Derek Methu

Derek calls Placentia, California, his hometown but notes that San Diego and  Washington-DC are also considered home. Derek’s pivot to non-profit work began after graduating from San Diego State University and moving to work and live in Washington-DC for nine years, leaving after earning a master’s in Public Communication from American University. He recalls living in D.C. surrounded by diplomats, foreign service officers, activists, politicians, artists, and people from all over the world as the catalyst to national service. Derek’s volunteering began as a Reading Mentor in D.C., an English Teacher in Kenya, Community Education Promoter with the U.S. Peace Corps in Guyana-South America, an AmeriCorps term in Redwood City, and Environmental Literacy Fellowship with California Climate Action Corps in Stockton-California.  

As a Community Engagement Associate, Derek will draw from his local and national service to engage with the Bay Area community focusing on volunteer appreciation. Derek’s favorite children’s books are; The Boxcar Children book series, Where the Wild Things Are book by Maurice Sendak, and The Giving Tree book by Shel Silverstein.