TWO DECADES LATER, THE ‘PATHWAY’ REMAINS OPEN
In October 2007, the headlines in San Francisco were dominated by Barry Bonds’ final game. But in the front offices of AT&T Park, a group of 30 “at-risk” youths were focused on a different future, led by SF State alumnus Shakeel Ali and the nonprofit Pathways for Kids (PFK).
At the time, the goal was simple: “career awareness.” Nineteen years later, the people and organizations from that day have not just moved on—they have dug in. As of late 2025, the mission of providing disadvantaged youth a “foot in the door” has evolved from a local mentorship effort into a permanent fixture of regional policy and governance.
A Mission Scaled to the County Level
The 2007 report highlighted Ali’s intent to “bridge the gap between students and the community.” Public records from late 2025 suggest that bridge now extends into the highest levels of local government.
The 2007 report highlighted Ali’s intent to “bridge the gap between students and the community.” Public records from late 2025 suggest that bridge now extends into the highest levels of local government.
Ali, who was then a 37-year-old program director, now serves as a Governing Board Trustee for the Jefferson Elementary School District, according to the 2024–2025 Public Schools Directory. His work in youth advocacy further solidified in December 2025 with an appointment to the San Mateo County Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Commission. While the setting has shifted from the Giants’ dugout to commission chambers, the focus on “at-risk” populations remains the common thread.
The Institutional Legacy of PFK
Nonprofits often struggle to survive leadership transitions, yet Pathways for Kids has maintained its San Francisco presence for nearly three decades. The organization’s Spring/Summer 2025 Pathfinder confirms that the foundation laid by Peter Dwares in 1998 remains intact.
Nonprofits often struggle to survive leadership transitions, yet Pathways for Kids has maintained its San Francisco presence for nearly three decades. The organization’s Spring/Summer 2025 Pathfinder confirms that the foundation laid by Peter Dwares in 1998 remains intact.
While Dwares continues his role as Chairman, the presidency has transitioned to Nate Ngerebara. This continuity validates the 2007 vision of creating long-term career awareness for students traditionally excluded from the “business side” of industries like professional sports and corporate management.
The Mentor’s Influence
The 2007 story featured Virginia Marshall, Ali’s former teacher, who emphasized the importance of representation. Nearly two decades later, that representation remains Marshall’s primary work.
The 2007 story featured Virginia Marshall, Ali’s former teacher, who emphasized the importance of representation. Nearly two decades later, that representation remains Marshall’s primary work.
Now serving as the Vice President of the San Francisco Alliance of Black School Educators, Marshall continues to advocate for the same milestones—such as the African American Honor Roll—that she celebrated nearly 20 years ago.
In 2007, Peter Dwares told those 30 students to “find something you love and try to turn it into a business, a career.” Looking at the landscape in 2025, it appears the leaders of that day took their own advice, turning a single afternoon at the ballpark into decades-long careers in public service.