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About Us.
We are a small but mighty team committed to bringing human flourishing (shalom) to people in our communities
Our faith motivates the work that we do.
We maintain our identity as Christians, but respect the diversity of contexts in which our partners work.
“…act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8
Core Values
At the center of what we do.
Faith
We seek to follow Jesus’ prioritization of the materially poor and his example of servanthood. We maintain our identity as Christians, but we respect the diversity of contexts in which our partners work.
Service
Our calling is to serve the members of our community who are greatest in need. We strive to comprehend the struggles of those who live in poverty and work alongside organizations that recognize the agency and dignity of the poor.
Collaboration
We partner with nonprofits, churches and schools. We promote unity & pursue relationships with churches across denominations seeking to deliver mercy and justice to our communities
Meet our team
Katie Allen
Katie is the Executive Director of Project Peace, bringing more than 20 years of experience to the organization. She has worked in leadership capacities at World Vision, The Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture at the University of Virginia, and Community Presbyterian Church. Katie serves on the board of the San Ramon Valley Christian Academy. She and her husband, Brent, have two children and reside in the East Bay.
Emily George
Emily George is the Volunteer Program Manager at Project Peace. She has lived in the East Bay since 2006 and has worked as a substitute teacher in the Oakland Unified School District as well as a recruiter for a marketing consulting agency. Emily is deeply aligned with the mission of Project Peace and served as a Day of Service Site Coordinator for many years at Emerson Elementary School in Oakland, where her three boys attended.
Lisa Smith
Lisa is the Operations Manager and brings 20+ years of non-profit experience in event and volunteer engagement, donor communications and operations, and grant writing and management. She is passionate about partnering with vulnerable populations to secure needed resources, beautified community spaces, and volunteer support. Lisa relocated to California over 12 years ago and loves enjoying time in the great outdoors with her husband.
Ashly Nation
Ashly Nation, Communication & Events Manager, is an Oakland native dedicated to helping Bay Area organizations and churches reveal God's love. She holds a Master's in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and is the Bay Area Director for the Fuller Center for Spiritual Formation. A licensed minister with the Assemblies of God since 2018, Ashly serves as Communities Pastor at Encounter Church in San Leandro. In her spare time, she enjoys board games, basketball, dining with friends, and reading and journaling at Jack London Square.
Board of Directors
Devona Brazier
Devona Brazier moved from Akron, Ohio to the Bay Area in 2013. Project Peace became the primary avenue for Devona and her family of five to connect with the broader community through service. Devona has a BS in Religious Studies from King University and currently serves as the Director of Outreach for Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church. She finds great joy in helping her congregation connect with mercy and justice partners throughout Contra Costa County. Her hobbies include gardening, hiking with her kids, and watching and coaching acrobatic gymnastics.
Grace Fang
Grace Fang immigrated to the US in the 90’s with her family and found community through engaging with their local church and volunteering. Grace went on to spend the first 16 years of her career working in the non-profit and public sector. Grace worked with the American Red Cross to better prepare the Bay Area to respond to disasters and later worked with the San Francisco Unified School District to develop and hire school leaders to provide a quality education for all students. Grace holds a Masters in Public Administration with a certificate in Nonprofit Management from USC. She currently works in talent acquisition in tech and enjoys connecting her faith community with opportunities to serve in the East Bay. In her spare time, Grace is passionate about foster care and spends time reading, drinking coffee, running, and being outdoors.
Matt Walker
Matt Walker worked for Young Life, a Christian outreach ministry to adolescents, for 18 years, most recently as the Regional Director of the Bay Area Region. He recently transitioned out of that role and is enjoying a season of being home full-time with his wife, Amy, and their two children Olivia and Jake. Matt’s experience has included starting new mentorship programs for high school and middle school students in San Francisco (including students with disabilities) and developing Boards and infrastructure to support them. Matt has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Economics from Duke University and a Master's degree in Divinity from Fuller Seminary.
Calvin Ho
Calvin Ho served as a pastor at First Covenant Church of Oakland from 2011 - 2018. During his tenure at FCC, he championed volunteer service and a tighter partnership with its neighborhood public schools and pioneered an ESL program for immigrants. He also served as a member on the OUSD Quality School Development Policy Administrative Regulations committee in 2015 to advocate for the students in Oakland.
Calvin and his wife cofounded Compassion Pet Hospice in 2016 to support pets and pets parents through the most difficult journey in life. He is currently the Board President for Project Peace and is developing a new communication platform at his startup Restvo that aims to empower non-profits and faith communities by creating deeper and more meaningful relationships among its members and volunteers. Calvin is married to Tiffany and has two young children.
Bart Garrett - Founder
Bart Garrett is one of the founders of Project Peace, co-planted Christ Church East Bay, and now pastors Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church while directing City-to-City Bay Area.
Julie Sept
Julie and her husband Clark love to participate in Project Peace Days of Service, serving at sites such as Oakland International High School in particular. Beginning in 2003, Julie worked in non-profit administration, mostly churches, after coming from a background in corporate real estate. She believed her role was to facilitate smooth operations so that everyone could do the job they were gifted and called to do and have some fun. Now semi-retired, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and eating with friends, gardening, and doing a small amount of consulting work.
Collaborate With Us
Join our Church Network
More than 30 East Bay churches that mobilize volunteers and donors to serve our neighbors in greatest need. Together, we learn and discuss the causes of deep-rooted and pervasive inequality in our community from a center of faith (with the goal of advocating for just systems and policies in our local contexts.)