Starfish Circle is a place to showcase some of Silicon Valley's most innovative non profit organizations and what is happening in the Valley as it pertains to community development, youth development and issues that affect the community where we live, work, and raise our children.
Specifically:
- Highlighting and translating into normal language the latest technology tools and potential applications for non profits big and small.
- Interviews with local up and coming social change leaders and tips from some of the most experienced community leaders in the Valley.
- Social change ideas from the best locally and nationally.
Who are we?
Sheila Bernus Dowd - Founder and editor
Prior to launching Starfish Circle Sheila Bernus Dowd served over 12 years in the non profit sector throughout California. Most recently, she worked at Project Cornerstone, a Santa Clara County wide youth development movement focused on ensuring all youth have the assets needed to thrive. There she served many capacities from Communications and Development Director to Director of Training and Youth Partnerships, Sheila worked with all types of groups- youth groups, schools and corporations to think intentionally and strategically about how they support young people.
Her love of training and working with young leaders was honed through her prior experience as the Executive Director of Public Allies Silicon Valley. A non-profit apprenticeship/leadership program that sought the best and brightest in Silicon Valley and tried to keep them or lure them into the non-profit sector.
Before joining Public Allies, Sheila served as a Team Leader for the American Red Cross Rapid Response Corps in Los Angeles, Founder of the Asian Pacific Women's Resource Center at California State University-Fullerton, and as a Development Intern with the California Women's Law Center and Women's Legal Defense Fund in Washington, D.C. She is a graduate of Leadership Development in Interethnic Relations in Los Angeles, Youth Service America's Next Generation Training Program and is a graduate of Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce's Community Leadership program.
She has previously served as an advisory board member with Girls for a Change, Asian Americans for Community Involvement and the Junior League of San Jose. She helped to found the Cory Neighborhood Association and is the proud mommy of two.
