Staff Bios

Aleks Zavaleta, Executive Director

Aleks learned the fundamentals of organizing by working with Loco Bloco & Student Leaders Against Sexual Harassment as a volunteer and youth staff. In 1999 Aleks became the Youth Program Coordinator with Loco Bloco where she continued to develop her leadership skills. In 2001 Aleks had the opportunity to apply her knowledge as the Children's Services Director, with Mission Neighborhood Centers, Inc. During her time with MNC she was promoted as the new Day & Evening Services Coordinator . In 2006 Aleks returned to Loco Bloco as the Executive Director. [back]

Evelyn Davison, Financial Director

Evelyn Davison is a parent of children participants in our Poco Loco and TEC classes. Evelyn, who has studied accounting and works as a financial consultant for small businesses, volunteered her services to Loco Bloco for a year and subsequently worked together with the Executive Director and grant writers to develop a proposal that funded her current position. She manages financial bookkeeping, financial statements, payroll, insurance, taxes, grant funds and all contracts. [back]

June LaBarre, Development Director

June LaBarre comes to Loco Bloco from previous positions in Development at Peninsula Habitat for Humanity and Episcopal Charities bringing expertise in corporate and community fundraising, grant writing and communications outreach through marketing and public relations. For 27 years June owned and operated both a reweaving studio and retail outdoor furniture and accessories store on the San Francisco peninsula. She works to build community and strengthen relationships among various community groups and constituencies. [back]

Instructors

Heather Watkins, Artistic Director

Loco Bloco's Artistic Director Heather Watkins is a master dancer/choreographer and accomplished percussionist who has performed with Fogo Na Roupa, Escola Nova do Samba, Bale Saba, Ceedo Senegalese Dance Company, and Mingus Amongus. She directs the artistic components of Loco Bloco's dance and music performances, develops choreography for the performing ensemble year-round and directs Loco Bloco's teaching model and overall artistic vision of all of our performing arts classes. Heather Watkins is also a gifted visual artist, excelling in the collage, painting, installation art and large-scale visual art for processions.  [back]

Alfie Macias, Co-Musical Director, Lead Percussion Instructor

Alfie has studied various traditions of Afro-Latino and Caribbean percussion for over 15 years.  He has studied and performed with noted percussionists: Gamo Paz and Jorge Alabe from Brazil, and locally with Carlos Aceituno, Zeke Neally and Kwaku Dady. Macias has performed with a number of ensembles including Aguas de Bahia and Fogo Na Roupa. He is also an accomplished salsa dance instructor, having studied in Miami and Cuba. Alfie is our current Bateria Director for Loco Bloco's Carnaval activities is the co-musical director for our annual events. [back]

Pedro Gomez, Co-Musical Director, Lead Percussion Instructor

Pedro Gomez joined Loco Bloco in 1994 when he was 12 years old and founded his own Latin ensemble, Mala Fama, in 1999.  In 2001, he led a combined performance of Mala Fama and Loco Bloco at the Tito Puente Tribute at Bill Graham Auditorium, and in 2002 he appeared with Rebecca Mauleon at Yerba Buena Center.  He has performed in two plays by Cherrie Moraga, "Heroes and Saints" and "Watsonville".  Gomez has studied Afro-Cuban bata and comparsa with John Santos in Cuba, and he visited the state of Bahía, Brazil in 2002 to study Carnaval music. Gomez also designed the costumes and wrote the musical compositions for Loco Bloco's 2002 Carnaval contingent, which won the overall Grand First Prize.  Gomez has recently completed a CD of his original compositions. Pedro is currently our percussion instructor for our Bayview sites and TEC and is the co-musical director for our annual events. [back]

Nkeiruka Oruche, Poco Dance Instructor

Igbo Wildchild! The Artist formerly known as Extraordinary! Your neighbor's only Nkei! Nkeiruka’s love for the performing arts & youth development—tied with her work in social justice, public health and community action—drew her to LocoBloco as a volunteer, participant & instructor. She is very passionate about Loco Bloco's mission and finds herself involved in various aspects of the organization; see: dancing, drumming, teaching & organizing.
You can find her around the SF Bay Area doing things related to the concept of art and social movement. Currently including but not limited to: 1. Co-founder of One3snapshot.com, an art & graphic design collective with a driving force in social change & community mobility. 2. Directing D-fuse D-fuse Dance Group (an African-fusion youth performing group) housed at the Boys & Girls Club of San Francisco's Columbia Park Clubhouse. 3. Making loud for peace & justice as a dancer and percussionist in the Brass Liberation Orchestra.
Nkeiruka deeply believes that art and health share a common bond. Employing Loco Bloco as a tool, she is committed to helping youth bridge the gap between creative expression and health outcomes. Dedicating her life's work to working with youth all over the world, she hopes that through artistic expression, youth can attain optimal health and foster change in their communities. [back]

Jasmine McClain, Poco Dance Instructor

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Jasmine McClain, a Bay Area native, is a dancer, percussionist and artist. Raised in a family of artists and teachers who respect and appreciate cultural diversity, she has been exposed to a broad spectrum of art forms and developed a strong interest in Brazilian culture. She has studied Afro Brazilian dance and percussion with Carlos Aceituno founder of Fogo Na Roupa, Regina Calloway, Julio Remelexo of Ile Aiye , Sonja Travick and Heather Watkins. She currently teaches after school dance classes for Oakland Leaf After School Program, Oakland Tech High School and Loco Bloco. She is also a Loco Bloco performing member, co-director of TEC and Carnaval dance instructor. She choreographs and co leads the Loco Bloco Carnaval contingent which includes over 100 dancers of all ages. She has designed costumes, t-shirts and coordinated craft making sessions for several years. She also is the founder of Beja Designs, a design company that specializes in handcrafted items, wearable art and graphic design.

Claudinho Smile

Born into Samba in Rio de Janeiro, Claudinho Smile has been playing cavaquinho since age 9. He later developed his skills with acclaimed cavaquinista Alceu Maia and began touring professionally with his cavaco in 1981. Claudinho has performed nationally in Brazil and internationally with Salgueiro samba school as their principal cavaquinista between 1993 and 1995. He has performed with Brazilian greats such as Elza Soares and Elba Ramalho and toured as a percussionist with Brazil Brasil show nationally in the US and throughout Europe and Asia as well from 1999-2004. Claudinho is an accomplished cavaquinista, guitar player, percussionist and singer who specializes in Samba and MPB.

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Lorena Silverman, Stilt Instructor

Lorena Silverman, Stilt Instructor, has been with Loco for almost a year. Sid teaches stilt walking in the Bayview and currently teaches circus and gymnastics at Head Over Heels in Oakland as an instructor for Splash Circus in Emoryville. She began her career working with the Carpet Bag Brigade giving adult acrobatic workshops. She has a degree in American sign language. Her circus skills involve partner acrobatics and aerial work.[back]