ALLIANCE SAN DIEGO - Key Persons
Andrea Guerrero leads an outstanding team that is building coalitions and mobilizing resources to achieve greater impact on the issues that matter. Before joining Alliance San Diego, Ms. Guerrero was the Field & Policy Director of the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties. Prior to that, she practiced immigration law before administrative, federal district and appellate courts. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley Law School (J.D. 1999), University of Texas LBJ School of Public Affairs (M.A. 1994), and Stanford University (B.A. 1992). Originally from Mexico City, Ms. Guerrero views the world from a binational, bicultural, and bilingual lens. She has dedicated her professional life to protecting civil rights and advancing social justice. Watch Ms. Guerrero's TEDx talk, Immigration Reform: A Chance for a Better America.
Andrea Tecpoyotl Tepale is a DACA recipient who began advocating for the undocumented community in high school when she realized that the DACA program was going to be rescinded. DACA changed her life. It opened doors to unimaginable opportunities. As a student at the Univerisity of San Diego she took on several leadership roles, but being a student coordinator for the undocumented and DACAmented students on campus helped her raise awareness about the immigrant community and allowed her to work personally with different undocumented and DACAmented students. Andrea holds a B.A. in Sociology and Ethnic Studies with a minor in Spanish from the University of San Diego.
Job Titles:
- Chairman Emeritus of the Board
- Member of the Board
Ashley L. Walker, Board Chair Emeritus Ms. Walker is a longtime resident of San Diego, who has dedicated her entire career to building community. Ms. Walker recently retired as the Executive Director of the City of San Diego's Human Relations Commission, which is devoted to issues of equal opportunity, conflict resolution, violence prevention, multiculturalism and diversity. Prior to that position, she was an administrator at the YWCA for 13 years, where Ms. Walker pioneered programs and created resources to eradicate domestic violence. Currently, Ms. Walker serves on the board of the Family Justice Center Alliance, and the San Diego Domestic Violence Council. She previously served as a member of the Grants-making Committee of the San Diego Foundation for Change and the Gay and Lesbian Funding Partnership Committee of the San Diego Foundation, and as the Chair of the Board of the San Diego Women's Repertory Theatre. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her unwavering commitment to social justice.
Job Titles:
- Civic Engagement Organizer
Christopher Kennison was born and raised in San Diego. Chris is Black & Filipino and grew up in the Southeast communities of Chollas View & Mount Hope, as well as the South Bay in Imperial Beach. Growing up in these communities allowed Chris to see a full range of San Diego. Witnessing the social injustices in his communities with people of color and over policing, he always knew it wasn't right. Chris has always had a passion to speak out when he sees something wrong. Chris graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Management in 2021. He first got involved in community work in 2014 and since then has done numerous volunteer programs, internships and worked with local organizations. Chris enjoys helping out people & showing them that their voice is important. Giving back to the community and empowering people to be leaders in their own communities is something he strives for. He firmly believes that, "No matter what happened in your life, you write your own story and could always change your outcome."
Danell Scarborough, Ed.D, Board Chair Emeritus Danell was formerly the Executive Director of the San Diego Human Relations Commission-a Commission devoted to issues of equal opportunity and access, mutual respect, and inclusion. She was also the Executive Director for the City's Citizen's Review Board on Police Practice. Danell was appointed by the Mayor to support the Human Relations Commission in advocating for and advising the Mayor and City Council on social justice issues, conducting activities that foster mutual understanding and inclusion, and protecting basic human and civil rights. Danell is a trained and experienced mediator. For the past 20 years, Danell has led public sector organizations in organization development initiatives in the area of leadership, management and board develop development, diversity, strategic planning and community involvement process. She serves as President of the Board for the California Association of Human Relations Organizations (CAHRO) and on the board of Leadership California, a women's leadership network.
