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Carmen Barsody
Co-Director
Co-Founder
carmen@faithfulfools.org
Carmen was born and raised in Elk River, Minnesota. She studied Theology and Pastoral Ministry at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN. In 1983 she spent 6 months as a Lay Volunteer in Maracay, Venezuela with the Franciscan Sisters and when she returned to the US, she joined the Franciscan Community of Little Falls on April Fool’s Day, 1984. Carmen worked as a Pastoral Associate in a predominantly Hispanic parish in Chicago, spent seven years ministering in Managua Nicaragua where she worked with women and youth. There is still a strong relationship between Los Bufones Fieles de Nicaragua and the Faithful Fools of San Francisco.
In 1998 she co-founded Faithful Fools Street Ministry with Kay Jorgensen in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco, where she currently lives and works. Carmen's presence in the Tenderloin is the natural culmination of years engaged at street level, listening, learning, and walking with her neighbors.
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Carmen Barsody and Mercedes Gonzales, una bufona fieles de Nicaragua
Silena Layne
Program Director
Steward of Community
silena@faithfulfools.org
A graduate of the University of San Francisco with a BA in Sociology in 2003, Silena has been at the forefront of youth development and community programming for more than 20 years in the education and nonprofit sector. In 2007 She Co-Founded two agencies in the Bay Area, YOU Choose (a violence transformation program for West Oakland Teens) and Opportunity Impact (a After School and Summer Program for 4th-8th grade students in the Western Addition Community of San Francisco). Silena's passion for this work was created by participating and being an awarded recipient of programs such as Summer Search, Students Rising Above World Horizons (Costa Rica), New Teachers Institute at Town School for Boys, YMCA of San Francisco, and the United States Peace Corps (Swazilnd, Africa 2003-2005).
Silena Layne in her colorful love and light
Daisy Xi
Accountant
A Faithful Fool of many years
Daisy is a very experienced accountant with a diverse background. She started with Faithful Fools as a bookkeeper and was mentored by Anton. She took over some of Anton's responsibilities when he retired. Kind, humble, diligent, proficient, and professional is how her colleagues and friends describe her. She is a strong believer in giving back to the community and is committed to being a Faithful Fool. Daisy is an even stronger believer in professional development. Her skill set includes all aspects of accounting, payroll, tax preparation, and establishing a business with state filings. She has provided consulting services for small businesses and nonprofits
Daisy Xie and Orchids, her favorite flowers
Nancy Munn after a school presentation in San Francisco. She did a retelling of the Fisher King, the foolish way
Nancy Munn
Administrator & Fool
Nancy@faithfulfools.org
Nancy stumbled into the Fools after accepting an invitation to shadow students on a street retreat and returned with lots of questions and wonderings. That was followed by Cosmic Conversations with Earthling Ade Kroll, hanging with Carmen, and then saying "Yes!” when asked to join the team.
Nancy brings skills which help Carmen and Daisy with administrative tasks but she’s also a friendly fool to talk with. In December 2026, Nancy will share her singing voice as the Mother in the Fools’ production of Amahl & the Night Visitors. She is excited about this collaborative endeavor which will bring Fools, Skywatchers, Insight Chamber Players, Ragazzi Boys, Unitarians, and community members together to create something beautiful. A foolish fact about Nancy: Under the expert tutelage of Sam and Carmen, Nancy is a yogurt maker!
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Robert Chambers
Citizen Artist
Robert@faithfulfools.org
Robert is a visual artist and the new Citizen Artist at Faithful Fools. He got his start doing clothing and product design in the 90’s when the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) movement was developing. Today, Robert runs the Playshop at the Fools Court on Thursday afternoons.
At the Playshop, community members can use silkscreen equipment, sewing machines, and button presses to create and customize their own clothing and artwork.
“ART EQUALS CHANGE!” -- Robert Chambers
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Robert Chambers (Slim DNA) sharing his talent by painting the Fools jester
Luna Luna at Fools Fest 2025, enjoying venturing into the cosmos with Fools friends and neighbors
Stephanie (Luna) Luna
Steward of Stories
Luna@faithfulfools.org
Luna first encountered the Fools on a Street Retreat in 2013 while studying Communications at California State University, East Bay. Graduating with questions about social justice and spirituality, she said yes to a year of service with the Franciscan Community Volunteer program in Little Falls, MN, where she discovered the power of intentional community and social responsibility. That first “yes” led to many more, carrying her to communities around the world and into social service work here in San Francisco.
Her “Yes” to the Fools came naturally. After volunteering her social media talents for Fool Moon Fest 2025, Luna joined the team full-time as the Steward of Stories — helping put words to the everyday life of a Fool.
When she's not storytelling, Luna can be found on neighborhood walks with her partner and their English Bulldog. Say hi if you spot them! 🐾
Ollin Rocha
Steward of Accompaniment
Ollin@faithfulfools.org
Ollin first came to know the Fools through Mercy Volunteer Corps. He completed a year of service for the Fools as a Mercy volunteer in the summer of 2020 through summer 2021. After his year of service, he moved back to his hometown of Oxnard California where he continued to explore the non-profit field working for a local legal aid organization assisting in tenants’ rights. At the start of 2026 Ollin was invited to join the Fools as a staff member taking on the role of Steward of Accompaniment.
Ollin brings people skills which assist in his role as he accompanies our fellow community
members through various life tasks and harvests relationships with our Fools community. He also brings some handyman skills which help in the maintenance of our Fools home.
A fun foolish fact about Ollin is that he enjoys running the Fools’ errands on his skateboard.
Ollin Rocha smiling for the camera
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