Amye also has been selected to be apart of GGUs National Mock Trial Team where she will represent GGU in the Spring 2021 Ethics Competition. Along with being a law student, Amye is currently interning for the Los Angeles County Public Defenders Office, where she is seeking to get hired post bar.
