Aleks Zavaleta
Executive Director
Loco Bloco
San Francisco, CA USA
“Do what you gotta do so that when you get to do what you wanna do, you are able to.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationAleks Zavaleta
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
Was initiated into a gang at a young age; got involved with alcohol and drugs.
Dropped out of middle school; felt dissociated from the European culture she was being taught.
Her sisters convinced her to start taking classes at Loco Bloco, where she studied cooking, drums and theater.
Got so caught up having fun and learning at these workshops, she stopped drinking, got off the streets.
Loco Bloco inspired her to work hard and save her money so she could travel and learn more.
Recognized the profound influence her mentors had on her; knew that she wanted to pay it forward.
Was appointed executive director of Loco Bloco at the young age of 25.
Has one regret, which is not finishing school; always pushing the value of an education to her mentees.
Keep following my journey
Career
Executive Director
I teach youth performance arts skills and help them be empowered by becoming artists, teachers and leaders.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Music
Non-Profit Organizations
Teaching / Mentoring
Hurdles
Challenges I Overcame
Learning Issues
Gangs / Violence
Interviewed By
Los Angeles - Seattle
Traveling up Highway 101 to San Francisco, the team takes in the iconic sights of the West coast, from sea lions to the Golden Gate Bridge, before stopping to speak with Aleks Zavaleta, Executive Director of Loco Bloco, a community outreach program. In Sebastapol they interview Jay Shafer, designer of Tumbleweed Tiny Houses, sustainable homes as small as 65 square feet, whose home makes the RV seem spacious. Continuing into the Pacific Northwest, the team is invited into the home of Lori Pappas, CEO of Global Team for Local Initiatives, an Ethiopian aid organization.