Job Titles:
- Chairman Emeritus of the Board
- Member of the Board
David J. Miles, Ph.D., Board Chair Emeritus Dr. Miles moved to San Diego over 20 years ago as a post-doctoral fellow at The Scripps Research Institute. He soon joined Invitrogen Corporation where he managed key teams and departments, including technical support, quality assurance, manufacturing, contract research, and finally product marketing. He retired as a business unit director to attend the California School of Culinary Arts, and become a Cordon Bleu chef. He used this new training to work for Father Joe's Villages in San Diego serving as the dedicated chef for the teen residents of the Toussant Academy. He has served on the board and as president of the San Diego Human Dignity Foundation. In addition to other volunteer work, he has most recently been a member of the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative Advisory Committee that helps raise and make grants to fill funding gaps for HIV/AIDS services in our county.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Denise Serrano, Board Director Ms. Serrano is an experienced policy advocate, community organizer, and fundraiser who is a product of a binational and multicultural border region. She is currently the Director of Public Affairs for UCSD where she is responsible for overseeing comprehensive advocacy and government relations. She previously worked at the San Diego LGBT Community Center and the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Vice President of the Board
Dr. LaWana Richmond, Board Vice President Dr. Richmond holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from SDSU, a Masters in Information Systems from National University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership from UC San Diego/CSU San Marcos. She is dedicated to ensuring our young people have every opportunity for equitable learning, opportunity to learn of our communal past and opportunity to embrace who they are as individuals. Her passion for futurism, in general and Afrofuturism in particular, is driven by the times we live in; Times when the adversity and the opportunities it presents beckon us to rise above ourselves.
Job Titles:
- Journalist
- Multimedia Producer
Eithel Krauss is a Mexican-American journalist, documentary filmmaker and producer. As a child of the northern borderlands of Mexico, he grew up understanding the differences and struggles within cultures. Migrating to the United States and working on various video productions helped shape his skills and made him the passionate filmmaker he is today. While supporting different famine relief projects along the years in Kenya and Madagascar he always presented a great passion for journalism and altruism. He is proud to call San Diego his home and is currently supporting the efforts of Alliance San Diego and beyond.
Erika Clark is a first-generation Mexican-American, born and raised in Oklahoma. There, she ran the first-ever social media street team for Fiestas de las Americas, a city-wide event showcasing the beauty of the multicultural heritage in Oklahoma. Erika earned a B.A. in Public Relations with a minor in enterprise studies from the University of Oklahoma. With experience creating relationships with media, managing social media and influencer marketing campaigns, she has a passion for bringing groups together to make change happen. In her spare time, Erika enjoys exploring new hiking trails, reading and cooking.
Erin Tsurumoto Grassi grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is biracial (half Japanese American and half White) and fourth generation Japanese American, experiences which helped shape her passion for social justice and racial equality. The first to graduate from college in her immediate family, Erin has a Bachelor's degree from Whittier College in Political Science and Spanish, and a Master's of Art degree from UCSD in Latin American Studies with a concentration in International Migration. Past internships include the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) in the Bay Area, Assemblywoman (now State Senator) Lois Wolk's district office, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva Switzerland. Prior to joining Alliance San Diego, Erin was a community organizer with Justice Overcoming Boundaries, where she worked with leaders on a variety of issues, including transportation, housing, and immigration. In her free time, you can find her running, cooking, reading, dancing and rock climbing.
Hector Oviedo was born in the Mexicali-Calexico border region, he moved to San Diego after completing his B.A.'s in Spanish Literature and History of Latin America at UC Riverside, and completing a year of service with AmeriCorps VISTA in Los Angeles. He spent over 5 years representing immigrants in their affirmative and removal processes as a Fully Accredited Department of Justice Representative at Catholic Charities, San Diego before joining Alliance San Diego. Outside of fighting for immigrant rights, Hector enjoys camping at National Parks, attending musical festivals cross-country, watching soccer and spending time with his fiancée and two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Irving Hernandez, Board Director Irving is a Dreamer from the border region of San Diego, California. Arriving to the United States at the age of 6, he persevered through various barriers and ultimately graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelors in Aerospace Engineering. Currently, Irving is a manager at an immigration law firm and an activist in the DACA movement. He has been widely interviewed by local, national, and international media outlets. He also served as a guest editor of The Guardian and has helped shape the narrative about Border Dreamers, deepening an understanding of what it means to live in the border region as a Dreamer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- President of the Board
- Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at SDSU
Isidro D. Ortiz, Ph.D., Board President Dr. Ortiz is Professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at SDSU. A political scientist by training, he pursues the study of Chicana/o political activism and educational politics and policy and has published studies in these areas. Dr. Ortiz has been recognized for his teaching and mentoring of students and community service and leadership. Among his recognitions for the latter are the UC San Diego Cesar Chavez Legacy Award for Community Leadership and the KPBS-Union Bank "Local Hero in Education" Award. He also serves as co-chair of the San Diego County Latino Concilio on Higher education and as vice chair of the Education Consortium of San Diego County.
