Meet the Mayos, a family bonded in leadership and service.

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COVER PHOTO: by Julie Cheshire Photography

By Kara Navolio, Resident since 1991

Allyson Mayo has deep roots here in Northgate, having grown up here and graduated from Northgate High School in 1988.

Allyson returned to Northgate in 2013 after a divorce and is now raising her two sons as a single mom and working full time as a doctor of behavioral health. Allyson’s path to her current work has been a winding, untraditional one. She attended the University of San Francisco and completed a business degree during the birth of the dotcoms. She went directly into technology, working with Xerox Corporation. “The major shift from analog to digital was an incredible time in history and being connected to a Fortune 500 technology company was nothing short of thrilling,” reflects Allyson. “This is where I realized that having a boss that believes in you can make all the difference, especially during a time when there is significant change taking place. We had to learn to fail fast and try new things.”

Allyson with her sons graduating with her PhD

When Allyson had her two boys she decided to make a career shift from one of ambition to one with more meaning. “While I had always been interested in being in healthcare, with a special interest in psychology and human behavior, my less than adequate selfworth had me convinced that I wasn’t capable. As an individual with a personal / lived experience of being a teenager who frequently felt on the outside of “normal,” bullied in school, depression and the fear of failure was a daily influence. Once having children of my own, I realized that I needed to stop the cycle of low self-worth.” She attended Diablo Valley College and completed the requirements to become an Alcohol and Drug Counselor, which led her to work as an Addiction Counselor and Anger Management educator for our community’s most under-served, those experiencing homelessness, mental illness, incarceration, and unresolved childhood trauma. From this experience Allyson went on to pursue a Master of Science in Behavior Health and then a Doctorate in Behavioral Health.

Allyson explains the meaning her current work has: “Now as a Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH), during a time when we are experiencing an epidemic of loneliness, addiction, anxiety, depression, death by overdose, suicide, and unequivocal burnout from the workforce committed to the work in these areas of care, I am committed to developing a workforce more adequately prepared to respond to these complex problems.”

At the same time her career was evolving, her personal life was also changing. “I remember the moment, just two days after the boys and I moved into our new place, here in the Pheasant Run neighborhood, we sat down to discuss our (or my) plan moving forward. I shared with them that I was going to continue on with school and that meant resources were going to have to be more thoughtfully considered and evaluated. This included time, finances, and the most precious resource of all.....emotional wellbeing. Moving into single parent life, the desire to have a peaceful home life became our shared vision and daily commitment to one another.”

Allyson’s parents, who still live in the Northgate area, in the Rancho Paraiso area, instilled in her the desire to work to improve our community and be a steward of our resources. “I was raised by a family of healthcare professionals; my father is a retired OBGYN and the former Chairman of OBGYN at both Concord and WC John Muir Health Center, and my mother is a Registered Nurse (one of the medical auxiliary members for the hospital, always fundraising and coming up with creative ideas to improve the health of our community). They were great role models and big change makers in this community.” While her father attended to patients, her mother worked long hours in his office tending to the daily grind of contacting insurance providers and handling the business side of the practice. Although her father is no longer in practice, he seldom misses an opportunity to attend the Grand Rounds at John Muir Hospital, assist in surgery and provide education for new doctors. He continues to be an incredible resource for our community, as he graciously shares his medical knowledge. Her mother is tireless in her approach to improve our healthcare system and ensure that we prioritize the patient experience.

Allyson’s oldest son, Matthew, is 17 and a junior at Northgate High School. He is president of the school’s Key Club, organizing groups of students to volunteer and see the valuable contributions they can make in their community. One morning recently, at the crack of dawn, Matthew led a group of students to serve meals at Glide Memorial in San Francisco. He also is a Life Guard and swim instructor and a volunteer tutor at the Monument Crisis Center. He is dedicated to volunteer work and leads by example.

Dylan, 15, is President of the freshman class, a member of the Improv Team, and is active in many school sports. He has also learned the value of community service. “Each year he volunteers as a stage manager for the Valle Verde school play, contributes time to the Glide Memorial Youth Program, St. Jude’s Walk in SF, creating Smoking Cessation Programs and Public Service Announcements, anti-bulling campaigns, and many other local opportunities to be of service. His role as class president is a perfect fit, as he loves creating fun events, being on stage, and making himself available for other students to feel understood and heard,” says Allyson.

Allyson and her sons are happy to be living in the Northgate neighborhood. As Allyson says, “I feel like I live in a little village in Europe. The beauty of Mt. Diablo and the gorgeous tree lined streets in this neighborhood are nothing short of breathtaking. The row of brightly blossoming Crepe Myrtle trees along Walnut Avenue and around town make me feel like I am strolling through a beautiful painting. People continue to amaze me. There is so much love and kindness in the world. There are wonderful families and children for the boys to connect with and lots of opportunities to get involved in meaningful philanthropic work together. I think we can all agree that this is what all children and families should have. As a parent, I realize that I need everyone and we are all in this together. Being able to live in a community with such love and trust, looking out for one another, it really should be a right not a privilege.”

Allyson loves running into familiar faces, from families she knew growing up here. So many people she knows are involved in giving back to the community, making it a special place for all who live here.