Fundraising and Development
Andrea “Dre” Barkley (She/Her) is a devoted practitioner of Buddhism and a dynamic professional with a rich background in Information Science. Dre is deeply passionate about leveraging data to foster social healing and interbeing, embodying a commitment to eco-therapy principles. Before joining the East Bay Meditation Center as the Development and Fundraising Coordinator, she was a professional coach, empowering fellow creatives to realize their potential and navigate their paths. Additionally, Dre contributed her skills as a marketing and social media strategist for a local business specializing in mindful eating and food justice.
Dre’s journey is marked by her dedication to exploring the intersections of spirituality and social justice. Her academic and professional endeavors reflect a continuous pursuit of knowledge and a desire to create a meaningful impact on social and environmental healing.
When not immersed in her work at EBMC, Dre is an avid songwriter and performer, sharing her original music across the Bay Area and beyond.
Fundraising and Development
Cassandra Shaylor (She / Her) is an activist, attorney, and artist based in Oakland. She is the co-founder and former co-director of Justice Now and a co-founder of Critical Resistance, both abolitionist organizations focused on dismantling the prison industrial complex and building a world without prisons. Her academic and written work has focused on issues of women in prison, abolition, and the intersections of race, sexuality, gender, and punishment. Over the past few years she has been a fundraising and communications consultant for a range of social justice and environmental justice groups, and she is currently developing her skills as a metal smith.
email: Cassandra at eastbaymeditation dot org
Events and Practice Groups
Monica Munjal (she/her) is a second-generation South Asian, born and raised in San Francisco, who has spent her career in leadership, administration, advocacy and service. She previously served as Director of Operations at the California Institute of Integral Studies for 16 years. She is passionate about social justice, diversity, equity, allyship, community-building, inclusion and belonging, especially examining the way race, class and gender intersect in society. She strives to infuse her daily spiritual and mindfulness practice into her life and work, which includes modeling humility, compassion and diplomacy as well as cultivating a culture of care. She believes small acts of kindness can be revolutionary. She was raised Hindu and became a faithful student of Buddhism in her early adult life. She studied Communication at SF State University, with a focus in organizational effectiveness and transition management. Her primary academic interests are in Cultural Studies, Critical Theory and Media Literacy. She is a proud feminist who actively works towards ensuring women and girls are empowered and valued in this world.
In her free time, Monica loves music, movies, books, travel, playing piano, spending quality time with sangha and friends. She is also a devoted aunt to her nieces and nephews. Monica considers herself a real nerd when it comes to organization and is honored to be serving EBMC as Administrative Director.
email: monica at eastbaymeditation dot org
Ramón Honea (He/They/Them) is a biracial, gay, second generation Oakland Latinx native, he served for 20 years as a teacher/administrator in the SF/Oakland Unified School Districts. After that, through therapy he found meditation and the East Bay Meditation Centers “POC night” where he joined the coordinating committee for several years. Now working / currently on furlough, at Spirit Rock Meditation Center as a residential Retreat Manager, managing week long silent retreats. Obtained a mindfulness teaching credential through the Mindfulness Training Institute in 2019.
Event Management, Zoom Host
Anna (She / Her) grew up in the Bay Area and came to Soto Zen practice as a teenager. She is now a member of Kannon Do Zen Meditation Center and is the Operations Manager for the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. After moving to the East Bay, Anna enrolled in EBMC’s White and Awakening in Sangha program and continued connecting with EBMC leaders through her work with SZBA online programs. Her current interests include gardening, cooking, travel and expanding access and equity in Buddhist practice.
email: abreckenridge at eastbaymeditation dot org
Kaiayo Z. Shatteen (they/them/theirs) is an Afro Indigenous (Aniyunwiya & Chahta), Queer Parent of two young adults. They live on the Unceded Land of the Lisjan Ohlone People where they are a Reproductive Justice Advocate, Apprentice Midwife, LGBTQIA2S+ Equity Consultant and a Recovery Motivational Speaker. They pay homage to the Creator. Always giving thanks to their Ancestors for guiding them and they draw upon the strength of their Great Grandmother, Bertha Solomon Elmore. They have a deep commitment to ending the injustice that puts BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ and Gender Non Conforming communities at the bottom when it comes to positive birth outcomes, access to inclusive and traditional health care, and equity in the workplace. They are committed to using their calm, healing energy to support and nurture their community. This work is the answer to an Ancestral calling.
They are a practicing Buddhist, an aspiring Bodhisattva, holding The Five Precepts and The Eightfold Path near their heart. Kaiayo shares the benefits of their sobriety and the joys of staying on the path of recovery. They are open, free, and live courageously with love, joy, and compassion. Kaiayo is a midwifery student in their last year at National Midwifery Institute and will be starting a homebirth midwifery practice in Huichin/Oakland, CA. once they have achieved their license and become a Certified Professional Midwife.
wei li king (they / he) is a student of life that loves to connect dots and create opportunities for connection with community and land. Before joining EBMC to lead Operations and IT, wei li was building the decentralized web and has 7 years of work experience in technology sector as an engineer and program manager. Concern for hypergrowth and individualism from corporate capitalism pushed wei li's path towards ancestral healing, creative inquiry and engaged Buddhism - where they are actively finding a spiritual service through the Indigenous Land Back movement. wei li is currently a resident at Mangalam Center for Buddhist Research and completed a 300 hour/year long Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga program led by the Nyingma Institute.
email: weili at eastbaymeditation dot org
