Monica Mejia

Associate Director

Monica Mejia’s connection to community runs deep. A first-generation Salvadoran American raised in North Fair Oaks, Monica grew up with a firsthand understanding of the strength, resilience, and challenges that shape the communities Friends for Youth serves. That connection continues to influence how she approaches her work and her belief in the importance of creating opportunities where young people and families feel supported, valued, and empowered.

With more than 15 years of nonprofit experience, Monica has built a career spanning youth development, direct service, organizational operations, fundraising, and leadership. Her experience has given her a broad understanding of what it takes to build organizations that not only serve their communities, but are equipped to grow and create lasting impact.

As Associate Director at Friends for Youth, Monica serves as a strategic partner to the Executive Director and helps lead the organization across operations, finance, development, people and culture, and organizational strategy. She works behind the scenes to strengthen the systems, relationships, and resources that allow FFY’s programs and people to thrive.

For Monica, strong organizations are ultimately about people. She is passionate about building equitable, people-centered environments where staff feel supported and young people have meaningful opportunities to succeed. She believes mentorship can be transformative, giving young people relationships that help them recognize their strengths, expand their sense of what is possible, and know that someone is invested in their success.

Beyond Friends for Youth, Monica remains deeply connected to her community through civic and community leadership in San Mateo County. Grounded, thoughtful, and community-minded, she brings a strong sense of purpose to her work and is driven by the belief that lasting change happens when people come together to build stronger communities and create more opportunities for the next generation.