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About

Empowering families in North Fair Oaks through community, wellness, and academic success

Our Mission

LEVANTAR UPLIFTS IMMIGRANT FAMILIES IN NORTH FAIR OAKS AND REDWOOD CITY—OFFERING EDUCATION, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT, AND RESPONSIVE SUPPORT THROUGH TRUSTED RELATIONSHIPS.

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Since 2007, we’ve walked alongside families and students in North Fair Oaks, building relationships that last. Through gentrification, school closures, the pandemic, and even our own forced relocation, we’ve stayed.

Our dedicated team meets the needs of our community and partners with local schools, congregations, businesses, and city leaders. Together with hundreds of volunteers, we help students and parents grow — in literacy, life skills, confidence, and connection. Academic support, cultural celebrations, and learning workshops are just a few of the ways that we foster belonging and connection. This work brings together generations and cultures, planting seeds of hope and lasting change in our community.

North Fair Oaks is a vibrant neighborhood near Redwood City, known for its cultural richness, resilience, and strong community spirit. Families here create a welcoming environment full of tradition, connection, and possibility — the very spirit Levantar celebrates and supports.

¡Levantar!

Our History

The vision for Levantar (formerly Generations United, or GU) arose from empathy. Born in the San Francisco Bay Area to immigrant parents and raised by a single mom, Pastor Angie Ibarra-Miller possesses intimate knowledge of the challenges many families must overcome.

After 25 years of professional service in the corporate sector, Angie left to devote her life full-time to empowering struggling families in the Redwood City community. In 2012, a pilot program for an after-school evening program was initiated at the local Hoover Elementary School.

This cooperative and holistic endeavor formed the philosophical basis for Levantar, a community-based organization that has reached over 1,000 children at schools in Redwood City and the North Fair Oaks neighborhood.

Backpack drive

  • Children Reached Annually

    0+

  • Volunteers Mobilized

    0+

  • In Seed Grants

    $0+

Our TEam

  • Angie headshot

    Angie Ibarra Miller

    Founder and Executive Director, Pastor

  • Keith

    Keith Miller

    Director of Operations

  • Candice photo

    Candice Bún

    Communications and Administration Manager

  • Cryatal t

    Crystal Ibarra Tapelu

    Program Manager/Social Media

  • Juancarlos bio pic scaled

    Juancarlos Cancilla

    Volunteer Coordinator/Community Liaison

  • Josselin antonio juarez

    Josselin Antonio Juarez

    Family Engagement Coordinator/AEC Site Lead

  • Ana betty photo scaled

    Ana Betty Lopez

    Program Assistant

  • Jenny headshot

    Jenny Yip

    Volunteer Coordinator/Community Liaison

Our Board

  • Benita square

    Benita Hopkins

    Chairwoman of the Board

  • Stan square

    Stanley Johnson

    Board Member

  • Peter morris

    Peter Morris

    Board Member

  • Kylie billingsley

    Kylie Billingsley

    Board Member

  • Stevejoh

    Steve Joh

    Board Member

  • Edwin headshot rotated

    Edwin Guzman

    Board Member

  • Katrina valera headshot

    Katrina Valera

    Board Member

Career Opportunities

Do you have a love for children, and a passion to see them reach their full potential as learners and productive members in their communities?

Are you…

  • Good with people
  • Responsible and hard-working
  • Eager to contribute your skills with a dedicated team of staff

Interested in..

  • Increasing your awareness about the broken systems of our
  • Practicing the cross-cultural bridge-building necessary to foster lasting, positive change?

If so, we encourage you to apply for a role with Levantar.
We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

  • Academic Enrichment Center (AEC) Support Staff

    Redwood City | Mon - Fri 2PM - 6 PM
    $20 / Hour

Timeline

¡Levantar! has empowered families since 2007 through the power of Proximity, Presence and Longevity.