Job Titles:
- Civic Engagement Director
Itzel Maganda Chavez was born in Mexico City and grew up in the city of San Diego since she was 5 years old. At the age of 17, Itzel participated in her first Civic Engagement Program, where her passion for social justice first ignited. As a proud member of the Alliance San Diego team, Itzel has used her voice to share her experiences as an Undocumented / DACAmented community member living in the border region. Itzel also led and designed immigrant integration programs with Alliance San Diego from 2013 - 2020; offering an array of services and tools for the immigrant community. Itzel holds a Bachelor's degree from San Diego State University in Political Science with a minor degree in Anthropology. Prior to returning to Alliance San Diego as the Civic Engagement Director, Itzel worked with SEIU-United Service Workers West as a Political and External Organizer, Building Skills Partnership as the Census Project Specialist and Assemblywoman (now Secretary Treasurer for CA Labor Fed), Lorena Gonzalez, D80. During her free time, Itzel enjoys reading, walking with her dog, building legos and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Civic Engagement Organizer
Jaylynn Choi is a child of immigrants from Korea and was born and raised in Hawaii. Growing up in Hawaii, Jaylynn always had a passion for community organizing, working with several different nonprofit organizations through the Interact Club with Rotary International. In the Spring of 2023, she received a Bachelor's degree with a double major in Political Science and Sociology with a concentration in social justice from the University of San Diego. Prior to joining Alliance SD, she helped pilot the Oat Milk Default Project on USD's campus that aligned with her interests in climate justice, sustainability, and inclusivity. As a womxn of color, she strives to use her lived experiences to uplift and connect with vulnerable communities with empathy and compassion, spreading awareness on social justice issues through education and communication.
Jayne Sacco was born as the sixth child to an immigrant father from Sicily. She was exposed to diversity at a young age in the middle-class neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio in which she was raised. Jayne always dreamed of traveling, advancing her education and learning about different cultures. At the age of 18, she made the move to San Diego - by herself - to further her education. Jayne holds an MBA, as well as a Bachelors in accounting and business. Jayne continued her journey in education, pursuing her interest in learning sign language by becoming a certified interpreter for the Deaf. She currently tutors Deaf students via webcam, and interprets on occasion. Jayne's true passion is working in non-profit organizations; she transitioned from the private sector to do work that she feels touches our community. In the position of financial management Jayne is happy to use her skills to serve her community in a positive way. On any given day, you will find Jayne cooking up a storm, weight lifting, or playing with flowers, that is, if you happen to catch her when she's not traveling (which she does often).
Job Titles:
- Border Policy Advisor ( D.C. )
Jenny Johnson is based in Washington, DC and engages policymakers and partner organizations to amplify and advance SBCC's vision for border policies that expand public safety for all, protect human rights, and welcome people at our borders. Prior to joining the SBCC, Jenny was the Senior Policy Associate for the Latin America Working Group's Mexico & U.S.-Mexico Borderlands Program. Jenny was born in Washington, DC, but called southern Arizona home for almost a decade.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
- Professor of Economics
Jim Gerber, Board Director Mr. Gerber is a Professor of Economics, Emeritus, from SDSU where he served for 34 years. He has been a visiting professor or scholar at universities in Tijuana, La Paz, Guadalajara, and Mexico City. Jim also served as co-editor for the Library of Congress' Handbook of Latin American Studies. His written works about the US-Mexico border include articles, book chapters, a textbook, and a co-authored book. Jim holds a PhD in Economics from UC Davis and was a firefighter for the US Forest Service before becoming a professor.
Karen is the child of Vietnamese refugees which inspires her long-standing passion for immigrant rights and social justice. She holds a B.A. in International Studies-Political Science and an M.A. in Sociology from UCSD. Over the course of her professional and academic career, she has developed expertise in various subject areas such as migration, international organizations, political sociology, and law and society. In addition to years of research experience in both the non-profit and academic sectors, she is also partially accredited by the Depart of Justice to assist clients in filing immigration applications. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, and traveling!
