Administration
Mary Trimble Norris, Executive Director mary@aicrc.org (510) 208-1870 x 305
Youth Services
Erick Aleman, After School Program Coordinator
erick@aicrc.org (510) 208-1870 x 312
Erick (Salvadoran-American) was born and raised in the Bay Area. He received his BA in Sociology and Minor in Education from the University of California, Davis. Erick has been working with youth for close to 8 years in various capacities, with an emphasis on college admissions and post-secondary opportunities. Erick’s is the After-School Program Coordinator for the Indian Education Center; he is responsible for the oversight of the after-school program, as well as providing direct services to students.
Manny Lieras, Title VI Indian Education Coordinator manny@aicrc.org
Manny (Navajo & Comanche) has worked with AICRC for over 15 years. Currently he is the Title VI Indian Education Coordinator. Manny moved from San Diego, CA after receiving his BA from San Diego State University to Oakland to work with inner-city / urban American Indian youth at AICRC. Manny has established himself as a influential role model and change agent in the Oakland Intertribal community. Manny has many talents and wears many hats. When he’s not working at the American Indian Child Resource Center you might find him volunteering to teach pow wow drumming and singing or producing a film with Injunuity (www.injunuity.org).
Christian Logan, Tutor / Program Assistant christian@aicrc.org (510) 208-1870 x 311
My name is Christian Logan. I am Shawnee, Sac & Fox, Kickapoo, Iowa, Osage, Iñupiat, Potawatomi and Guatemalan. I was born and raised in Oakland, CA and am an alumni of the AICRC after-school-program. I am a business owner who previously worked several years landscaping and gardening in the private and public sectors. Working with youth in AICRC’s Sovereign Seeds & Starts program is inspirational, I enjoy being able to learn and teach about plants from a traditional and indigenous perspectives. I am grateful to be able to build and sustain healthy gardens that help bring wellness to the Oakland intertribal community.
Desirae Delony, Outreach Advocate / Program Assistant desirae@aicrc.org (510) 208-1870 x 319
Yá’át’ééh shik’éí dóó shidine’é. Shí éí Desirae yinishyé. Tł’izí łání nishłį́. Táchii’nii bashishchiin. Tábąąhá dashicheii. Tódí ch’íi’nii dashinalí. Ákót’éego diné asdzáán nishłį́. Translation: Hello, my name is Desirae. I am Many Goats Clan born for the Red Running Into the Water People Clan. My maternal grandfather is from the Water’s Edge Clan. My paternal grandfather is from the Bitter Water Clan. In this way, I am a Navajo woman.
Desirae moved to the Bay Area in 2011 and most recently relocated from the Dallas Metroplex Area. Desirae has a vast background in the social welfare field where she has served at various non-profit and government entities. While in Texas, she received her Bachelors of Social Work from the University of North Texas. Desirae has lived expressed on and off the Navajo reservation, which provides her with a unique lens into the various barriers that Native youth face at the elementary, high school, and post-secondary levels. In addition, she is a mixed media artist and vintage clothing enthusiast.
Social Services
Darlyn Tsosie MSW, Foster Care Supervisor
darlyn@aicrc.org (510) 208-1870 x 315
Darlyn (Navajo), has worked at AICRC for over 10 years and receiving her Master’s Degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University. Currently, she is the Foster Care Supervisor and Administrator and Bay Area Collaboration of American Indian Resources (BACAIR) Team Decision Making (TDM) Coordinator for Alameda County. Her responsibilities include recruitment, certification of foster homes and keeping foster homes in regulation to Community Care Licensing. She is responsible for placement of Native children in foster care looking for caring Native foster homes and working with Child Protective Service and Native American Tribes regarding ICWA compliance. As a Team Decision Making Coordinator she also provided Native identified families in the child welfare system culturally appropriate resources through collaborations with other Native programs and agencies.
Andrew DeMers LMFT, Therapist andrew@aicrc.org (510) 208-1870 x 303
Andrew was born in Troy, NY and is of European, African, and other decent. He received his Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance from Hunter College with the City University of New York in 1998. He then went on to receive a Master’s of Science in Teaching at Pace University in New York, NY. He taught for four years in Red Hook, Brooklyn; in elementary and special education. Andrew received his Master’s of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA in 2010. He has been working in the field of mental health ever since. He currently attends Alliant International University in Sacramento, CA in pursuit of a Doctorate of Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is excited to be a member of AICRC’s staff as the Project Director for the Native American Child Abuse Treatment grant and will be providing individual, group, and family counseling through AICRC’s various programs.