Founder/Executive Director
Delia Fitzpatrick
Delia is a native San Franciscan/Daly City border baby and has been a community advocate for over a decade. She has been an active member of many SF Bay Area nonprofits for 15+ years, holding leadership and advocate positions at Our Kids First, OMI Community Collaborative, Homeless Prenatal Program, and other organizations in the community. Delia was instrumental in continuing the after school and summer programming for Our Kids First.
Simultaneously for the past 10 years, I have advocated for Our Kids First, a community-based organization providing after school/summer programming, I have been able to support the non-profit through program development and grant writing raising a guaranteed $4.5 million (2009-2023).
Under Delia’s leadership, the OMI Community Collaborative has been instrumental in providing community initiatives and grants totaling $2.5 million, between 2016-2020. These grants support elders, youth, workforce development, and innovation to keep people connected in the community. She founded The Good Rural in 2020 with the goal of raising awareness and generating resources for underserved rural communities.
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Program Manager
Daniel Gilliam
The rural schools and STEM means so much to me. Being part of this gives me breathe, and feeds the soul. Knowing that you could be part of giving a child more dreams(career paths) to choose from with STEM. With smalls schools struggling to keep sports programs, only having funding for the minimal requirements. Rural school program provides school supplies, including sports equipment, garden supplies and other needs to engage children in outdoor activities. To be a part of something so important speaks words. Positive, healing, and essential the more collaboration and opportunitys created for these children will make a difference in all of our futures. Thats why each individual that it reaches, or inspires warms my heart.
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Board Member/Chief Development Officer
Latifah Abdur
Latifah Abdur, our Chief Development Office, plays a key role in ensuring The Good Rural's success by developing strategies that drive progress and help build endurable futures. Through her leadership, she spearheads projects and plans initiatives to encourage growth with fundraising efforts as well as special events- that are focused on making a positive impact within the underserved communities of San Francisco, CA, and setting up the organization for real long-term success!
Latifah is also the driving force behind Elite Vivant. A Boutique Agency that helps entrepreneurs and non-profit organizations further their mission by designing creative ways to reach their goals through branding, web design, and marketing. She empowers these pioneers with innovative solutions so they can continue making an impact in today's ever-changing world!
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Treasurer
Mario Murillo
Mario began his career in employee benefits in 1994, working with employer and association health plans. With over 24 years in insurance, Mario has been primarily focused on employee benefits, with an ever-increasing complexity to the client plans he manages. Mario has broad and extensive industry experience, including Thorough knowledge of Funding mechanism (Fully-Insured, Level Funding, and Self-Funding); Reference Based Pricing Programs; Complex Carrier Negotiations; Population Management Strategies; ACA and ERISA Compliance; Budget Forecasting and Renewal Planning.
Mario graduated from the University of San Francisco, and is a certified Group Benefits Associate (GBA) of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists. In addition to The Good Rural, Mario is a member and adviser to the Personnel Association of Sonoma County, a network for Human Resources personnel.
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Board Member
Jeannine Merritt-Elzey
Jeannine Merritt-Elzey is a native San Franciscan with roots in the Mission District where she completed high school. She is the CEO and Co-Founder of Leveraging Equal Access Programs, Inc. (LEAP, Inc), an agency that advocates and provides a progressive housing model for adults with developmental disabilities in San Mateo, San Francisco and Marin Counties.
Prior to establishing LEAP, Inc., Jeannine worked for the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) in the Energy Division and Utilities Enforcement Branch. In these positions she advised, regulated and enforced compliance of energy, water, and telecommunications companies throughout California. While at the CPUC, Merritt-Elzey also maintained a private consulting practice to nonprofits, providing advice for program design and compliance.
Merritt-Elzey holds a law degree from Syracuse University, a Master's degree in Public Administration from Syracuse University's Maxwell School, a Master's in Asian Pacific Rim Studies from University of San Francisco, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of San Francisco. Jeannine serves on the board of Creativity Explored, an organization that gives artists with developmental disabilities the means to create and share their work with the community.
