Dr. Alan-Michael Graves, President
In addition to his work as President of the California Fatherhood Council Board of Directors, Dr. Alan-Michael Graves serves as the Senior Director of Learning & Capacity Building with Good+Foundation where he focuses on research, program development, training, and advocacy. He is currently leading a national initiative on policy change that trains social workers on Fatherhood Engagement via the Good+ Training Academy.
Dr. Graves has worked in the human services field, with experience as a facilitator and administrator at both public and private agencies, for the past 18 years. He has brought these diverse perspectives to his work helping agencies develop, implement, and evaluate inter-agency systems of care, family partnerships, and community programming. As a parent himself, he utilizes both his personal and professional experience to strategically and positively impact the lives of children, families, and communities.
Juan Solis, Vice-President
Board Vice-President Juan Solis currently serves as the Father Engagement Coordinator in San Bernardino County where he also chairs the Inland Empire Father Involvement Coalition. He is a former system-involved father and has used his experience in the child welfare system to assist other fathers and provide insight and consultation to systems and programs to enhance their father engagement efforts. For over a decade Juan has worked as a fatherhood advocate by highlighting the importance of fathers in the family unit and in the community. He worked as a Parent Partner prior to taking his current role as Father Engagement Coordinator. He previously served on the Mandating Reporting to Community Supporting Task Force subcommittee, and is a trainer/coach/ facilitator for San Diego State University Public Child Welfare Training Academy – Child Welfare Development Services.
Through his spiritual walk and recovery Juan has shared his testimony of change in various platforms with the hopes of spreading the message that strengthening fathers strengthens our communities and that change is possible. Juan was selected as one of the 2019 Top 25 Nominees for the Man of the Year Award. Juan holds his faith dear to his heart. He is a husband and father of 4 amazing children and guardian of 2 awesome nephews and coaches Club Soccer in his spare time, assisting in enriching children’s life through the world of sports.
Deutron Kebebew, Treasurer / Interim Secretary
Deutron Kebebew is a father, husband and a mentor to fathers, father-figures, and young people in our community. He is the Founder and Executive Director of MENtors Driving Change for Boys, Men and Dads, a local social justice 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Previously, Deutron managed and directed Supporting Father Involvement (SFI) evidence-based clinical research project for over a decade in Santa Cruz County in partnership with UC Berkeley and Yale University. He received his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from UC Santa Cruz.
With over fifteen years of leadership and implementation experience and working with the Supporting Father Involvement curriculum and group work. Deutron has engaged and served over 4000 fathers and father-figures. He is the recipient of prestigious UC Santa Cruz Tony Hill Community Service Award, NEXTies Award- Next Generation of Community Leaders, United Way of Santa Cruz County – Community Hero Award and Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Ruben Urzua, Jr., Ad-Hoc Member
Born and raised in Salinas, California, Ruben Urzua, Jr. is a dedicated public servant and community leader with more than 17 years of experience advancing prevention, intervention, and healing-centered initiatives that strengthen youth, fathers, families, and communities across California.
As Reentry Services Manager for the San Francisco Adult Probation Department’s Community Assessment and Services Center (CASC), Ruben provides strategic leadership in the development and administration of reentry initiatives that improve outcomes for justice-involved individuals. His work includes overseeing program design, contract and grant management, community engagement, cross-sector partnerships, policy development, and data-informed service delivery to advance equitable and effective reentry systems.
Prior to joining the San Francisco Adult Probation Department, Ruben served with the California Department of Social Services, where he managed statewide prevention grants and led the development of California’s first Father Engagement Grant Program. His work has focused on expanding father-inclusive policies and practices, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and increasing investments in community-based strategies that promote child and family well-being.
Guided by a deep commitment to equity, restorative practices, and systems transformation, Ruben is passionate about elevating the role of fathers as protective factors in healthy families and resilient communities.
Nicolas Mazzeo, Ad-Hoc Member
In addition to his position with the California Fatherhood Council Board of Directors, Nicolas Mazzeo works as Director of Operations for United Way Orange County. He also serves on the Steering Committee of First 5 Orange Orange County where he provides guidance for the Orange County Fatherhood Coalition.
Nicolas earned his MBA from California State University, Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics. He has previously worked with the Children’s Bureau’s Dads Matter program and with Father Involvement and Maternal Child Health Outreach with Americorps VISTA.
Mark Sutton, Ad-Hoc Member
Mark Sutton, MBA, serves as an Ad-Hoc Member of the Board of Directors for the California Fatherhood Council. He is currently a Senior Liaison for Partners and Key Constituents in the Office of Communication and Public Affairs at the California Department of Child Support Services.
His nonprofit work has included consulting for Family Reunion, focused on family law reform and shared parenting, and The Boys Initiative which supports the well-being of boys and young men. A longtime advocate for economic justice, Mark has worked in the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) sector, focusing on social outcome data and public policy to support low-income communities with the Northern California Community Loan Fund. Mark earned a BA in Mathematics and Music, cum laude, from Williams College and an MBA in Sustainable Business from Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco.