Staff: Antonio Jefferson

Born and raised in San Francisco, Antonio joined Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area as a Professional Mentor in October 2026. His interest in working with children led him to explore a career in teaching, taking early childhood education courses at College of San Mateo and City College of San Francisco.

Before joining Friends of the Children, Antonio spent three years working as a behavior technician, supporting children of different ages in both specialized and general education settings, including children with autism and a range of learning, behavioral, and emotional needs. What he enjoyed most about this work was getting to know each child as an individual, building meaningful relationships, and being part of their growth over time. These experiences showed him that even small moments of encouragement and consistency can make a lasting difference.

Antonio understands how important it is to have someone in your corner while growing up. His grandparents played that role in his own life, and he hopes to offer the same kind of support to the youth he mentors. He believes there is no single path to success and wants to help young people build confidence, discover their interests, and feel comfortable being themselves. Most importantly, he hopes to be someone they can trust, talk to, and count on.

Outside of work, Antonio has loved video games for as long as he can remember, and music has always been a big part of his life, especially attending live music events. He also enjoys playing basketball, cooking, traveling, and watching anime.