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About Us
A message from our Founder
The grace of God led me to create this organization. It is built on Faith as its foundation. As ex-felons ourselves, we can reach people of our community to help guide them through the process of re-entry.
As an ex-convict and gang member it was the creation of Saved by Grace, through my Lord Jesus, that gave me a new life. Therefore, I understand and believe in the need of Faith to be included as part of the foundation for recovering individuals.
I was given the opportunity to go back into the correction facilities that I once walked through and to bring hope to
the lost.
Our reentry process starts from the inside out – both spiritually and physically. We go into jails and prisons and spend time with inmates to find out their needs and barriers. We build a re-entry plan with them, not for them. We become a part of the support system for inmates and for family members who have also been affected by the incarceration.
Staff
Pastor Ronnie Muniz
Founder & CEO
A recognized leader in faith-based supportive services, Pastor Ronnie Muniz has worked tirelessly to help the homeless, youth and formerly incarcerated people of San Francisco. For the last fourteen years, while holding down a full-time job to pay the bills, Ronnie volunteered evenings and weekends to help his brothers and sisters in need.
As an ex-felon, former gang member and former drug dealer, Ronnie knows what it takes to turn a life around. After his release from prison in 1989, he worked with the Real Alternative Program in San Francisco in gang prevention. Dedicated to helping young people avoid his pitfalls, he became a gang prevention coordinator with the San Francisco Mayors Office Gang Prevention Program. As a gang prevention coordinator and youth advocate with the Bernal Heights Community Center, he facilitated groups on anger management and life skills, and created a men’s group for gang prevention at the Portrero Hill YMCA.
Ronnie’s work with juveniles includes his role as a Juvenile Hall Commissioner, where he oversaw operations. He also volunteered for the SF Focus Program providing classes in life skills and anger management. Ronnie offers the services of Saved by Grace in Youth Rallies around the city to support young people and reduce recidivism and facilitates programs in criminal and addictive thinking, anger management, life skills and relapse prevention in Juvenile Hall, and as requested by the courts.
Ronnie brought to bear his own experience with incarceration in his re-entry case management work at Walden House, Jelani House and Baker Place. He was a member of the San Francisco Mayors Office Re-entry Council working to develop programs and wrap around services. At the Portrero Hill YMCA, he was a men’s group facilitator and worked as a case manager and job developer for people coming out of jail and prison. He takes referrals for case management from San Francisco Parole, San Francisco Probation, San Francisco Juvenile Hall and San Quentin State Prison. A member of the Mentoring Men’s Movement, Ronnie helps to create healthier and safer communities by providing guidance and support to the incarcerated, previously incarcerated and others who are clearly striving to improve their lives.
Ronnie has worked with the homeless of San Francisco at the Hamilton Family Shelter and Homeless Prenatal. In his support of victims of violence, he was part of the SF Community Response Network Council bringing services and support to the families of victims of violence.
“Throughout my life I have made some good and bad decisions, but through it all I truly believe God had, and still has, His hand on my life.” Pastor Ronnie Muniz
Board of directors
William Ortiz-Cartagena,
President
Born and raised in San Francisco's Mission District, William Ortiz-Cartagena has over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, enjoying a successful career with Joie de Vivre hospitality.
After leaving Joie de Vivre, William founded several companies and now focuses his efforts on the challenges experienced by underserved communities in San Francisco.
William also served as Board President of the Mission Economic Development Agency, is the President of the Board for Mission Adelante, serves on the Board for Bayview S.O.L. and is an appointed official for the City and County of San Francisco as a Commissioner for the San Francisco office of Small Business.
Ramona Trevino,
Board Member
Ramona Trevino is from the San Francisco Bay Area and raised two beautiful daughters as a single mother.
She is an author (using the pseudonym I.M. Dauntless), a licensed pastor with New Life Fellowship in Hollister, CA, and the host of a radio show called "Blossoms of My Life" on Elevation Radio Network, interviewing people’s God stories and their "But God" moments.
She earned her Master's degree and credential in Moderate to Severe Special Education from National University, a Bachelor's degree in Addictions Studies from Bethany College in Scotts Valley, California, and an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies through Phillips Junior College.
She looks forward to supporting our youth and families as well as bringing programs that will embrace them and give them hope.
DeAndre Jurand,
Board Member
DeAndre joined the Board in 2015 and brings expertise in the areas of community based nonprofits, substance abuse counseling for youth and in-custody case management.
He started his career at the age of eighteen as an advocate for victims impacted by gun violence in the Visitation Valley area.
DeAndre was then blessed with an opportunity to work with the incarcerated population focused on 18-30 years olds at San Bruno County jail.
He also worked with Five Keys Charter School to develop a program pod focusing on substance abuse, education and life skills that inmates can utilize upon release.
Since 2012, DeAndre has been working as a youth substance abuse counselor for 12-20 year old boys to support and mentor them in juvenile hall and many schools through out San Francisco.
DeAndre holds an Associates Degree City College in San Francisco. He earned a California Drug and Alcohol Certificate and a Mental Health Certificate from City College in San Francisco.
He is enjoys spending time with family, building things, reading, studying, backpacking, marathon running, cycling, adventure travel, writing, painting, cooking, and documentary film.
