Our team is committed to improving the lives of children.
Meet the Team Behind NAPAB
Anna Mendez (she/her)
Executive Director
anna@napab.org
Anna Mendez has served as the Executive Director of the National Association of People Against Bullying for the past 13 years. She is a regular speaker on the topic of bullying and avid advocate of bullying victims and their families. Ms. Mendez authored the anti-bullying book “If These Halls Could Talk – the Daniel Mendez Story”. She has also been honored with an Everyday Hero recognition in Orange County.
Danny Mendez (he/him)
Director, Treasurer
danny@napab.org
Mr. Mendez has over 31 years of real estate and financial management experience as well as experience working with various non-profit organizations. After the death of his only son Daniel Mendez, Danny has devoted much of his life to the education and prevention of bullying amongst youth.
Dezra Anderson (she/her)
Director
dezra@napab.org
Ms. Anderson possesses over twenty years of corporate project and financial management experience. Together with her husband Bryan, they have raised their family in San Clemente California where they espouse the philosophy that children come first. An advocate of children's rights, Ms. Anderson provides regular oversight and direction to the NAPAB organization. Dezra Anderson serves NAPAB in a parental advisory role, providing insights and guidance from a parental perspective. In her role, Ms. Anderson serves to help the foundation always understand the challenges and priorities of the parent communities and to give voice to parental ideas and opinions. Ms. Anderson espouses the ideology that the true character of a society is revealed in how it treats its children and that every child, each unique in their path in life, deserves to have their right to learn and grow in peace protected.
Vitto Mendez (he/him)
Youth Justice Advocate & Cool 2 Be Kind Program Director
Vitto Mendez is a highly dedicated anti-bullying advocate and is considered a leading expert on state anti-bullying laws. He leads NAPAB’s multi-pronged advocacy initiative, which includes advocating for changes in anti-bullying legislation and advocating for students directly with school administrators. He graduated from Stanford University with a Masters Degree in Public Policy and authored a research paper on the effectiveness of state anti-bullying laws that has been published in the Journal of Education & Social Policy. He also served as President of the San Clemente Cool 2 Be Kind club for 3 years. The club was founded by his brother's friends after his death in 2009, and Vitto was determined to continue its initiative. Vitto helps students and teachers start Cool 2 Be Kind chapters at schools around the world to become effective anti-bullying advocates in their communities. He has received several awards for this work including the 2015 City of San Clemente Human Relations Award and a California State Senate Commendation.
Maria Fernanda Panting (she/her)
Cool 2 Be Kind Program Coordinator
maria@napab.org
Maria Fernanda Panting is a second-year medical student who served as President of the Del Campo School Cool 2 Be Kind chapter in Tegucigalpa, Honduras for three years. She is an advocate for children’s rights in Honduras and founded Salvando Futuros to advocate for vulnerable Honduran children in 2021. She is also the founder of Care with Disabilities, a project that aims to share awareness about disabilities around the world. She continues her dedication to improving the lives of youth as a Cool 2 Be Kind Program Coordinator with NAPAB.
Esther Mafouta March (she/her)
Cool 2 Be Kind Associate Program Director
esther@napab.org
Esther Mafouta March is a senior at Columbia University who served as President of the San Clemente Cool 2 Be Kind Club for two years. Throughout the past few years she has worked with NAPAB in advocating for more comprehensive anti-bullying policies and presented a new anti-bullying bill to a representative of the California state legislature. She will continue her commitment to ensuring all campuses are safe and inclusive for all students regardless of their gender, sexuality, religion, income level, disability status, ethnicity, or race through her work as Cool 2 Be Kind Program Coordinator for the National Association of People Against Bullying.
Parker Cannon (he/him)
Cool 2 Be Kind Program Coordinator
parker@napab.org
Parker Cannon is a senior at Vanderbilt University who has served in a leadership role for the San Clemente Cool 2 Be Kind Chapter as President for one year and Vice President for two years. He planned and coordinated Cool 2 Be Kind's Marches Against Bullying, blue ribbon week activities, presented an anti-bullying bill to a representative of the California state legislature, and developed a 5K run fundraiser. He is passionate about his studies and experience in Economics, Data Science, and Healthcare. Similar to his time with the San Clemente chapter, he is committed to fostering a community dedicated to anti-bullying and kindness for NAPAB.
