Eunice S. Navarro

Sr. Development Coordinator

Eunice’s connection to Friends for Youth began long before she became a staff member. In 2009, she joined the program as a mentee and was matched with her mentor, Paulette. Growing up in a single-parent household with limited support, Eunice found in Paulette not only guidance and encouragement, but also a sense of belonging. That relationship became a meaningful part of her life and showed her firsthand the lasting impact that a caring mentor can have on a young person.

More than a decade later, Eunice returned to Friends for Youth in 2022 as a Development Associate. She has since grown into her role as Senior Development Coordinator, supporting the organization’s fundraising efforts, helping build the FFY alumni network, and creating opportunities for youth, alumni, and supporters to connect through art and creative experiences. She also serves as a mentor in FFY’s group mentoring program, where she now works alongside Paulette to support a new generation of young people.

Eunice’s work at Friends for Youth is deeply connected to her own experience. As someone who grew up in the Bay Area in a first-generation household with Mexican heritage, she understands the importance of having people and communities that believe in you. Her experience as an FFY mentee gives her a unique perspective on the organization’s work—not only as someone who supports youth professionally, but as someone who once sat in their shoes.

For Eunice, giving back is personal. She is passionate about creating the same sense of connection, encouragement, and possibility that she experienced through her own mentorship. “I was one of these kids,” she says, a simple reminder of why this work matters so deeply to her. She hopes to help ensure that today’s young people have the support they need to recognize their strengths, build meaningful relationships, and imagine a future full of possibilities.

Warm, creative, and community-minded, Eunice brings empathy and authenticity to everything she does. Whether she is supporting FFY’s mission behind the scenes, creating through art, building connections with alumni, or mentoring young people alongside her longtime mentor, she carries forward the impact of the relationship that first connected her to Friends for Youth.