At Rooted Future, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. Research on the seven core Positive Childhood Experiences shows that young people thrive when they feel supported by caring adults, connected to their peers, safe in their environments, and empowered to contribute to their communities. Creating those experiences does not happen by accident. It depends on consistent, trustworthy adults who show up with skill, care, and commitment.
Our staff brings decades of combined experience in youth development, education, mental health, community organizing, and service-based programming. Together, Austin Nystrom, Shereny Barron, Sterling Spence, and Joshua Gaines have spent their careers working alongside young people, especially in communities navigating systemic barriers. They understand that steady adult presence, mentorship, and values-driven leadership are essential to helping students build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
Rooted Future’s team is intentionally small, relational, and deeply invested. By showing up weekly in Oakland schools, listening to students, and walking alongside them over time, our staff helps create the conditions where Positive Childhood Experiences can take root and where young people are supported not just to succeed, but to thrive.
OUR Team
Rooted Future was created by Canvasback Missions, an organization with more than forty years of service across Micronesia and in communities throughout the United States. Canvasback’s founders built the organization on a belief that people flourish when they are supported, cared for, and given opportunities to grow. Over the decades, volunteer medical teams, community leaders, and partners across the Pacific have worked together to expand access to health care, strengthen local programs, and build long-term relationships grounded in trust. As Canvasback continued its work, it became clear that the same spirit of service that connected volunteers to Micronesia could also strengthen communities close to home.
With its headquarters in the Bay Area, Canvasback recognized both a responsibility and an opportunity to invest in Oakland youth. Rooted Future was created as a way to bring global experience, community partnership, and a deep tradition of service to young people in Canvasback’s own backyard. By combining leadership development, career readiness, social emotional learning, and cross-cultural service, Rooted Future connects the strengths of Oakland students with the wisdom and resilience of Micronesian partners. What began as a global mission now includes a local movement, empowering a new generation to lead with courage, care, and a commitment to community wherever they go.
A Program Of Canvasback Missions
Canvasback Missions began 1981 when Jamie & Jacque Spence set out from the San Francisco Bay on a on a 70ft sailing catamaran to bring health care to remote islands across Micronesia. What started as a small, volunteer-powered effort grew into a trusted network of medical teams, community partners, and local leaders working together to address diabetes, dental care, women’s health, vision, and other critical health needs. Over the decades, Canvasback has coordinated thousands of volunteer hours, delivered specialized medical services to communities with limited access, and supported long-term wellness programs that strengthen families and changed lives!
As the organization expanded, its impact deepened through long-term partnerships grounded in cultural respect and shared commitment. Canvasback’s teams collaborate with island hospitals, government ministries, churches, and nonprofits to build sustainable health initiatives, train local providers, and respond to emerging needs. This enduring work has made Canvasback a recognized bridge between skilled volunteers in the United States and the communities of Micronesia, creating a legacy of service that continues to evolve. Rooted Future grows out of this history by extending the mission to a new generation who can carry these values forward into their own communities and careers.
A MISSION OF HEALTH AND WHOLENESS IN A DISCONNECTED WORLD
WHO IS CANVASBACK
WHY MICRONESIA
Canvasback Missions has served in Micronesia for more than forty years, building trusted partnerships that support health, education, and community well-being. These relationships create a powerful bridge for Oakland students, who gain the chance to experience a part of the world connected to Canvasback’s history and heart. Through global immersions, students learn from Micronesian leaders, see service in action, and discover the wider world that is linked to their own journey of growth and purpose.
WHY OAKLAND
Rooted Future serves Oakland because it is home to Canvasback’s Bay Area community and a place where strong partnerships already exist with local schools and dedicated volunteers. Oakland’s students bring creativity, resilience, and a deep commitment to their neighborhoods, and the district’s needs make this work both urgent and meaningful. By investing in Oakland High School, Madison Park Academy, and the wider community, Rooted Future supports young people where our relationships are strongest and where the impact can be felt immediately.
