Congratulations to our co-founder Nínive Calegari!

We are thrilled to share the news that our incredible, powerhouse co-founder Nínive Calegari is the new CEO of Enterprise For Youth, an organization that empowers and prepares young people for success in employment and higher education. Read on for a letter from their Board President about all about the skills and experience Nínive will bring to their great work.

Dear Friends of Enterprise For Youth,

On behalf of the Enterprise For Youth Board of Directors, please join me in welcoming Nínive Calegari as our new CEO! The search for Enterprise’s next leader covered over 100 applicants, including more than a dozen highly qualified candidates. Nínive’s outstanding background, skills, energy and passion for helping youth rose to the top throughout the process, making it clear that we had found the right person for the job. We are truly fortunate to have someone of Nínive’s caliber and track record leading Enterprise through the years ahead.

Nínive co-founded 826 Valencia in San Francisco and was responsible for building a national network of youth-serving literacy organizations based on that model. Her founding pedagogy has been replicated by 40 organizations internationally. She is co-author of The New York Times bestseller Teachers Have it Easy and the producer of short and feature-length films on the power and importance of supporting great teaching. Nínive also founded and led The Teacher Salary Project, working to improve conditions for teachers.

Most recently, Nínive was an organizational consultant working with clients such as Youth Speaks, KQED and Sonoma Valley Education Foundation. In that role she helped organizations with board development, strategic planning, fundraising, program development and operations. She has also served on numerous non-profit boards, including the San Francisco Arts Commission and The George Lucas Educational Foundation.

Nínive is a veteran classroom teacher and has taught in Mexico, in Massachusetts, at Drake High School in Marin and at Leadership High School here in San Francisco. She received her undergraduate degree from Middlebury College in Political Science and Studio Art and has a graduate degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

One meaningful vote of confidence for our incoming CEO comes from Tony DiStefano, Enterprise’s exceptional leader over the last nine years. Since sharing his decision to retire this summer, many of us have enjoyed recalling the wonderful opportunities we’ve had to get to know and work with Tony. Through his guidance and leadership Enterprise has logged many successes. We will miss Tony’s rare blend of a warmly engaging personality, seasoned business acumen, keen sense for balancing the interests of myriad stakeholders, and deep commitment to serving youth. He is a treasured colleague who has earned our respect and appreciation. We wish him the very best as he passes the torch to Nínive, and look forward to hearing about his next adventure.

As Tony and Nínive complete what has been a smooth leadership transition, the Enterprise team is as busy as ever getting summer youth programming underway. Nínive is quickly getting up to speed and things are moving ahead on many exciting fronts. For those of you who have met Nínive and those who soon will, you can feel confident with her at the helm of Enterprise. Thank you so much for your ongoing support as we collectively pursue the wonderful opportunities that will help shape and realize Enterprise’s bright future!

 

David English

Board President, Enterprise for Youth.