Cultivating the Next Generation of Creators
Design For Social Good
We educate creatives with leadership and real-world experience to launch design careers rooted in culture, community, and belonging.
Cultivating Changemakers Through Design for Social Good
Creating pathways to purpose and belonging in Oakland since 2009.
Our Mission
Since 2009, BRIDGEGOOD has advanced design equity by providing free access to career training, tech resources, and creative opportunities for under-resourced students and emerging creatives, centering culture, community, belonging, and storytelling.
Who We Help
BRIDGEGOOD welcomes all students and job seekers aged 18 and up, embracing individuals of all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences.
We place a strong emphasis on supporting women designers, individuals with disabilities, and nontraditional career switchers.
Our strength is rooted in the diverse voices that shape our creative community.
Our Vision
To develop empathetic, culturally aware design leaders who make a meaningful global impact.
What We Teach
Human-Centered Design & Emerging Technology
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Design
- Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Design
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- Tech and Digital Literacy
Career-Focused Creative Disciplines
- User Experience (UX) Design
- User Interface (UI) Design
- Product Design
- Visual and Business Design
Equity-Driven Design Practices
- Accessibility Design
- Design Thinking Methodology
- Movement Building through Design
- Career Development in Design
Oakland mindset since 2009
Priority Strategies
Digital Equity and Tech Inclusion
We believe that technological advancement should benefit society as a whole, not just a privileged segment of the population.
Inclusive Economic Mobility
We deliver the technical expertise, growth mindset, and professional resources required for students to secure meaningful lifelong work.
Creative Workforce Development
We provide project-based academic learning and industry design skills training to prepare diverse job seekers for career placement.
Racial and Social Justice
We amplify art and design for racial justice to inspire community, raise consciousness, and motivate Creatives to ignite social change.
Movement and Art Building
We cultivate creativity, courage, and community to activate belonging and sustain impact for Oakland’s communities of color.
Leadership & Team
Shaun Tai
Co-Founder & Executive Director, BRIDGEGOOD
Shaun Tai is a digital literacy pioneer and five-time 40-Under-40 award winner with a passion for improving tech opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and Designers of Color. For over 15 years, he has dedicated his career to empowering underrepresented communities by bringing people together across issues, identities, and communities to foster creativity and opportunity.
Shaun’s work centers on collective action, activating shared belonging, and building community-led solutions through design for social good. As Executive Director of BRIDGEGOOD, he leads with a vision rooted in solidarity, healing, and power-building, ensuring that every creative has the tools and support to thrive.
He holds a Master’s in Architectural & Urban Design and a BS in Advertising from San José State University. Prior to that, he graduated with honors from CSU East Bay with a BA in Digital Arts and was named “Distinguished Young Alumnus” for the 2014–15 academic year.
Shaun’s leadership earned him a prestigious Jefferson Award in 2023 for Public Service. CBS News/KPIX recognized his community contributions with one of five coveted Silver Medals.
Pronouns: he/him/his
Daniel Bao
Bookkeeper, BRIDGEGOOD
Daniel Bao is a seasoned nonprofit leader and LGBTQ+ advocate with over 30 years of experience advancing community wellness, health equity, and social justice. Since BRIDGEGOOD’s founding in 2009, Daniel has played a vital role in financial stewardship and strategic growth, working alongside the Executive Team and Board to build an organization rooted in culture, care, and accountability.
A longtime champion of collective action and belonging, Daniel previously served as Secretary and Membership Chair of the Gay Asian Pacific Alliance, where he led initiatives focused on health education, queer visibility, and Asian Pacific Islander empowerment. His activism began at Stanford University, where he earned both a BA in International Relations and an MA in Latin American Studies, and helped lead Stanford’s GLBT policy reform on campus.
Shaped by his upbringing as a Chinese Argentine immigrant, Daniel brings a global, intersectional lens to all his work, amplifying marginalized voices and advancing inclusive community solutions.
