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Projects in this group employ a wide variety of strategies to accomplish their missions including media outreach, civic engagement, leadership development in the nonprofit sector as well as in specific constituent populations, policy research, and advocacy work. Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiative projects work in issues ranging from religion, ethics, and conscience to human rights and social justice; from international development and anti-globalization to government reform and economic opportunity. While projects serve a variety of constituents, projects in Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives program place particular emphasis on the most vulnerable populations, including women, migrants and refugees, and racial, ethnic and sexual minorities.
Yvette Diaz joined Tides in September 2002 and since then she has supported more than 100 Tides projects, helping them build capacity, increase impact, and become self sustaining. In addition, she serves as liaison to Tides Foundation, coordinating services to shared clients. Yvette’s commitment to international development and policy reform earned her the role of Program Manager for Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives in 2007. Prior to Tides, Yvette served as the Program Coordinator of the UC Public Policy & International Affairs Summer Institute, a program dedicated to increasing diversity in the public policy field. Before that, Yvette served as the Program Coordinator for Student Alumni Mentorship Program at UC Berkeley. Yvette holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from UC Berkeley with an emphasis on developing countries and human rights, is an active member of the World Affairs Council, and volunteers for several local nonprofits.
Meenakshi Abbi, Program Manager for Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives, joined Tides in 2007. She has a very diverse professional background ranging from directing programs and computer engineering to workforce development and volunteering for social justice organizations. Most recently, Meenakshi was the Director of the Small Business Development Center Technology Advisory Program, a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses effectively utilize technology. As the daughter of immigrants, she has a longstanding commitment to human rights and social justice, both domestically and internationally, and is a member of the International Convention on Human Rights and the World Affairs Council. Meenakshi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, and loves to spend her free time listening to Indian music, reading, playing soccer, volunteering, and spending time with her family and friends.
Pam Bamberger is Associate Director of Finance - Services, overseeing the work of project controllers as well as helping Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives projects understand and manage their finances. Pam has been with Tides since 2001. Prior to Tides, Pam served as Computer Systems Consultant at Epstein, Tabor & Schorr, CPAs, where she was responsible for installation and configuration of nonprofit organizations on Blackbaud fund accounting software, including accounting structure design, conversion assistance, training, and support. Before that, she spent eight years as Staff Accountant/Computer Consultant at John S. Milinovich & Associates, CPAs. Pam studied drama at West Virginia University and Financial and Managerial Accounting at Washington & Jefferson College. She is a proud mother of two, and loves to spend her free time reading, listening to music, watching action movies, and taking care of her pet beagle, two cats, and 15 chickens. Her favorite quote is from Lily Tomlin: “I always wanted to be somebody, but I guess I should have been more specific.”
Natasha Wallace is Human Resources Manager for the Environment & Health and the Policy, Strategy, & Global Initiatives programs.
