Jared Seide is the Executive Director of Beyond Us & Them.

Read Jared's bio here:

Summre Garber has been working in nonprofit finance and operations for over a decade in the Los Angeles area. Beginning with film festival and event production at Slamdance, the Bentonville Film Festival, and others, she moved into her role as the Director of Operations at the Silverlake Independent Jewish Community Center bringing her skills as a community organizer and independent thought leader from her festival background.

Summre is committed to engaging people from all backgrounds towards thoughtful communication and mindfulness and regularly practices mediation and yoga with her two children. Summre received an MA in Film Theory from San Francisco State University.

Mitch Highley was born and raised in Orange County, California. He has been involved with Beyond Us & Them (previously Center for Council) since 2016, when he enrolled in the council program at Ironwood State Prison, where he was facing a life sentence. 

"I spent half my life incarcerated due to poor choices and lacking a sense of purpose and belonging in the community. Beyond Us & Them (previously Center for Council) is where I learned healing from my past is possible. It gave me a safe place to learn, grow, and be vulnerable with my peers. Connection was invaluable to my recovery and these circles served as the ground for empathy, compassion and understanding to not only take root, but flourish. I discovered how to fill voids of emptiness with emotions I couldn't identify in my past. Through council interactions, I learned to leave prejudice and look for similarities rather than differences."

Despite his sentence, Mitch committed himself fully to his self-improvement and education in prison. He achieved a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology with an emphasis on criminology and Certification as a Substance Abuse Counselor. As a result of his work and transformation, he was granted parole in 2019. Ever since he has been working to share his story of redemption and giving back to support those on the path.

See Mitch's full bio and watch his story here

Sydney Scanlon is a dedicated professional with a passion for driving positive change in the world. With a multifaceted career spanning across nonprofits, research, marketing, design, and education, Sydney has consistently focused her efforts on addressing critical global issues. Whether elevating the work of musicians, universities, or nonprofits, she brings a creative and conceptual lens.

Her unwavering commitment to healthcare, education, equity, and mental health has driven her to make a meaningful impact in every endeavor she undertakes. Having worked extensively within nonprofit organizations on a global scale, Sydney has demonstrated her exceptional ability to effect change in diverse communities. Her work has touched upon crucial matters such as healthcare accessibility, educational empowerment, mental health support, and advocating for those often marginalized or underserved.

​Currently, Sydney leads the Los Angeles Reentry Collaborative, an Accountable Community for Health at the Beyond Us & Them (formerly Center for Council)—a pioneering multi-sector collaborative focused on meeting the needs of system-impacted populations. She also manages all private and agency-level contracts, ensuring smooth operations while centering organizational wellness and capacity-building in every partnership to equip agencies with the tools to thrive.

She has published research in climate change and health, childhood trauma, and psychedelic therapy. Sydney received a BA with honors from Amherst College with a Five College Certificate in Culture, Health, and Science. She teaches yoga across LA.

James DeBacco was born in Riverside, CA and raised in Los Angeles County, California. His journey has been one of remarkable transformation.

His affiliation with the Beyond Us & Them (formerly Center for Council) began in 2016 during his enrollment and subsequent graduation in the Council for Insight, Compassion & Resilience (CICR) Program at Ironwood State Prison, while serving a life sentence. "I spent nearly 28 years of my early adult life incarcerated following an early discharge from the United States Marine Corps.

Beyond Us & Them (formerly Center for Council) offered me a way to look deep within myself and see the possibilities of my humanity. They taught me that it is OK to be afraid and be yourself. The essence of being who you are is the culmination of all your experiences in life. The connections I made in Center for Council (now Beyond Us & them) were life-changing. They helped me to understand that compassion, empathy, and insight are not tasks that we have to learn, rather, they are gifts within each of us to become a better version of ourselves. I was taught how to accept, cope, let go, and heal from a traumatic past. The teachings from Center for Council taught me the true meaning behind the values of diversity and inclusion."

