Meet Our Leadership

Founder Eboni

Eboni McKinley

Founder & Board President

  • Eboni is a single mother of two amazing sons, and one grandson. Eboni is a native of Chicago, Illinois, moved to California in 1978. Marin City is where Eboni, along with her mother and siblings settled down.

    The compassion and love that Eboni has for her community stems from her community, loving and protecting her from her mother. This type of love and affection gave her the attention she needed.

    I Eboni grew up in the era of hip-hop and crack cocaine in the early 80s. In spite of the abuse, but by the Grace of God Eboni has never attempted to abuse her body with drugs or alcohol. Eboni has seen a lot of devastation happen in her community. Instead of getting angry and upset, she decided to be the change she wanted to see. She decided to be the light in a dark place. Eboni knew one day; her community would turn around and be a designated place for people of color to live. She strongly believes that you have what you say.

    In 2010, Eboni rose to action when she realized that there was a shortage of qualified daycare providers in her community. Women approached her with a complaint about the shortage because they knew she would hop into action. Eboni has 18 years of early childhood development experience and is credited. The first part of her early childhood career was working at 19 years old for Marin Learning Center. There she was a teacher's aide and later became a lead teacher. Her love for children’s well-being, safety and education has been decades long.

    Divine Diva’s Beauty Supply was established in 2012. This was when Eboni realized the women in her community had to travel across bridges to get black hair care products. She realized that instead of complaining about it , just create the environment she wanted to see. Divine Diva’s Beauty Supply was established to provide hair care products, wigs and accessories for women of color. During this time, she had a surprise visit from George Lucas, and his wife in the comfort of her home.

    During COVID the summer of 2020, Eboni felt a strong urge to provide a safe place for the children in her community. She saw a sad look and a need in the community. Children were becoming depressed staying home during COVID. She knew she needed to create a space where children were happy, could have fun and be safe. Miss Eboni's Sugar Shack was created. The sugar shack has been a learning hub for young African-American children in the community. Miss Eboni's Sugar Shack is where they learn to be courteous, kind, consistent and trusted. She teaches them the fundamentals of life and how to love and respect their community. Eboni provides a movie night on Friday so that the children have a safe place to hang out with friends and provides free nachos and drinks. Realizing that children of color are not welcome in most places because of stereotypes, Eboni provides a place where it doesn’t matter the race, you are free to have fun. The children have also taught Eboni a few lessons.

    Today Eboni McKinley is the founder of Our Sisters’ Keeper (OSK), a peer-led, mutual support group for marginalized women in Marin City and beyond. Eboni has the relationships, connections, and deep community knowledge about the hardship’s women face, especially in Marin City. She also has the expertise and facilitation skills to bring women together and create an environment of trust and sharing that can lead to personal growth.

    Eboni founded Our Sister's Keeper (OSK) 9 years ago and has been generously providing informal support for women on her own time and with her own resources. The services she provides include career inspiration, support group meetings, life skills workshop, entertainment, and more. As the founder of OSK, she envisions a world in which all women regardless of race, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, income level, or socioeconomic status, are nurtured and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Eboni ensures that Our sister's keeper is committed to the “whole woman” mind, body, spirit, and future. This fosters social connection for women through support groups, individual life coaching, and access to ancestral healing spaces that address intergenerational trauma, social isolation, depression, the challenges of parenting, abuse and discrimination.

    These businesses were started with the intention of making her underserved community a more livable city. Her businesses were strategically created to serve specific needs in the community. Eboni’s tireless efforts over many years have made her the go-to person in Marin City for providing under-the-radar support services for vulnerable women, community building through shared learning with OSK, and entrepreneurial training for local youth with her small businesses. She envisions a world in which all women regardless of race, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status, are nurtured and empowered to reach their fullest potential. Eboni lives by, “ Let's be the change we want to see Mahatma Gandhi”

Board Treasurer Shemika Green
Board Secretary Ida Green

Shemika Green

Board Treasurer

  • Shemika a native of Mississippi and a resident of Marin City for over a decade, has established herself as a prominent figure in property management and housing programs with a career spanning more than 20 years. Shemika journey began with a deep-seated passion for property management, which she discovered early in her professional life. Shemika's commitment to mastering every aspect of the field led her to gain extensive experience across various roles and locations. She has managed properties in diverse regions including Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and California, showcasing her adaptability and broad understanding of regional real estate dynamics. Bachelor’s Degree from Wilberforce University and Master’s Degree Ashland University. Shemika is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

    Shemika's career highlights include significant achievements in delivering robust financial outcomes, implementing cost-effective strategies, optimizing operational processes, and ensuring superior customer service. Her expertise extends to managing a wide spectrum of clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies, encompassing Housing Choice Vouchers and LIHTC programs. This breadth of experience underscores her versatility and capability to navigate complex housing environments.

    Throughout her professional journey, Shemika Green has been recognized for her problem-solving acumen, effective communication skills, and her ability to forge strong relationships. She is esteemed as a thought leader within her field, contributing innovative insights and strategies that drive industry standards forward.

