Who We Are
Patience Merian, MA, MFT | President
Patience envisions an organization that supports children who are marginalized by the present educational system to develop their gifts and love of learning. For the past four years, Patience has been working with children and young adults with unusual gifts and talents who have had a difficult time adjusting to the usual education and social structures. Her observations of the barriers these individuals face has greatly influenced and inspired her to provide a service that would address their specific needs.
Patience has a B.A. in Sociology from UC Berkeley, and a M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Lone Mountain College. Her thesis was on Child Development. Patience is a psychotherapist, practicing in San Francisco.
Tania Lazar | Executive Director
Tania has a background in the non-profit sector as a former board member of a philanthropic organization based in Southern California. For years, Tania has helped empower underprivileged girls through various programs that build self-esteem and confidence, as well as award college scholarships to those in need. Children's Path benefits from her passion for helping children, expertise in growing non-profit organizations, and leadership skills as the organization looks to expand the reach and scope of it's programs. Tania has a marketing degree from Cal State San Marcos and currently works for Procter & Gamble Salon Professionals as an Account Manager in San Francisco.
Sally Hughes | Public Relations / Community Liaison
Through her personal and professional experiences with family and patients, Sally knows the conflict of interest existing between today's educational system and a child's emotional well-being. Powered by a strong motivation to instill meaning from her young son's suicide, her vision for Children's Path is "to create educational and creative structure that honor the unique genius of the child, and facilitate its full expression to aid and inform the world."
Sally has been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for 15 years. She currently lives in Santa Barbara, CA.
Teri Smith | School Liaison / Interface with Service Providers
Teri joined CPP with a vision of expanding mental health services in schools and addressing the need for schools to promote social, emotional, and community development in their curriculum. Having worked in schools as a mental health provider for 18 years, Teri has experienced the increasing need for counseling services, the benefits of it, and the importance that schools address children's social and emotional needs. Creating connections is our humanity, and schools can be an integral part of promoting those connections.
Teri is a licensed marriage and family therapist and has a private practice in Oakland, CA. She works as an adjunct faculty member at JFK University where she trains and supervises graduate and post-graduate psychology students who provide school-based counseling services.
Mer Zandifar | Secretary
Mer is an artist, musician and co-founder of the non-profit organization, Awakening Through Art. She is a Certified Hypnotherapist with over ten years of experience studying music, dance, therapeutic and meditative techniques from around the world. Mer holds a BA degree in Psychology and is enrolled in a MA program in Counseling Psychology and Holistic Studies. She has a private hypnotherapy and sound healing practice in San Francisco and works at the Oakland Center for Holistic Counseling.
Eric Tiret | Treasurer
Born and raised in San Francisco. Bachelors of arts in Mass Communications from UC Berkeley. Cerificate in public accounting from SF State. Licensed CPA. Currently working on Masters in Tax at Golden Gate University. Tax manager, and third generation family member working at Tiret & Co. CPAs in San Bruno, an accounting firm specializing in consulting, tax, and financial planning for small business owners.
Caely Cusick | Fundraising Committee Chair
Raised in Kensington CA. Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from UC Berkeley. Events, fundraising and non-profit program management experience as a former Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Campaign Manager and Event Coordinator at UC Berkeley. Currently working as San Francisco Sales Manager for local startup company, Bloomspot.
Anthony Jones | Community Representative
Anthony is an attorney, entrepreneur and founder of Catalytic Reaction, a successful branding and web marketing company based in San Francisco. His experiences coaching basketball during college summers; serving as a teacher and administrator at Gompers Continuation High School in Richmond, California; and, later, learning the ropes in business, have instilled in him strong desire to help better prepare young adults for the real world. Anthony earned a B.A. in Economics from Stanford University, a law degree from the University of Southern California, and is an active member of the California Bar.
Caelan Urquhart | Board Member
Caelan Urquhart is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration at the University of the Pacific. Recently, Caelan has been drawn to the field of social entrepreneurship, and has gained experience in the field as Senior Consultant of a student-led social enterprise consulting group aiding five clients. Caelan developed a passionate interest in youth development after crafting a strategic plan for one organization that works with at-risk youth in Stockton, Calif. Caelan looks to bring the insights he gained from that strategic planning experience to Children’s Path Programs.