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Ken Malbrough, Board Director Mr. Malbrough is a proud native of Southeast San Diego. He retired in 2012 as a Deputy Fire Chief of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department after 31 years. He is an active community leader and now serves on the boards of the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, the Black American Political Association of California San Diego Chapter (BAPAC-SD), and the San Diego Parks Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Human Resources & Operations Manager
Kyle Brandon is an alumnus of San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Afrikana Studies. Prior to working for Alliance San Diego, he served in many different capacities for the Grossmont Union High School District, Mission Valley YMCA and even managed and operated a food truck. He hopes to bring his experiences growing up in Central Los Angeles and experience running college, high school and elementary organizations to provide support for all of Alliance San Diego's needs.
Job Titles:
- Southern Border Communities Program Director
Lilian Serrano is a third generation fronteriza, born and raised in the Tijuana-San Diego border region. She spent her teens in Oxnard, California, a small agricultural town in Ventura County. Lilian has over a decade of experience working in community education, human rights advocacy, and social justice work. She became civically active as a High School student in 2006, when a series of anti-immigrant proposals in the U.S. Congress sparked a national mobilization for immigrant rights. Her personal and professional expertise have allowed her to build and maintain strong ties in north San Diego County with community members impacted by immigration policies and farmworker families. Lilian earned her B.A. in Human Development and B.A. in Spanish from California State University San Marcos. Her professional experience includes serving as Co-Chair and Steering Committee member of the Southern Border Communities Coalition, Chair of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium, Coordinator of Alianza Comunitaria and Co-Director of Universidad Popular.
Mackenzie (she/her/ella) is a proud Jewish Chicana originally from Richmond, VA. From a young age, Mackenzie has always felt a calling towards social justice and a commitment to leveraging her privilege to uplift others. In 2021, she graduated from Elon University with a double major in Spanish and Anthropology as well as minors in gender studies and Latin American studies. Mackenzie was drawn to the border after graduation and has worked with immigrant and refugee populations since. She is passionate about language equity, empowering women of all backgrounds, and advocating for humane border policies. When she's not working, Mackenzie enjoys playing music, dancing Ballet Folklorico, reading, and spending time at the beach.
Mallory Adamski is a Diné (Navajo) woman on her life's journey to uplift the stories, voices, and truth of people of color around the world. Before joining Alliance San Diego, she led the communications efforts for She the People, the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center, and StrongHearts Native Helpline. Before that, she earned awards as an independent journalist and writer for her reporting on Indigenous health, cultures, and politics. She has a master's degree in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, along with a bachelor's degree in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations and a Minor degree in Peace and Justice Studies from Utah Valley University. In her spare time, she enjoys running, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Maribel McKinze, Board Director Maribel grew up in southeast San Diego and is first generation. Maribel Is a Union Organizer at United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135. Maribel is responsible for improving the lives of the workers by informing workers of their rights and organizing them to achieve a collective bargaining agreement with their employer. Maribel will always be on the frontlines by either picketing or canvassing for candidates that are labor friendly, she has been recognized as a young change maker by the Interfaith Center for Worker Justice (ICWJ), UFCW International Walmart Associate Outreach program, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and UFCW International Organizing training.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Mica Pollock, Board Director is Professor of Education Studies and Director of the Center for Research on Educational Equity, Assessment, and Teaching Excellence (CREATE) at UCSD. Her work explores educators' key role in daily efforts for antiracism and equality. Her newest effort is #USvsHate, an educator-and youth-led anti-hate messaging project. She previously taught high school in California, worked in the civil rights field, and served as a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She received her Ph.D. from Stanford.
Michelle Celleri has been actively involved with the immigrant community and promoting diversity for over fifteen years. She came to Alliance San Diego to create high impact change. She believes everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of where they came from and their socio-economic status.