2007
2007 - 2010
2011 - 2012
2015
2016
2015 - 2017
2017
2019 - 2022
2020 - 2021
2021
2023 - 2024
Oct 2023
2024

Founded and Incorporated

  • Full-time staff at First Resort, CityTeam Ministries, SMC Youth Network
  • Moved to Redwood City
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Building a Foundation

  • Angie was on full-time staff at First Resort, CityTeam Ministries
  • Launched the San Mateo County Youth Network to empower youth pastors and mobilize the youth of our area.
  • Moved efforts to Redwood City
  • Began serving with PCC
5 mid

Local Partnerships Formed

  • Partnership with Sequoia High School led to Moms ESL launch at Kennedy Middle School
  • PCC Partnership – Beautiful Day/Kennedy Christmas Store. 
  • Launched Moms ESL at Taft, Hoover, Fair Oaks, and Garfield Schools. 
  • Partnership with RWC Parks and Recreation, Redwood City Library, Redwood City Police Department, Redwood 2020, and a local church Evening Family education programs – computer, fitness, ESL, and more.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Fair Oaks School 

  • Redwood City Reads was birthed at Roosevelt, Hawes, Taft
  • Ballet for girls in NFO in partnership with the American Academy of Ballet
  • Menlo Church Compassion weekends
  • Launched John Gill Redwood City Reads

Expansion of Partnerships

Young Men’s Service League (YMSL)

[Supp. Text?]

Expanded to Schaberg Library 

With a budget of $60k (Roosevelt School)

  • Expanded partner relationships with CPC, Menlo, Sequoia Church
  • Chan Zuckerberg Initiative grantee (2017-2023)

Pandemic & Community Care

  • Battle Cry for a Generation youth event at [now] Oracle Park
  • San Mateo County(SMC) Youth Network

Food Distribution, Renaissance, Measure K, Sobrato

Warren Slocum feasibility study, Summer Camp at Calvary

  • Moved into Second Avenue & established AEC headquarters
  • Over 40 Partnerships with churches, businesses, schools, and others
  • Partnered with Laurel Arts for a Community Mural and CZI Community Room
  • Key Milestones: $500k budget and 200+ Volunteers, 20 Sponsors, Partners, and Grants

Business Entrepreneur Support

  • Business class 101 with 50 graduates qualifying for seed grants
  • Expanded Summer Camp to 8 weeks in partnership with Peninsula Covenant Church, including VBS with the Salvation Army

Pastor Angie

Angie became a credentialed Pastor with the Evangelical Covenant Church

Increased grant strategies with Stanford, Sobrato, and the County of SM

  • Over $500k seed grants to Small Business Owners

Every contribution Makes a difference

Join us today!

Ana betty photo scaled

Ana Betty Lopez

Program Assistant

Ana Elizabeth is better known as “Anabetty”. She came to North Fair Oaks from El Salvador and is married to Martin Enrique Rodriguez, from Mexico. They have 4 children. She says “I love to learn something new every day. I love to cook and help wherever I can. If life doesn’t smile upon you, give life a smile.”

Jenny headshot

Jenny Yip

Administrative Assistant

Jenny grew up in San Mateo with her divorced mother and three of her seven siblings in a one-bedroom duplex. She has since lived, worked, and worshipped in the San Francisco Bay Area, attending college at UC Berkeley. Together for over 20 years, Jenny and her husband, Jason, have been raising their two children - a collegiate daughter and a high school son - in Belmont.

God blessed Jenny with a job straight out of college in high-tech consulting, followed by another at an internet consulting company. Early in her career, she felt called to use her God-provided technical and consulting skills and experience to serve Christian organizations, including local churches, Billy Graham Crusades, and Family Life Ministries. In addition to her spiritual gift of administration and expertise in project management, Jenny has a passion for organization. She has helped fellow moms in her MomCo and Moms in Prayer groups declutter and organize their homes. Now, she’s excited to use her God-given gifts and skills to support the Generations United team in furthering God’s kingdom in North Fair Oaks and Redwood City. Comment end

Kopo usa

Kopo Tapelu

 Facilities and AEC Support

Bio coming soon!

