​Executive Leadership Team

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David Channer
President & CEO

​David Channer was named A Better Way’s President & CEO in October 2020. Prior to this he had served for 15 years in multiple organizational leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer, Chief Program Officer, Clinical Director and Mental Health Program Director. David began his career working with homeless youth in upstate New York in 1993. In 1997 he earned a Masters in Clinical Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work. David has focused his professional efforts on the development and improvement of programs occurring at the intersection of Social Services and Mental Health Treatment. He is committed to building systemic partnerships that honor families and centralize the wisdom of lived-experience in the delivery of measurably effective supports.

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Warner Graham
​Chief Program Officer
​Over the years, Warner has sought to improve how families and children are cared for within and without the child welfare system. Working on the full spectrum of the continuum of care for children and families has allowed him the opportunity to improve and develop “best practices” through research. His current work with A Better Way provides him with opportunities to foster relationships at both the local and state level.  He is driven to equip families with tools and resources to ensure safety, permanency and well-being.

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Anne Grascoeur
Chief People Officer
​Anne Grascoeur has always gravitated towards mission driven organizations. She first studied Social Justice and Penitentiary Sciences in France while volunteering as a Legal Advisor to support underserved populations. In 2001, she earned a Master’s Degree in Business and Employment Law at University of Montesquieu, quickly finding a passion for People and Human Resources, which she practices since. Anne also co-founded a non -profit day care to remedy a lack of infrastructure in a rural area of France shortly after becoming a mother of two. When she relocated to the United States in 2011, Anne became a SHRM member and completed a Master’s Degree in Operational Human Resources management at Walden University to strengthen her understanding of US labor laws and workplace culture dynamics. Anne first joined A Better Way in 2017 as a Human Resources Manager before becoming Director of Human Resources in 2019. Anne is a Leader who embraces A Better Way’s critical mission and is proud to have the opportunity to support a diverse, resilient, caring and committed workforce.​

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Laksmi Lagares
Chief Development Officer
​Laksmi Lagares’ purpose is to help underserved communities access social and financial capital. She is an international leader in the use of experiential knowledge to solve global grand challenges and specializes in Public, Private, Community partnerships. Her communications styling crosses cultural and socio economic divides; translating needs to create strategy that yields mutual wins and generates a triple bottom line. Her professional experience includes 10 years in the private sector working on all aspects of development for Fortune 50 companies and 10 years experience on all aspects of nonprofit and impact work. She is a New Leaders Council Oakland Inaugural Fellow, former Co-Director of NLC Oakland, and former Co-Vice Chair of NLC National Diversity Committee, where she co-created the organization's first ever diversity curriculum, now implemented in 50 chapters nationwide. She is a Hive Global Leader and was a key planner of Oakland’s Breaking the Silence Town Hall, an initiative of Dr. Kimberle Crenshaw and the African American Policy Forum. Most recently, she has partnered with the World Economic Forum as Founding Curator of the Global Shapers Oakland Hub. Laksmi is an Oakland, CA native, a proud mom, and leader with lived experience in the foster care system. She has a Bachelor of Science in Technical Management and a Masters in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management.