Pronouns: he/him/his
Achuta Anekal
Intern, Q2/Q3 2024
Product Designer
Ahreum Yeung
Team Member, 2021 – Present
Program Ambassador
(Visual Designer)
Aisha Tai
Team Member, 2024 – Present
Program Ambassador
(Mediator)
Albert Chang
Program Advisor, 2022 – 2024
AppDynamics, Webflow
Alexsys Hornsby
Intern, Q1 2022
Researcher
Allison Bernstein
Board Member, 2014 – 2018
Google
Arlyn Elopre
Team Member, Q3 2022
Program Ambassador
(Design Explorers Lead)
Becca Woo
Team Member, Q2/Q3 2024
Program Ambassador
(Design Explorers Lead)
Brett Webb
Board Member, 2017 – 2024
Favorite Medium
Brodie Rich
Board President, 2022 – Present
Beyond
Brooklyn Valera
Team Member, 2022 – 2024
Design Lead
(BRIDGEGOOD Atlanta)
Camila Baum
Board Member, 2023 – Present
Alameda Health System
Cathy Kuzia
Board Member, 2009 – 2011
Swirl
Christopher Cruz
Team Member, 2021 – 2023
Program Ambassador
(Illustrator)
Daniel Novick, AIA
Founding Board Member, 2009 – 2011
Mackenzie
David Landa
Board Member, 2023 – Present
Free Association
Deka Dike
Board Member, 2023 – Present
US Bank
Diego Munoz
Team Member, 2022 – 2023
Program Ambassador
(Digital Media Artist)
Divya Mittal
Intern, Q2/Q3 2024
UX Design Ambassador
Dom Taylor
Team Member, 2021 – 2024
Program Ambassador
(Visual Designer)
Doris Newsome
Legacy Board Member, 2009 – 2011
Kaiser Permanente
Effery Sims
Team Member, Q2/Q3 2023
Program Ambassador
(Illustrator)
Elisa Feng
Staff Member, 2022 – Present
Program Manager
Erica Hong
Board Member, 2014 – 2018
Twitter, Netflix
Gert Lombard
Board Member, 2015 – 2019
Twitter, Google
Hilda E. Mendoza
Staff Member, 2013 – 2015
Program Associate
(Business Development)
James Fong
Emeritus Board Member, 2009 – 2015
Bank of America
Jemena Tabayoyong
Intern, 2022 – 2023
Integration Strategist
Jess Allen-Goix
Team Member, 2023 – Present Program Ambassador
(Design Coordinator)
Kate McKenzie
Board Member, 2015 – 2019
The Climate Change Litigation Initative
Kevin Louie
Emeritus Board Member, 2013 – 2023
Twillo / Twillo.org
Kyle Rush
Board Member, 2022 – Present
Stanford Health Center, Kaiser Permanente
Laurie Satizabal
Team Member, 2022 – 2023
Program Ambassador
(Visual Designer)
Linda Poeng
Emeritus Board Founder, 2009 – 2023
The Clorox Company, VF Corporation
Lisa Sy
Board Member, 2017 – 2019
Meta / Facebook
Lisa Towles
Emeritus Board Member, 2019 – 2024
IBM, Western Digital
Mai Sese
Founding Board Member, 2009 – 2011
Emergency Shelter Program
Marcus Creel
Staff Member, 2013 – 2015
Visual Designer
Martin Kojnok
Board Treasurer, 2010 – Present
Corcoran Icon Properties
Marybeth Soriano
Team Member, 2022 – 2023
Program Ambassador
(Content Designer)
Masai Davis
Founding Board Member, 2009 – 2011
Legal Services for Prisoners with Children
Michael Shih
Emeritus Board Member, 2017 – 2023
US Bank
Min Wang
Board Member, 2010 – 2012
Yanfeng Visteon
Morganne Whaley
Intern, 2013 – 2015
Program Associate
Aylin Ayee
Intern, Q2/Q3 2024
Chief Happiness Officer
Norman Weekes
Board Member, 2009 – 2011 JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Olivia Trujilo
Team Member, 2022-2023 Program Ambassador
(UX & Visual Designer)
R. Shay Miles
Board Member, 2012 – 2016
The North Face, a VF Company
Rita Forte
Board Member, 2012 – 2016
The Olive Street Agency
Sarah Yorn
Team Member, 2024 – Present Program Ambassador
(Design Coordinator)
Steve Jing
Intern, Q1/Q2/Q3 2024
Content Designer
Sydney T. Nguyen
Board VP, 2023 – Present
Design Strategist & Researcher
Tarrea Tolbert
Board Secretary, 2023 – Present
Smartsheet
Tim Rosenblatt
Board Member, 2013 – 2019
BlackRock
TiYanna Long
Emeritus Board Member, 2013 – 2021
