Rooted Program Manager

Lydia Yamaguchi (she/they) is a community-centered program leader dedicated to cultivating wellbeing, connection, and thriving communities in Oakland and beyond. Her work focuses on supporting educators in accessing stable housing, financial wellness, and the resources needed to sustain themselves and those they serve. Grounded in deep relationships and a belief in community resilience, Lydia brings a thoughtful, people-first approach to program design and implementation.

At the Oakland Fund, Lydia serves as Program Manager for Rooted, where she leads educator engagement and support, ensuring educators can successfully access housing and wraparound services. She works closely with educators, partners, and internal teams to translate Rooted’s mission into tangible, day-to-day impact, strengthening stability and wellbeing for those at the heart of Oakland’s schools.

Lydia brings over a decade of experience working alongside educators and students to build conditions for health and success. She began her career teaching garden-based nutrition and science education in Oakland, working with learners from transitional kindergarten through adult education and helping connect health, food, and environment. She later spent seven years with Oakland Unified School District coordinating health and wellness initiatives, managing projects spanning staff wellness, food systems, environmental health, gardens, and youth leadership. Through this work, she built lasting relationships across OUSD and the broader community.

Raised in Long Beach attending public schools and surrounded by educators in her family and community, Lydia developed an early respect for the role of teachers and the ingenuity with which communities — particularly communities of color — navigate complex systems.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from Brown University and is a certified Project Management Professional. Outside of work, Lydia enjoys growing, preparing, and sharing food, exploring California’s natural beauty, and finding joy in everyday community connection.