Leading the Mission Behind the Scenes -
Our Board of Directors
MEET THE TEAM
Joe Litehiser - Board Chair
Joe Litehiser claimed he was not wise enough to be born in San Francisco but lucky enough to find and move to the City forty-seven years ago and the Excelsior District eight years ago. Educated at Indiana University and Berkeley, he holds several degrees, completing his academic study with a Ph. D in Geophysics. For the last forty-two years he worked in the corporate world for Bechtel, affording him the opportunity to travel to every continent of the world except Antarctica. At the end of every trip upon returning home, he was reminded of just what a special place San Francisco is and how very lucky he is to have found his way here. Overlapping with the last decade or so of his working career has been an increasing interest in community organizations and their contributions to the City. Starting with accepting a position on the Board of Directors of the Friends of Camp Mather, which he still holds, his participation with neighborhood and park groups has increased after moving to the Excelsior, most recently with becoming Chair of the EAG Board of Directors. In the eight years living in the Excelsior it has become clear to him that this most diverse area in the City is poised to exemplify its name, and Joe is excited to be part of this upward journey.
Cathy Mulkey-Meyer - Board Vice-Chair & External Committee Vice-Chair
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As Employment and Training Specialist for the City & County of San Francisco, Cathy Mulkey-Meyer finds it exciting to see the results of strategic planning and partnership building from the first inkling of an idea, through brainstorming, creating a processes, through to successful development and implementation. Helping her community, especially youth, access job training, employment, and other programs and resources to grow and achieve their dreams is what Cathy calls her life's work. Former Chief of Staff for District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí and President of 2nd District PTA of California, Cathy brings her extensive experience recruiting in the corporate, public, non-profit, and volunteer sectors to EAG's Board..
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Bruce Colville - Board Treasurer, Internal Committee Vice-Chair
Dr. Bruce Colville is a resident of the Excelsior District. Currently he is a school counselor at Our Lady of Mercy School in Daly City. For many years, Dr. Colville has been employed with the Archdiocese of San Francisco Department of Catholic Schools serving as an Administrator, teacher and counselor. He chaired the Archdiocesan School Board, was on the executive board of the Secondary Teachers Union of Archdiocese of San Francisco and is a co-founder of the 600 Block Lisbon Street Neighborhood Watch Program. Dr. Colville’s earned his doctorate from the University of San Francisco; an historical study of the collective bargaining agreement between the secondary teachers lay teachers union and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Dr. Colville and his wife Elizabeth, a former program director for the San Franciscan Department of Public Health, have one son Andrew, an active member of Local 6 IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. They are longtime residents of the Excelsior District of San Francisco and live on Lisbon Street. Dr. Colville comes to the Excelsior Action Group with a deep commitment to community economic and cultural resiliency, the core vision of the Excelsior Action Group.
Dr. Bruce Colville is a resident of the Excelsior District. Currently he is a school counselor at Our Lady of Mercy School in Daly City. For many years, Dr. Colville has been employed with the Archdiocese of San Francisco Department of Catholic Schools serving as an Administrator, teacher and counselor. He chaired the Archdiocesan School Board, was on the executive board of the Secondary Teachers Union of Archdiocese of San Francisco and is a co-founder of the 600 Block Lisbon Street Neighborhood Watch Program. Dr. Colville’s earned his doctorate from the University of San Francisco; an historical study of the collective bargaining agreement between the secondary teachers lay teachers union and the Archdiocese of San Francisco. Dr. Colville and his wife Elizabeth, a former program director for the San Franciscan Department of Public Health, have one son Andrew, an active member of Local 6 IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. They are longtime residents of the Excelsior District of San Francisco and live on Lisbon Street. Dr. Colville comes to the Excelsior Action Group with a deep commitment to community economic and cultural resiliency, the core vision of the Excelsior Action Group.
Linda D'Avirro - Board Secretary
A 30-year neighborhood resident and homeowner, Linda D'Avirro enjoys learning about new programs, apps and ideas. Earning a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature and Humanities from San Francisco State University, Linda continued her studies with and L.L.B. at Western State University of Law and a J.D. from University of Irvine. Linda serves on the EAG Board as Secretary, and served on other Boards, including of Precita Eyes Muralists Association, Inc. (PEM) as Treasurer, Salesforce Admin and Volunteer Coordinator, and as Chair of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee (PROSAC). Linda participates in other community groups as Newsletter Editor and member of Friends and Advocates of Crocker Amazon and Excelsior Committee (FACE), Co-Founder of Friends of the Jerry Garcia Amphitheater and Live from the AMP/Saturday in the Park McLaren, Co-Founder, McLaren Park Collaborative, Chair, Crocker Amazon Park Advisory Committee and its Community Recreation Council, member, Excelsior Collaborative and Secretary of Excelsior District Improvement Association. Linda's focus areas are: Non-profit Management, Policy, Business, Community Engagement and Open Space.
