Who Am I?

 Deborah Elaine Spindelman, but don't call me that unless I'm in big trouble. 

Photographer, mentor, advocate, sister. I’m a nonprofit professional and the proud owner of three custom front-zip wetsuits, one of which is gold. I am fascinated with the many ways of being human in our world, and this fascination is taking me now to Kenya.

I graduated magna cum laude from Cal State University, Long Beach in 2005, where I majored in Sociocultural Anthropology and minored in Women’s Studies.  As an undergraduate, I performed ethnographic research with members of Costa Rica’s indigenous Cavecar and Bribri communities , and boosted CSULB’s surf team to win their first NSSA National Championships. Following graduation, I returned to my semi-native San Diego to mentor adolescent girls through youth mentorship startup Club Xcite. Promoted to Program Director, I launched a partnership with San Diego Youth Services to provide high-end private mentoring to low income youth at risk. 

Having joined the board of directors at Community Coaching Center, I was subsequently hired as their Community Inclusion Coordinator to develop partnerships with state and local policymakers, autism researchers, area nonprofits, volunteer organizations, and civic clubs on behalf of community inclusion programming for youth with autism. During this time, I was selected for fellowship to the New Leaders Council, a nationwide incubator and hands-on training program for emerging political and social entrepreneurs.I stepped down from CCC recently to focus on projects like this one, and to prepare to return to grad school in pursuit of a Masters in Public Policy with a focus on international NGOs and sustainable development policy.

Photo: New Leaders Council

I currently provide advocacy and development support to the International Girls Skateboarding Association, Shakti Rising, and Community Coaching Center. When not elbow-deep in that flavor of fun, I can be found longboarding at Cardiff Reef, playing dress up, and dancing the Robot poorly.

Photo: Jay Reilly

This is going to be a blast! Come join me.