Meet members of the Belle Haven Community Campus team

Published on April 29, 2024

Meet some of the incredible Belle Haven Community Campus staff at the new multi-generational, all-electric, fully stainable facility opening May 18.

A. Airel Tinajero

Airel Tinajero is the Recreation Coordinator for the Senior Center and has been working for the City for 15 years. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her dog, Pepe. Airel enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and walking. Airel is a Belle Haven resident and ready to welcome the seniors to the new Belle Haven Community Campus. She is looking forward to continuing fruitful collaborations with both new and returning organizations while providing essential services to the community.

B. Avery Drake

Avery Drake is the Program Assistant for the Belle Haven Community Campus and will be one of the first faces you see when you walk in. He has been with the City for 10 years and is a Belle Haven resident. Avery’s hobbies include building and riding bikes, playing basketball, hiking and drawing. He says the new building will be a fresh start for the community and he is looking forward to the safe space that the facility will bring to the kids in the neighborhood. Avery is excited about the new programs that will be held at the Community Campus.

C. Da’Shawn Williams

Da’Shawn Williams is the newest member of our Belle Haven Community Campus team. She has worked for the City for 15 years and is excited to work in the community that she grew up in. Da’Shawn is looking forward to providing the necessary resources for the Belle Haven community that have been missing since the remodel began. In her spare time, Da’Shawn likes to spend time with her two children and her fiancé. They enjoy playing board games and visiting new playgrounds.

D. Manuel Melgar

Manuel Melgar is the Program Driver for the Senior Center and Belle Haven Community Campus. He is a Belle Haven native and began working for the City of Menlo Park in 2014. He loves to play all types of sports, including bowling, chess and billiards. Manuel is looking forward to the BHCC team growing, collaborating and working together to support the community. He says the new building will bring great opportunities for the staff and the community.

E. Mayra Monje

Mayra Monje is the Recreation Coordinator at the Belle Haven Youth Center that is part of the Belle Haven Community Campus. She recently reached her five-year mark with the City and is excited about the new after school space for the children in the community. Mayra is excited about the new connections she will make and the life-enriching programs the community campus will bring to the Belle Haven community. In her spare time, Mayra loves spending time with her husband and three children. Mayra’s hobby is making creative hand-made crafts.

F. Raul Ponce

Raul Ponce is the Program Assistant for the Belle Haven Youth Center located in the Belle Haven Community Campus. He has been working for the City of Menlo Park for six years and has worked with the Senior Center, community events and the afterschool program. Raul is excited to be in a building where all of the LCS programs can come together under one roof. He says this will be a great opportunity for sharing ideas and coming together to create awesome activities, programs and resources for the community. Raul grew up in Menlo Park and also attended Beechwood School with his four siblings. He has an identical twin brother so you may see double versions of Raul walking around the new campus. In his spare time, Raul enjoys watching sports including Nascar.

G. Rondell Howard

Rondell Howard is the Library and Community Services Supervisor of the Belle Haven Community Campus. He began working for the City of Menlo Park in 2016. In his spare time, Rondell enjoys spending time with his son, taking trips with his wife, working out and playing basketball. He is eagerly anticipating being able to welcome the community into the new building. Rondell is excited about the positive impact that the Belle Haven Community Campus will bring. He will be working on developing programs, activities, camps and more to enrich the lives of the Belle Haven neighborhood.