Greece

OTW Staff

Jeannine Curley, LMFT

Founder, Program Director

The Opening the World (OTW) program, fiscally sponsored by the non-profit organization, Bay Area Community Resources (BACR), was founded in 2012 by licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Jeannine Curley (LMFT #53773).

For over twenty years, Jeannine's dream was to take young adults struggling with adversity on volunteer-educational trips. Growing up in rural Canada, Jeannine faced her own life challenges and travel became her savior. Exposure to other cultures and human suffering altered her perspective and life choices forever. As a result, Jeannine had an unrelenting desire to help young people from similar circumstances - find community, feel supported and experience the world. This population and their families are also the focus of her private practice in San Rafael, California.

Rainiero (Rene) Miranda, Ph.D., LMFT

Clinical Supervisor and Program Therapist

Rainiero (Rene) Miranda, Ph.D., LMFT, has over 25 years of clinical experience in the field of counseling and psychotherapy. He has a private practice in San Anselmo, California in Marin County. Rene has worked in multiple settings including residential and day treatment centers, community mental health clinics, psychiatric hospitals, and alternative schools. His experience includes working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and groups.

Rene's personal training and experience as a clinician has also been complemented by his many travels into the Amazonian rain forest from where he has learned ancient knowledge from indigenous cultures living there regarding our lost human ability to live more sustainably with the Earth.

Wendy Calomiris, LMFT

Program Therapist

Wendy Calomiris is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #117299) in California. She has 2 master’s degrees from Sonoma State University in psychology and counseling, and a master’s in human resource management from Golden Gate University. Wendy has a private practice, Calomiris Counseling, in the North Bay where she specializes in trauma-informed treatment. Wendy has worked with emotionally, physically, and sexually abused youth, individuals, and families to help process their trauma. For 25 years, Wendy worked with severely emotionally disturbed and adjudicated youth and their families both in and out of the system in Sonoma, Marin, and San Francisco Counties. Wendy is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Lens Neurofeedback and draws from psychodynamic, CBT, and client-centered positive psychology theories. Wendy’s trauma and polyvagal-informed approaches offer an accelerated, reliable, and sustainable pathway to a more regulated nervous system, emotional stability, and internal safety.

Laura Narcisse

Program Manager

Laura Narcisse believes in the power of helping yourself by helping others. She began her now 7-year journey in Opening the World, starting as a participant and then taking on more leadership roles until she eventually transitioned into her current position. Her interest in learning about other cultures and people, and helping those in her community, initially drew her to study Anthropology and Sociology, and ultimately, to join OTW. During her first few years in the OTW program, Laura received her associates in Anthropology and Sociology from the College of Marin. While working for OTW, Laura has achieved even more accomplishments by becoming certified in NCTI’s Real True Colors and Crossroads programs and teaching colors classes to others alongside her co-facilitator. When Laura isn’t volunteering, setting up/preparing for various social and educational events, she enjoys cooking/trying out new recipes, going on hikes, crafting, reading, and hanging out with her loved ones.

Carmen Ringor

Peer Support & Alumni Coordinator

Carmen Ringor is an original OTWer and was a participant for five years. During her years at OTW, she pursued a career in restaurant management and then went on to work in the tech industry for several years. The nonprofit sector, however, has always remained close to Carmen’s heart so she accepted a role within OTW as Peer Support & Alumni Coordinator and has quickly become a central, integral member of the team. In this position, Carmen helps new participants feel welcome and get acquainted with our program. She also develops and oversees the OTW alumni group activities, facilitates healing circles, and offers peer support.

Buddy

Head of Puplick Relations

Hi! My name is Buddy. My job is to ensure everyone at OTW receives licks and cuddles. I also make sure everyone gets their exercise by taking them out on walks and helping them be mindful of regular meal times. At times, my job is quite challenging, however, it is rewarding work. My biggest joy is giving my attention to those who have me sit on their laps.