Bank of the West
Tori Spiegel
Team Member, 2022 – 2023
Product Design Ambassador
Trung Huynh
Emeritus Team Member, 2016 – 2022
Full Stack Engineer
Valerie Wiggins
Board Member, 2012 – 2014
San Francisco Housing Development Corporation
Yudy Herrera-Orellana
Emeritus Team Member, 2016 – 2022
Program Manager
Polo Tai
Team Mascot, 2022 – Present
BRIDGEGOOD
Alexander Au
Team Member, 2025 – Present
Design Leadership Associate
Elise Luna
Team Member, 2025 – Present
Design Program Coordinator
Mubarak Haruna
Team Member, 2022 – Present
Product Manager
Ornella Tchoumie
Program Advisor, 2025 – Present
Workday
Wilson Tai
Creator Producer, Metrotuned
Legacy Advisor & Co-Founder, BRIDGEGOOD
As a Culture Creator and brother of founder Shaun Tai, Wilson dedicated 12 years to advising, mentoring students, and recruiting developers for the BRIDGEGOOD web application. He played a key role in building brand awareness and engagement through storytelling, strategy, and content creation. Wilson also coined the growth slogan, ‘I’m a BRIDGEGOOD Creative.’
We miss you, Wilson.
Chelsea Seabron
Director, Social and Community Impact (Jordan Brand), Nike
Former President & Advisor, Board of Directors, BRIDGEGOOD, 2015-2019
Chelsea, former BRIDGEGOOD Board President and Google.org Manager, is a strategic problem solver dedicated to creating meaningful social impact. She focuses on expanding awareness, tech access, and opportunities for marginalized communities. Chelsea also led BRIDGEGOOD’s essential rebrand from Oakland Digital Arts and Literacy Center.
Joseph Gross
President & CEO, Sustainable Systems
Legacy Advisor, BRIDGEGOOD
Joe co-founded Sustainable Systems in 1994 to use business as a tool for economic, social, and environmental justice. In 1998, he launched Oakland’s first tech incubator and accelerator, and in 2012, he helped start the East Bay Broadband Consortium. In BRIDGEGOOD’s early years, he collaborated with Executive Director Shaun Tai, offering guidance, consultation, and key resources.
Donald Tamaki
Senior Counsel, Minami Tamaki LLP
Legal Advisor, BRIDGEGOOD
For 40+ years, Donald has provided strategic legal counsel to entrepreneurs, private companies, and nonprofits, specializing in commercial leasing, employment law, corporate governance, licensing, and acquisitions. Recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer for 20+ consecutive years, he holds the highest rating for competency and ethics. His guidance and expertise were essential to the creation of BRIDGEGOOD.
Dr. Andreas Weigend
Director, Social Data Lab
Former Chief Scientist, Amazon
Senior Advisor, BRIDGEGOOD
Andreas is a leading expert in big data, consumer behavior, and social-mobile technologies. As a former Chief Scientist at Amazon, he played a key role in shaping the company’s data strategy and fostering a culture of innovation. He holds a Ph.D. in physics from Stanford and currently teaches at UC Berkeley and Fudan University in Shanghai. Andreas collaborated with Shaun Tai to connect thought leaders who helped support BRIDGEGOOD’s founding.
MC Hammer
American Icon & Entrepreneur
Honorary Advisor, BRIDGEGOOD
MC Hammer, a cultural pioneer and proud advocate for Oakland, was the first hip-hop artist to achieve diamond status for an album. A dedicated supporter of BRIDGEGOOD since its founding as Oakland Digital Arts and Literacy Center Inc., he champions creativity, technology, and AI. Hammer actively connects the nonprofit with innovators, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders worldwide. Shaun Tai considers him a friend, mentor, and a true community champion.
