Stepping Stone of San Diego is excited to announce Sarafina Scapicchio as our new Programs Director. Sarafina comes to us with over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, specializing in LGBTQIA+ organizations. Most recently, she served as Deputy Executive Director and Interim Executive Director at San Diego Pride and has held leadership roles at the San Diego LGBT Community Center and Girl Scouts San Diego. She also completed her MSW therapy internship at Stepping Stone, which gives her unique insight into our programs and mission.

In addition to her hands-on experience with community-driven initiatives, Sarafina holds two master’s degrees: one in Nonprofit Management from the University of San Diego and another in Social Work from San Diego State University. Sarafina’s combination of clinical expertise, nonprofit leadership, and her commitment to LGBTQIA+ communities will be an incredible asset as we continue to expand and improve our services.

Andrew Picard, Executive Director, shared, “We are thrilled to welcome Sarafina to our Executive Leadership team. Her passion for LGBTQIA+ communities and proven leadership will play a key role in shaping the future growth of our programs and our lifesaving services. I am confident that she will bring a fresh perspective, innovative ideas, and help guide us toward even greater success.”

Sarafina has also volunteered for numerous community efforts, including She Fest, San Diego’s Trans Day of Empowerment, and the Tracie Jada O’Brien Trans Youth Scholarship Fund. In addition, she has served on the Board of AFP San Diego and Women Give, demonstrating her commitment to uplifting marginalized communities.

Sarafina Scapicchio added, “It is truly a dream come true to join an organization like Stepping Stone that understands the unique challenges faced by our LGBTQIA+ community members on their journey to health and recovery. I’m excited to work with Stepping Stone’s leadership and staff to create supportive spaces for healing and empowerment for our community.”

We look forward to the impact Sarafina will have as she helps guide our dedicated team and further strengthen Stepping Stone’s role in providing life-changing services to our community.