    Currently residing in Marin City, Shemika continues to bring her passion and expertise to the forefront of property management, embodying a dedication to excellence and a commitment to enhancing community living through her work. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, skillful leadership, and a profound understanding of the real estate landscape.

Ida Times-Green

Board Secretary

  • Ida Green is a California native and a long-time resident of Marin City. In 2010, after eighteen years of active membership and employment within the faith-based community, Ida was conferred a bachelor’s degree from Dominican University California, San Rafael in Humanities & Cultural Studies. Subsequently, she was accepted into a graduate program at California East Bay, Hayward and was conferred a master’s degree in social work.

    Currently, Ida works for the County of Marin Health & Human Services as a Sr. Program Coordinator in the Social Services Department. She is coordinating efforts to establish a Southern Marin Hub of social services for the greater community.

    Ida has a big heart for the local community and has a strong desire to serve its residents. Ida became a voice for Marin City schoolchildren over the segregation in the schools. She was appointed as a Sausalito Marin City School Board Trustee in 2014 and subsequently won election as the top vote-getter in 2018.

    Ida served as a board trustee with the Sausalito Marin City School District (SMCUSD). She is fulfilling the desegregation mandate handed down by former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra in August 2019 and creating a multicultural learning environment for all children in the district. She also helps the community every day through her full-time job as a social worker for the County of Marin.

    She is an active member of the faith community at the Cornerstone Community Church of God in Christ in Marin City. She was previously a member of Village Baptist Church in Petaluma. Ida’s heart for her community is large, with a strong desire to serve for many years to come.

Board Member Diana Sanchez

Diana Ballard

Board Member

  • Diana Ballard (Sanchez), a bilingual, bicultural, and female-identifying individual, is the eldest of

    four children born to a Mexican father and an American mother. Raised in the Monterey Bay

    Area, Diana is a mother to one autistic, gender non-conforming, trans male-to-female adult

    child, two adult sons, one daughter-in-law, one teenage daughter, and one nephew.

    Diana’s commitment to community service began at the age of eight when she started

    waitressing at her family’s restaurant. Growing up in this environment, she was inspired by the

    patrons who taught her about family gatherings, cultural traditions, the importance of speaking a

    second language, and the power of community support.

    After graduating from high school in 1997, Diana embarked on a journey of self-discovery and

    empowerment during her time in college. It was there a pivotal decision was made and Diana

    became a parent. This challenging period brought with it stress, guilt, and hardship, but it also

    taught Diana to advocate for herself and her children, find her voice, and seek support from her

    community.

    In 2005, Diana joined Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos (SCBU), a nonprofit organization dedicated to

    promoting social justice, nonviolence, and peace within communities. Over the next seven

    years, she took on various roles, including Juvenile Hall Outreach Specialist, Prison Project

    Coordinator, Facilitator and Circle Keeper for gender-specific youth and parent groups, Protest

    Organizer, and Alternative High School Liaison. She worked closely with the Santa Cruz

    Probation Department, California Department of Corrections, and the Santa Cruz County Office

    of Education (SCCOE).

    In 2012, Diana transitioned to a consultancy role with the National Compadres Network (NCN),

    where she facilitated culturally based curricula, such as “La Cultura Cura” (The Culture Heals),

    “Joven Noble – The Noble Youth Rites of Passage,” “Cara y Corazon – Face and Heart Family

    Strengthening,” and the “Xinachtli Rites of Passage Program,” across the Monterey Bay, Silicon

    Valley, and Bay Area.

    From 2014 to 2016, Diana continued her work with nonprofit organizations like 2nd Chance and

    Youth Alliance, leading workshops and support groups throughout the region.

    In 2016, Diana shifted her focus to a career in public service to better support her children’s

    needs. She began working as an Eligibility Worker for the County of San Benito Health &

    Human Services Agency, where she provided services in Public Assistance, Homeless and

    Housing Assistance, Winter Shelter Programs, and Housing Opportunities for Persons with

    AIDS (HOPWA).

    By 2022, Diana had moved to Marin County, where she currently serves as the bilingual

    Eligibility Lead Worker for the Health and Human Services Department. In this role, she trains

    new staff to serve the Marin community. During her first year at HHS, she became involved with

    the Marin City community, and through her continued commitment and collaboration, was

    invited to join the organization Our Sister’s Keeper.

    Although Diana does not reside in Marin County, she remains dedicated to her work with the

    community, continuing to make a lasting impact in the lives of those she serves.

Board Member Juanita Douglas

Juanita Douglas

Board Member

  • Juanita is a lifelong Marin City resident and is Executive Director Tradeswomen Inc. (TWI). She is an accomplished land survey professional with managerial experience in the construction trades. Her educational background includes course work in construction management, construction estimating, and construction accounting at California State University, Dominguez Hill, Los Angeles City College, and San Francisco City College.