Despite his incarceration, James committed himself to self-improvement and education. He achieved an Associate's degree in Social & Behavioral Sciences and obtained a Paralegal diploma. James also authored impactful publications titled "Bridges to Freedom" and "Positive Interventions."  His determination and growth ultimately led to parole in 2019.

Since his release, James has focused on furthering his education and serving others. He obtained a second AS degree in Human Services Addiction Studies in 2020 and graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Science degree in Rehabilitation Services in 2022.

Currently, James is pursuing his graduate studies, focusing on Adult Mental Health and Wellness, with the goal of earning a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree at the University of Southern California in the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work.

His previous role as a Case Manager on Skid Row resulted in securing stable long-term housing for a significant number of individuals, earning him congressional recognition for his contributions to the community.

Since 2021, James has been dedicated full-time to Beyond Us & Them (formerly Center for Council), initially as a case manager and subsequently as a program manager. He now leads the Council Reentry Program, providing invaluable support to formerly incarcerated individuals as they navigate the challenges of reentry into Los Angeles. 

Brie Thiele is thrilled to join the team at Beyond Us & Them after many years working in the TV news industry.

Her profession has taken her all over the country, most recently to Nashville, Tennessee, where she was one-quarter of the Good Morning Nashville team. Prior to that, she spent several years as a reporter at FOX Sports San Diego covering the 2016 MLB All-Star game and the Los Angeles Chargers’ final season in San Diego.

Throughout her time on camera, Brie continually found herself drawn to stories involving nonprofit organizations.

She hopes to use her journalistic prowess to shine a spotlight on and illuminate the important work Beyond Us & Them is doing. 

Averyl Dietering, PhD, has over a decade of experience in grant writing and management in a variety of cause areas including restorative justice, mental healthcare, education, racial justice, youth development, pregnancy and maternal health, homelessness services, environmental justice, immigrants rights, workforce development, the arts, and animal rescue.

She has helped nonprofits secure over $30 million in both private foundation and government grants. Averyl began her grants career by writing academic grants for her own award-winning research during her BA, MA, and PhD degrees.

Her dissertation at the University of California, Davis focused on cultural histories of difference, exploring both the challenges of overcoming difference as well as imaginative practices of togetherness. Because of this research, she is especially inspired by Beyond Us & Them’s work in bridging differences, effecting systems change, and mitigating social isolation.

Cecilia is a dedicated professional with over 8 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She holds a degree in Communications from San Francisco State University. Committed to community service, Cecilia has spent years working towards community development. She is passionate about making a difference and actively serves the community through impactful partnerships.

David Garcia is a versatile professional with experience in both the tech sector and non-profit realm. With a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from California State University Monterey Bay, David navigated various roles in startups to enterprise-level companies as a software engineer.

His transition to the non-profit sector saw him as an Associate Director for Mujeres Adelante, where he tackled diverse tasks, including business plans, grant writing, data management, and community engagement. David's commitment to social impact is evident in his volunteer work with organizations like the Insight Garden Program, where he shared his experiences post-CDCR to shed light on opportunities for individuals with similar backgrounds. 

​David brings his technical expertise to tasks such as automation, trainer clearances, and data management skills. His professional journey reflects a commitment to leveraging technology for positive change and a belief in the transformative power of community engagement. David is enthusiastic about contributing to impactful initiatives at Beyond Us & Them.

Gonzalo Alvarado is a 48 year old man who previously served 23 1/2 in the California penal system. He now dedicates himself to peace and justice.  

Gonzalo works at Homeboy Industries as a work readiness trainer and facilitator of Write Your Story classes. His passions are mediation through dialog and circle formats.

In addition to working at Homeboy Industries, Gonzalo also has a fellowship from UCLA Million Dollar Hood and is a Community Outreach Liaison at Beyond Us & Them.  

