BOARD OF DIRECTORS

BRENTON GIESER

Board President

Brenton Gieser is a film director originating from Half Moon Bay, California. As a first-generation, biracial Korean American, straddling space between identities, cultures, and class, Brenton aims to craft stories that explore a nuanced yet grounded humanity through larger themes of inequity, healing, and the complexities of self.

 

He is the Co-Founder of LvL Films, a production company based in San Francisco focused on documentary, narrative films, and commercial content.

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    His current project, The 50, is a feature-length documentary that unveils the story of the first 50 men to become California certified drug and alcohol counselors while serving either life or long-term prison sentences. His branded work includes collaborations with Adidas, Facebook, Turo, Numi Organic Tea, amongst others.


    He joined the board because he personally has had both friends and close family members face incarceration. Also, as a filmmaker, he has told stories of incarcerated men and their healing journeys. D.O.V.E and its mission represents the world I want to see. An equitable world where all people regardless of the circumstances they are born into, have an opportunity to live into a vision of a life that inspires them and contributes to others. 


    He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Cat and two young children, Amélie and Brixon.

DAMEION BROWN

Treasurer

Dameion Brown’s experience is that he never knew of a “Justice” system in America, as he was personally affected by the “Criminal Justice System” spending 23 years in prison and five years on parole, all resulting from a sentence of seven years to life.


He is a visionary and a thinker with, what he believes to be, relevant and attainable visions that have solutions for those affected by what he refer to as “socio/civil infrastructural neglect”.

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    Over the course of his work he has amassed a network of like-minded people and organizations… tapping these relationships, he looks forward to seeing how these and other resources will be deployed to help D.O.V.E. achieve its vision.


    He is excited for the potential of D.O.V.E. as he believes sincere care, the tireless labor of service and a most tenacious advocacy for our communities has been too long absent and there has been very little oversight to protect vulnerable people from the apathy of poverty/pain pimps… He is excited to be a part of an organization that has vowed to be different.

RANDY CARTER

Vice President

Randy Carter has been a part of the justice system since 14 years old and at the age of 18 he went to prison serving 34 years in prison returning to society at 52 years old. Currently, Randy is a case manager/outreach worker for the Felton Institute in San Francisco and has a second job at the Civic Pit Stop where he is the Lead Supervisor.


In both roles, he focuses on justice-impacted individuals and communities looking for employment. He comes to Developing Organizing Visions for Everyone to bring a voice as a formerly incarcerated person who has successfully transitioned back into the community. Also, he brings experience as a community worker who is currently helping individuals looking for economic sustainability.

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    Randy believes D.O.V.E will be able to catch those people who slip through the cracks and have the patience to address the issues to create a successful community. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area and finds joy in spending time with his daughter.

RODNEY MITCHELL

Treasurer

Rodney Mitchell was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana and moved to California at the age of four. Rodney was enrolled in the Oakland Community School which was founded by the Black Panther Party. He soon learned the system and political injustices and learned if you do not stand and speak up then you will fall off anything. 


After the birth of his first child in the eighties he was introduced to crack cocaine and fought his addiction for eleven years. During the same time he was arrested multiple times in Alameda County and San Francisco County with his longest sentence being ten months. The last time in jail he worked with his Probation Officer to be admitted to the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, a Substance Use Treatment (Work Release Program). 

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    Rodney credits the program for giving him another chance, giving him the foresight on how drugs impacted his family and prevented him from being the best provider for his family. Soon after he became a case manager working his way up through several organizations working with economically disadvantaged communities. Currently, he is a supervisor for Chinatown Community Development Center in San Francisco. 


    Rodney brings to D.O.V.E. his lived experiences and survival testimony with an understanding of providing services through harm reduction. He joined the board because he saw D.O.V.E. being an anchor for communities impacted by the criminal justice system and helping to change the narrative for those who have gotten into a little trouble. 


    In his spare time, Rodney loves fishing and spending time with his family.

ARTHUR WALTON

Board Member

Arthur Lee Walton III is a Vallejo native, having lived all over the Bay Area including Sacramento. For twelve years the justice system was a revolving door until he served eight and a half years in Solano State Prison. After being sick and tired of being sick and tired, Arthur participated in rehabilitative programs to reenter his community successfully. 


Arthur brings a variety of skills and experiences to D.O.V.E. including being a drug and alcohol trainer and violence prevention facilitator. He strongly believes his lived experience can keep the organization grounded in its mission and vision. Currently, he is a small business owner of Will & Walts Landscaping and Hauling where 90% of employees are second-chance hires.

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    Mr. Walton is excited to be a D.O.V.E. Board Member because he wants to give back to the community and prevent someone else from taking his old path. He sees D.O.V.E. building coalitions throughout the Bay Area to help those returning to their communities and to prevent those from ever going into the system and sees D.O.V.E with buildings throughout the Bay Area and pumping out graduates that become productive citizens of society — working, housing and working on gang prevention to help someone else along. 


    Arthur enjoys spending time with his wife and family in his free time.