

ARK of REFUGE,Inc

"Bridging the Gap between Municipality & Client."


Leslie West Owner and Financial Officer
Triumphing Against All Odds: Before graduating from Berkeley High School, Ms. West embraced a remarkable journey. She served as a Junior aide to Mayor Tom Bates, earned certifications from UC Berkeley's Pre Engineering Course and San Francisco University's Civil Law Program, all while facing homelessness. In 2017, after 11 years, she broke the cycle by entering a DV homeless shelter. During this time, Ms. West excelled as the Executive Administrator for Stanford University's Cancer Institute-Population Sciences, earning 10 certificates in Finance and Regulatory Environments within 60 days. Her achievements under adversity are boundless.

Edward Levingston Programmatic Director
A Beacon of Strength: Levingston, a dedicated member of the Ark of Refuge since 1992, leads as the program manager for probation and outreach programs. With a background in security spanning a decade, he brings invaluable insight to our new Emergency shelter program, ensuring our vulnerability and risk assessments are top-notch. Raised in Berkeley, California, he gained wisdom from both sides of the law. Levingston's journey includes five years as a carpenter and over a decade as a Captain for SPOA. His security expertise and life triumphs make him an invaluable asset, shaping the structure and moral compass of the Ark of Refuge.