Josselin antonio juarez

Josselin Antonio Juarez

Family EnGagement Coordinator/AEC Site Lead

Josselin is a native of the Bay Area. She was born in Redwood City, moved away for a few years, but has been calling the East Bay home since 2010. She studied Sociology at UC Berkeley and has a passion for helping others and giving back to the community. During her time at Berkeley, she was the Events Chair Officer for Direct Action for Farmworkers, a student-run mutual aid organization dedicated to helping farm workers and their families. Josselin brings valuable experience as a former youth program coordinator, where she helped design and lead a summer art program for an after-school center. Josselin will be the point of contact for families as well as the lead of the AEC and help coordinate community events.

In her free time, Josselin is all about baking up tasty treats, showing off her dance moves, and enjoying quality time with her family. If she's not catching up on the latest shows, she's out discovering new eats and catching live music with friends!

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Juancarlos Cancilla

Volunteer Coordinator/Community Liaison

Juancarlos, born and raised in Redwood City, graduated from UC San Diego with a degree in biology in 2022. He is a dedicated pre-medical student eager to give back to the Fair Oaks community before beginning his medical school journey. With a strong background in clinical research, he sought a meaningful shift into community service, where he could use his skills to make a real difference. Previously, Juancarlos lent his support to Levantar’s after-school Taekwondo program, helping local youth develop confidence and resilience. Now, he’s thrilled to expand the organization’s reach, aiming to leave a lasting positive impact on the community. Juancarlos will be working directly with volunteers in our AEC as well as helping to coordinate our community events.

Outside of his commitment to service, Juancarlos enjoys exploring the Bay Area, whether it’s hiking along scenic trails, visiting quirky local spots, or discovering hidden gems in the city. Juancarlos also finds joy in soaking up the energy of live performances and experiencing the diverse music scene that the Bay Area has to offer.

Cryatal t

Crystal Ibarra Tapelu

Program Manager/Social Media

Crystal is a Bay Area native and long-time staff member of Levantar. She has worn many hats - including AEC Site Director all throughout 2020, and supporting our students and families throughout the pandemic. She currently works as our Social Media Manager and provides leadership to our on-site AEC team. She is a mother of 2 and has been married to Kopo since 2012. They have traveled the world together and we are blessed to have them in Redwood City working with our team.

Keith

Keith Miller

Director of Operations

Keith joins us from Vancouver, WA with a broad business development, leadership, and entrepreneurism background. He has had a vision for over 25 years to support small businesses. We are grateful that he has brought his gift to Levantar and will lead our efforts in 2021 as we empower small businesses past the challenges of 2020.

Keith joined to partner and provide small businesses and families support in the challenging times of the pandemic.

Keith is the Dad to two adult daughters and has been married to our Executive Director, Angie Ibarra Miller, since 2020. In his free time, Keith spends time with his bride and the beautiful community we serve, plays tennis, and loves to sail when he can.

Candice photo

Candice Bún

Communications and Administration Manager

Candice is a native of the Bay Area, growing up in Millbrae and San Bruno, and finally making her way to Redwood City where she and her husband lived with their son until the fall of 2017. Living part of her life as a high schooler in her ancestral Mexico, she developed a deep love for her heritage and language, bringing these to the Latino community she served faithfully in the Bay Area. She has volunteered and worked in various non-profit settings related to youth and families, including working on the ground with GU as well as the Mission Preparatory Charter School in San Francisco where she served as the communications director.

She loves spending time with her husband and family, traveling and exploring places she has never seen before. In fact, in September of 2017, Candice and Norman packed up and moved across the country to the Charlotte area and in 2018, they bought a home in Rock Hill, just across the border in South Carolina. In 2019, they welcomed a baby girl to their family.
After serving for many years on the board, Candice rejoined the GU team as Communications and Administration Manager in a remote capacity in 2020. She travels to CA several times a year (and use technology outside of those visits) to stay connected with the work that still needs to be done.

Angie and a young lady posing for a photo

Pastor Angie Ibarra-Miller

Founder & Executive Director

Founder Angie Ibarra is a San Francisco native, born to immigrant parents but raised, along with several siblings, by a single mom. With an intimate understanding of the struggles of life on welfare, she has always held deep compassion for families in her community. 

Read more about Angie or book her for a speaking event