Grace D'Anca
Grace D'Anca has been an Excelsior resident for 18 years, and is a long- time San Francisco resident. She is the parent of a daughter who attended San Francisco public schools. Grace studied the theatre, dance, art, creative writing, and journalism in college and graduate school. Grace is a youth and arts advocate who says some of her most memorable neighborhood experiences are working on public art and beautification projects with community members of all ages. She worked for many years as a creative arts therapist with youth and adults with special needs and was the volunteer services manager at St. Luke's Hospital. Grace was the District 11 Democratic Club Secretary and currently serves on the Excelsior Boys and Girls Club Advisory Committee, Geneva Car Barn and Powerhouse Arts Program Board, FACE Steering Committee, and is a District 11 Council Delegate.
Al Harris
Al Harris has shown a dedication to community organizing for over twenty years. In a past life, Al worked as a community organizer for Safety Network, a non-profit dedicated to public safety. Nowadays, Al continues in the field as a volunteer. He has been a board member of OMI-Neighbors in action and the OMI Safety Committee since 1992. Since 1999, Al has served as a District 11 Council delegate, a member of the District 11 Democratic Club, and a member of the Ocean View Park Advisory Committee. Al also currently serves as a board member for the OMI Community Action Organization, a steering committee member for the Neighborhood Parks Council, an advisory committee member for the Excelsior Boys and Girls Club, and a board member for the Western Neighborhood Project. As a Board member of the Excelsior Action Group, Al is able to bring all this experience and knowledge to our corridor.
Mary Harris
Mary Harris is proud to be a native San Franciscan with a strong history of community action. She is currently involved with over ten community organizations including: being a founding member and president of the District 11 Council, a founding member and Vice President of the District 11 Democratic Club, a steering committee member of the OAA Safety Committee, a member of Friends of the Ingleside Library, a member of the OMI Community Action Organization, a member of the Community Police Academy Alumni, a member of the Excelsior Youth Center Advisory Board, a member of the OMI/E Beacon Center Community Advisory Board, a member of the Ingleside NERT, a delegate to the Coalition of San Francisco Neighborhoods (CSFN), a member of the Taraval Community Advisory Boards (CAB), and a member of the Minnie & Lovie Ward Community Recreation Council. All this is in addition to her valued participation with the Excelsior Action Group as a Steering Committee Member. Mary was awarded the 2017 Neighborhood Empowerment Network (NEN) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her work throughout the District and City, making San Francisco a better place.
RUBIE NAVARRO
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Rubie Navarro, born and raised in San Francisco’s Mission District comes from a strong rooted and community-based family that has always empowered and trained the youth and their families to become upstanding pillars of this City’s various communities. Both she and her father (Carlos Navarro) have trained groups including The Guardian Angels, San Francisco Police Department recruits and, various security companies staff how to physically protect themselves as well as deflect any negative onsets. She has been acknowledged in many media channels such as radio, television, newspaper, and magazine. Despite her tragedy in 1996, when Rubie and her family business (Navarro’s Martial Arts Academy & Gym) severely suffered from being gentrified out of their location of over 40 years, she continues to uphold her Father’s Legacy and teaches at her new home base at 960 Geneva Avenue. (415) 550-1694. Rubie Navarro is actively involved in many community events, festivals, and parades. To sum it up; she is a multi talented individual that loves sports (especially martial arts), music, food and keeping our community members, friends and families healthy and happy through exercise.
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CLAIRE ZVANSKI
Excelsior resident and home-owner Claire Zvanski’s academic studies include a B.A. in Political Science and Government and M.A. degrees in Secondary Education and Counseling and Guidance. Member of the Health Services Board, SF Orchid Society, District 11 Council, the District 11 Democratic Club, a delegate to the Coalition of San Francisco Neighborhoods (CSFN), and a member of the Excelsior Action Group as a Steering Committee Board Member. Claire's focus areas are: Fundraising, City Agencies and nonprofit partners
Our Community
The Excelsior Action Group is a community organization that gets its direction from community stakeholders within the District, not just people that hold titles within our organization. EAG's Board of Directors welcomes input from everyone in the Excelsior, Outer Mission, Broad/Randolph and other's "Best Practices". If you care about our community, have ideas that you want to share, problems that you want fixed, solutions that haven't been tried, contact us!
