Phillip Rodriguez
Phillip is the founder of New Hope For Youth. He has been reaching out to young men, women, their families, as well as communities, who have been affected to life styles of gangs, drugs, violence, incarceration, and poverty. For the first part of his life, he was consumed by gangs, drugs, prison and violence. God came into his heart at a time when he had no hope. It was at that moment when he realized his sole purpose in life was to make an impact within his community. Phillip is an overcomer. He has been impacting lives in San Jose shifting the culture He started a company that identifies and embodies his exact nature to change the world.
Phillip has been married for 20 years to Annette and has five children. He enjoys his job that allows him to help people and show them that there is hope for a better tomorrow.
Annette Rodriguez
Annette Rodriguez is happily married to Phillip Rodriguez and is a mother and grandmother. Annette has a passion for reaching out and helping those who struggle with substance abuse issues, are at-risk and involved in the destructive gang lifestyle. Annette has life experience and was able to find herself out of drugs and gangs through God and the help of others. She has been clean and sober since 2006 and has worked for the community. Annette graduated from San Jose City College to obtain her CAADAC and Criminal Justice degree. Annette has the passion and desire to give back what was given to her and is a strong believer of change.
Matt Stanek
Matt Stanek is a San Jose native who graduated from Gunderson High School, West Valley College, San Jose State University. Raised in San Jose, he was consumed by gangs, drugs, prison, and violence. Matt has then turned his life around and pursued his passion for criminal justice. He has practiced law in the Bay Area for over 20 years. Matt believes that with help, support, and encouragement, all people can succeed.
In addition to work, family, and his commitment to New Hope for Youth, Matt is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fishing, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, rock climbing, and kayaking. He has found and appreciates the challenges and freedom of the outdoors and enjoys sharing that passion with others.
Rachel Stanek
Rachel Stanek graduated from Gunderson High School and San Jose State University. She has taught English in the East Side Union High School District for over 25 years and is currently a behavior advisor at W.C. Overfelt High School in San Jose. During her years working with San Jose’s most at-risk youth, Rachel has seen the effects that violence, drugs, and alcohol can have on young people, but moreover, she has witnessed the incredible impact of effective youth outreach.
Rachel knows that buried within even the most “troubled” kid is a young person with potential and worth. When mentors and support services work effectively to help these kids find their paths through the difficult teen years, true potentials can be consistently achieved.
Grace Gonzalez
Grace developed her passion of working with at-risk youth at a very young age. As a teenager, she always reached out to her peers who were constantly in trouble and headed towards the wrong path.
Being the first generation in her family to attend college, Grace graduated from San Jose state university with a bachelors in Sociology, concentration in Criminology and Minor in Chicano Studies in 2006. Grace started off working as a tutor at Pathfinder High School and worked her way up to become one of the school counselors. She later joined Gardner Family Care Corp in 2007 as a Mental Health Rehabilitation Specialist, where she continues to work. At GFCC, Grace provides individual, family, and group counseling to dually diagnosed adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system who have been victims of sexual abuse as well as adults currently on parole and probation assisting them with re- entry into the community.
Grace is in the process of obtaining her Masters degree in Social Work at San Jose State University and continues to reach out to troubled youth and assisting them overcome any obstacles they may encounter.
