Be Part of Our Story

PAST TO PRESENT

Nearly 9 years ago, The Practice Space held its first Board meeting in founder AnnMarie Baines’ basement. Six members of the newly-formed Board of Directors crafted the original mission statement and dove into the joy and uncertainty of dreaming a nonprofit into reality. AnnMarie prepared binders with updates about launching the website, finding an office, and creating the logo, while everyone shared thoughts over homemade cookies. They didn’t all know what it would look like, but they were ready for the journey.

Today, the Board has grown to 11 members, whose backgrounds include PhDs, executives, and leaders in the fields of education, finance and social impact, artificial intelligence, law, and health care. Across this diverse expertise is the shared commitment to building the capacity of people and organizations to expand their life opportunities, own their capabilities, and navigate systems. They know that confidence and self-belief is built through mentorship, which is especially important for people who have been under-resourced, labeled, and pushed to the margins. They have personally witnessed and experienced the power of the mission.

BOARD MEMBER REFLECTIONS

Several of the original founding Board members remain on the Board, and their deep dedication continues today.

Todd Groves, the President of the Board, reflects, "The Practice Space began with understanding that quieted voices offer deep insights if conditions allow them to be heard. We strive to build communities that promote sharing ideas across conventional barriers."

"We could not have foreseen in nine short years that fear of speaking up would grow so dramatically," he adds somberly.

"The Practice Space gives all people the tools to communicate clearly and efficiently. To hear and help others to do the same. To build communities both fearless and respectful. Never has our mission been more important."

Another board member, Paul Baines, chimes in: "From Day 1, the mission of The Practice Space was always focused on empowering our communities through both communication skills and confidence building. Like all non-profits, we strive for a world where our organization no longer needs to exist one day, as the root problem has been solved."

Paul continues, "For us, that would mean that we live in a world where all communities have access to communication education, not just the privileged few, and where people can communicate with authenticity and without fear. Sadly, as a society we are arguably further away from that future than we are from the day when The Practice Space was born. Given that, our mission is more important than ever. That, and the countless examples of impact we’ve had over the years are what keeps me as passionate as ever!"

AnnMarie Baines, The Practice Space's Founder & CEO, shares her story: "Mentors help us believe in ourselves. Growing up, I was lucky to have teachers, family, and a church who fundraised the money I needed to access quality youth programs. Through speech and debate, I received coaching and mentorship that taught me to believe in myself and my voice. This early community support was a long-term investment in me and I continue to feel the ripple effects. The Practice Space has deep community roots – as a trusted community organization, we specialize in lifelong development through education. As founder, I originally started this nonprofit to give under-resourced communities access to the mentorship they need to succeed at work, school, and life. This work continues to be even more relevant today. Communication skills are essential to self-belief, leadership and social mobility and everyone should have opportunities to develop them."

SUPPORT OUR ANNUAL APPEAL

Unfortunately, funding cuts and an uncertain landscape are making it hard to continue this work. As a nonprofit, The Practice Space fills an important gap in out-of-school programming and workforce development. Since that first meeting in the basement, The Practice Space has made a lasting impact in the lives of nearly 4,500 people. This work will continue to strengthen city ecosystems through educational programs and workforce development.

This year’s annual appeal will fund 3 specific spheres:

• Support to keep our office space in Richmond, CA, where we host events and programs
• Access to speech and debate programs by supporting tournament registration and travel, coaches, and supplies
• Professional development workshops in low-income communities across Contra Costa County with a focus on skills needed for job interviews, self-advocacy, public comment, and presentations

All contributions, regardless of size, represent an investment in the future of our young leaders and commitment to the community’s legacy.

Make a donation here.

MEET OUR BOARD

The Practice Space owes their success to the incredibly well-rounded team of individuals listed below. Every board member sustains deep roots in our community and offers a vast range of expertise in different sectors and industries. We are truly grateful for every name on this list:

• Todd Groves, Retired School Board Member, West Contra Costa Unified
• Dr. Paul Porter, Director of Belonging & Inclusion, National Speech & Debate Association
• Dr. Sylvia Sudat, Director of Research & Scholarship, Sutter Health
• Dr. Paul Baines, Head of Product & Engineering, Stealth Start-Up
• Lorna Contreras-Townsend, Global Head of Social Impact, Sustainability and Social Responsibility, Capital Group
• Dr. Angel Ward-Jackson, Executive School Director & Special Projects, Envision Education
• Jade Shipman, Principal & CEO, Jade Shipman Economics
• Jessie Stewart, Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships, UC Berkeley Cameron Institute for Student-Athlete Development
• Dr. Angela DeBarger, Former Program Officer, William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
• Jeni Frudden, Supervising Attorney, Family Law Project, The Justice and Diversity Center of The Bar Association of San Francisco
• Sneha Banerjee, Attorney at King and Spalding
• Dr. AnnMarie Baines, Founder & CEO, The Practice Space