One participant in the last Retreat Day said: "Everyone is very open and created a welcoming enveronment." very open and created a welcoming environment."

     Another participant said: "...I      especially liked the facilitators,      having a choice of activities and      the discussion groups."

KEVIN ALSUP works professionally as a systems analyst. He believes his greatest personal asset is his honesty and straight-forward attitude about life. He believes his faith has increased his spirituality and made him a much more balanced and happy individual.

JULIE ANN CALDERON is a high school assistant principal, teacher, and writer. She serves as a bilingual RCIA catechist and lector and is a graduate of the Diocese of Oakland's School for Pastoral Ministry.

TAMARA GRIPPI, a teacher and writer, first joined the young adult planning team in the spring of 2005 after writing an article about San Damiano for a local newspaper. In addition to the exciting retreat planning she has participated in over the past two years, Tamara also has volunteered as a teacher in the youth ministry program at St. Raymond's in Dublin.

RON HUBBARD has now lead exercises and presented at the last three "critically acclaimed" Young Adult retreats. Ron feels strongly that his work Monday through Friday must reflect and utilize his spiritual gifts. Therefore, he left the corporate rat race to become an educator and role model within his community. To further this goal Ron earned certificates with both the Stephen Covey's 7 Habits program and with the community building Tribes program. In 2006, Ron earned the award as Wal-Mart's Northern California teacher of the year.

PAULA JENKINS earned her Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School. Her current interests include studying drama and improvisational comedy, and photography. She works for an advertising agency as a project manager.