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Edward Hatter

Executive Director

(415) 826-8080

Edward has been the Executive Director of the Nabe since June of 2004.  His ties to the Nabe run more than 40 years.  Edward grew up in Potrero Hill and had a front row seat as a child watching his grandmother Enola Maxwell run the Nabe, bring people together from all walks of life, and advocate for those in need.  In 2002, Edward was hired at the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House as the Youth Program Coordinator and Facilities Manager before becoming Executive Director in 2004.


Edward has been a community advocate for more than 20 years and currently chairs the Potrero Hill Community Health Fair Committee and the Potrero Hill Festival Committee. He’s a member of several community and City advisory boards including SFPD Use of Force, SFGH General Medicine Clinic, Potrero Hill Merchants Association, Potrero Hill Boosters, UCSF Community Partners, and the SF Violence Prevention Initiative.


View the Director's Message here.

Sharon Johnson

Program Manager, Experiment in Diversity

Sharon is the Youth Program Manager for Experiment in Diversity, an after school and summer program for middle school youth.  Sharon has worked with youth at the Nabe for more than 15 years, supporting young people with their schoolwork, relationships, and interests. She exposes young people to people, places, and experiences that greatly expand their understanding of what’s possible.


Sharon was born and raised on Potrero Hill and her first job was at the Nabe. She was professionally trained at the Dale Carnegie School of Business and worked for 27 years at the U.S. Leasing Corporation, one of the largest financial services corporations in the Bay Area. After leaving U.S. Leasing Corporation sold their business, Sharon was subsequently hired by the Nabe’s Executive Director at the time, Enola Maxwell, as a bookkeeper. Enola encouraged Sharon to work with the kids and later took over as the Nabe’s Youth Programs Manager.

Jack Jacqua

Program Manager, Peer Counseling

(415) 753-6705

Jack has led the Nabe’s Peer Counseling program for incarcerated youth since 1995.


He has been counseling incarcerated youth and adults for over 35 years. In 1987, Jack co-founded the OMEGA Boys Club where he still teaches. Jack provides the people he works with the opportunity to engage with their peers in an atmosphere of nonviolence and cooperation and, ultimately, to seek self-transformation. He currently volunteers at San Quentin twice each month, one night per week at San Bruno county jail, and one afternoon each week at Log Cabin (a long term detention center for youth ages 14-21). Jack also takes justice-involved youth from San Francisco to San Quentin so that the young people can discourse with those who have been sentenced to life in prison.

Albert Johnson

Program Manager, Summer in the City

Albert is the Program Manager for the Nabe’s Summer in the City program and has been a mentor for youth in Potrero Hill for over 30 years. Albert previously worked at both U.S. Leasing Corporation and at the Potrero Hill Park and Recreation Center, each for more than 23 years. During his long tenure with S.F. Park and Rec., Albert mentored youth and exposed them to various people, places and opportunities which they otherwise may have not experienced.  He also tutored these youth and started visiting schools to check on them.  Upon developing relationships with teachers, Al quickly became the liaison between parents and teachers. This process developed into a year-round program where Albert did homework with the kids daily, visited schools on a weekly basis, picked up homework packages, contacted parents to resolve issues, and made home visits when necessary.  Albert is currently employed at A.P. Gianinni Middle School where he worked as staff support and the boys basketball coach for approximately eight years. He recently retired as basketball coach, after leading the middle school team to championships in 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Will Cratic

Program Manager, Transitional Age Youth

Raised here in Potrero Hill, Will currently facilitates the Nabe’s Experience in Diversity Program after working previously as a team leader in the Nabe’s Summer-In-The City Program.  Before joining the Nabe, Will served two tours of duty in the United States Navy, held several managerial roles in the hotel and janitorial industries, and worked at the St. Vincent de Paul’s Multi-Service Center South, San Francisco’s largest and most extensive homeless shelter.  His ability to deal with clients on a personal level and be a positive role model are Will’s most appreciated strengths in giving back to his community.

Kenny A. Burrell

Mental Health Case Manager

(415) 826-8080

Kenny joins the Nabe with a rich background in community activism, social work, and mentorship. He is dedicated to community organizing and empowering individual students to meet their goals. Outside of work, Kenny is a stand-up comedian and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity Inc.

Cathryn Blum

Operations Manager

Cathryn joined the Nabe in 2023 to help facilitate rentals of the Nabe’s event space.  Prior to joining the Nabe team, she had a long career working as a location manager in the film industry. She has lived on Potrero Hill since 1996, further contributing to the neighborhood by leading the creation and renovation of the nearby Carolina Green Space.

LaVette Virden

Finance Manager

LaVette has been the Potrero Hill Neighborhood House’s Financial Manager for over 20 years.  A native San Franciscan, she was introduced to the non-profit world by her grandmother Enola D. Maxwell, a former Executive Director of the Nabe who held that position for 28 years.  LaVette has also served as the bookkeeper for several other non-profit organizations including the Booker T. Washington Community Center, Cultural Odyssey, Bayview Opera House, and SOMArts Cultural Center.  LaVette has assisted her clients to successfully complete more than 10 city audits.

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