Karlya Benjamin, Founding Trustee, is a Fine Jewelry Professional, freelance photographer and former principal ballerina with the Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York. As a ballerina she performed all over the world, at The White House, Kennedy Center and at the Royal Opera House for Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Thirty-five of her photos are on display in the photo-mosaic at the entrance to the Museum of the African Diaspora in San Francisco. She lived and worked in Denver, New York, Paris, and Beverly Hills before settling in the East Bay. She is currently a consultant and designer with Pavé Fine Jewelry in Oakland. She coaches dancers upon request and is fluent in French. Karlya is a founding Trustee of the Fund for Elders’ Independence.

Sandy Stec is 1/2 of “Marcus and Sandy”- a highly rated morning radio show in San Francisco on Star 101.3. (Weekdays, 6am-10am.) For almost 20 years, she’s worked her way up from a weekend shift in San Jose, to her current status- mornings in the 4th largest radio market in the country. Additionally, she can be heard on her sister-station in Los Angeles- KOST 103.5. She is also a hilarious and HIGHLY booked stand-up comedian. She’s worked with greats like Kevin Hart, Chelsea Handler, Arsenio Hall, Dana Carvey, Craig Shoemaker, Richard Lewis, Brett Butler, and many, many more. She’s worked for corporations like HP, Benefit Cosmetics, Caymus Vineyards; and her recent Britney Spears parody “Snack B**ch” made it on TV’s “Right This Minute.”

Though extremely driven, Sandy does have a weakness for buttercream frosting, and penny slot machines.

Rasheedah Mwongozi has been caring for her big brother, Oliver, since his unexpected stroke 15 years ago. At the time of the stroke Rasheedah was a single mom of two living in West Oakland and would see her brother weekly, when he would babysit her children so she could attend dance class. Then she got the call that changed all their lives…her brother needed to go to the hospital and she became an instant caregiver. Oliver needed to relearn to walk, speak and write. Luckily, Center for Elders’ Independence followed up and Oliver has seen been enrolled for 13 years. “I actually don’t feel like a caregiver because CEI does it all…if something happens at the Center, they contact me right away...we can be little sister and big brother. He is happy, healthy, and well taken care of now. I don’t have to worry about him.”