His aspirations are to be a full-time facilitator of council and receive his degree in psychology and conflict and resolution. In short Gonzalo Alvarado aims to be of service. ​

Ivy Navarrete grew up in the Rampart District of Los Angeles and after years of running the streets, she found herself at Homeboy Industries in search of a second chance. She has been working at Homegirl Café since April 2011. She has joined Beyond Us & Them as a Community Outreach Liaison.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, Darryl Stewart has an A.S. Degree in ministry from Harvest University. He was incarcerated for over two decades, during which he earned numerous certificates of accomplishment, reflecting his dedication to personal and professional growth.

Darryl's life has undergone a remarkable transformation, motivating him to channel his experiences into positive change. Now, he aspires to leverage his unique journey to make a meaningful impact on the communities of downtown Skid Row and transition homes, focusing particularly on assisting those who have been formerly incarcerated.

His passion for community outreach and dedication to creating positive change highlight his invaluable contributions to fostering a more supportive and inclusive society.

Born and raised in San Bernardino CA, Jamie Ortega is 52 years old and spent 21 years in prison. He has been on a path to put back into society what he took out. He turned his life around from a life of destruction to a life of healing. He acquired an AA Degree in Social Behavior and Science, an Alcohol and Drug Studies Completion, and is currently registered in CADPT as a substance abuse counselor. He has been blessed to be part of the team with Beyond Us and Them as a Community Outreach Liaison. He is grateful to be part of the community that gives back to the formerly incarcerated of men and women and to prepare for the ones that are coming home. His mission is to help, share, educate, and provide a safe place for those who are in need.

Ann Seide obtained her MD from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, and completed Internal Medicine residency in the Navy at Portsmouth Naval Hospital. She later completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, and is board certified in both Internal and Integrative Medicine.

Dr. Seide witnessed the effects of stress and burnout throughout the healthcare system, leading her to pursue a 2-year chaplaincy program at the Upaya Institute, where she focused on provider wellness and systems theory. 

Dr. Seide brings a firm grounding in evidence-based medicine to creating programs with Beyond Us & Them (formerly Center for Council) that combine the best of current, scientifically sound integrative practices alongside the practice of council. Such Structures of Belonging become emergent practices that serve to mitigate the social isolation, loneliness, and poor physical and mental health that is highlighted in the Surgeon General’s 2023 Advisory.

Wendy has years of experience in helping communities thrive, through her work at various nonprofits and schools in the Midwest and California.

She graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a B.S. in Business Administration (Marketing). 

In her previous job at the Silverlake Jewish Community Center, Wendy acted as registrar for the preschool and b’nai mitzvah programs, created new cost and time saving processes, and loved helping the families feel a sense of welcome and belonging.

At the University of Minnesota’s College of Continuing and Professional Studies, Wendy prepared course materials and conference room setups for a large catalog of adult education courses, created and reported on post-course surveys, and managed the billing process.

While her three sons were young, Wendy worked as a Special Education Paraprofessional in Minnesota schools, acting as a 1:1 guide to students with a variety of special needs. She took courses in wellness and mindfulness in schools, including MindUp! training and Resilience Training. It was during this time that Wendy realized her passion for wellness and healing, and she completed her Certificate in Holistic Health Studies from St. Catherine University in St.Paul, Minnesota. 

Wendy is thrilled to join Beyond Us & Them and is grateful for the sense of purpose and community it brings to her life.

A true champion for dreamers, David inspires social change. He is the author of Show Up!: Unlocking the Power of Relational Networking, a story-filled guide for those hungry for what's next in life; showing how to connect with opportunities by investing in authentic relationships.

He is a business/nonprofit advisor, and a sought-after keynote speaker. He has appeared in Time Magazine, CNN, Al Jazeera, among many other news outlets. He believes joy in life is increased when we give our lives away for the joy of others! David supports Beyond Us & Them with his creative communication skills and engagement strategies to elevate the visibility of our work.