Miesha Rice is native of Charlotte, NC, but has lived in San Diego for about 9 years. She has a B.A. and M. A. in English Literature and Liberal Studies. At a young age, her parents began actively involving her in community outreach work with Coca-Cola Bottling company. She grew up learning the knowledge and skill of interacting with all kinds of people on personal levels. That skill was later elevated during her tenure with Apple as a Concierge team member. With the help and creativity of her mother she gained experience with planning and executing large events. She spent the rest of her free time traveling and performing original poetry on stages all over the country. That exposure inevitably led her to the social justice work here in San Diego. She spent a few years as a teaching artist in various local elementary schools in partnership with Arts for Learning San Diego. Miesha started her journey advocating for change as the Volunteer Coordinator during the 2012 election season; learning a host of information about immigration, education reform, and canvassing. It has been an amazing trip; especially for her two growing daughters who are striving to be Change Agents themselves.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Mitra Ebadolahi, Board Director is the Senior Project Director for Economic Justice at Upturn. Prior to joining Upturn, Mitra spent more than a decade with the ACLU, where she co-created the Border Litigation Project and litigated civil rights cases at the intersection of immigrants' rights, racial justice, and police practices. She has served as a Lecturer at the UC Irvine School of Law and as a law clerk to federal district and appellate court judges. She is an immigrant from Iran and a Fulbright Scholar who has lived and studied internationally.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Norma Cazares, Board Director Norma is a 1st generation San Diego native, raised in Logan Heights and Southeast San Diego. She started community organizing at 15 years of age, and has been a dedicated and passion political, educational, and social activist ever since. Norma graduated from SDSU with a B.A. in Public Administration and a Masters of Science in Counseling Education. During her time as a student, she was actively involved in issues related to civil, human, and women's rights, and Chicano empowerment. She then went on to be employed with the State of California Employment Development Department for 15 years, then resigning to accept a position as a Counselor at Southwestern College where she served until 2015. At Southwestern, she helped countless students of underrepresented backgrounds reach their educational and career goals. In retirement, she is continually dedicated to community activism and to making San Diego a better place for all people. Norma is currently a member and the President of the Board of Directors of McGill School of Success, a public charter school of the SDUSD, and is the founding member of the South Bay Forum. She has a BA in Finance and an MBA in non profit management and is a life long Bostonian.
Patricia "Patty" Mondragon is a first-generation American; one of three daughters of Mexican parents who immigrated from the beautiful state of Michoacán. Her father having worked as a bracero in Northern California decided to relocate his young family to San Diego, where they established strong roots in North Park. Patty went on to study Psychology, Information Systems and Human Computer Interaction at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. She is passionate about public policy, social justice, civic engagement and issues important to womankind. She is the proud mother of a budding social justice warrior, Alex, and together they have supported the work of Alliance San Diego to mobilize for change.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Rev. Beth Johnson, Board Director Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson is a minister of the Unitarian Universalist church. She works on intersectional justice issues, including immigration, racial and worker justice, climate and environmental justice, and reproductive justice. She has served on numerous boards where faith and justice meet. Dr. Johnson also provides spiritual direction, workshops, and retreats for faith leaders and activists in order to foster personal and systemic transformational change. Dr. Johnson received a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Claremont School of Theology and is committed to sacred activism - linking spirituality and radical social change.
Ricky Garza is based in McAllen, Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, where he grew up and his family has lived for generations. He holds a bachelor's degree in international relations from Georgetown University and a law degree from Columbia. After graduating law school, he was the 2018 Singer Social Justice Fellow and later staff attorney at the Texas Civil Rights Project, where his work focused on border justice issues including opposing the border wall and the intersection of policing and immigration enforcement along the Texas border. At TCRP, he served on the Southern Border Communities Coalition Steering Committee, and his work today focuses on fighting border militarization and systems that make us less safe.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Samantha Jenkins, Board Director is a distinguished US Naval Veteran and a proud first generation Guyanese American. She is a Leadership Coach, Nonprofit Consultant, and DEI trainer who has served on a number of boards including as the Chair of the Citizens Advisory Board on Police and Community Relations, Chair of the Skyline Paradise Hills Community Planning Group, and Board Member with the Black Women's Institute for Leadership Development (BWILD). Samantha asks the questions others won't to illuminate issues.
Job Titles:
- Policy Fellow
- State Policy Manager
Samuel Tsoi is a Policy Fellow at Alliance San Diego, representing ASD in regional housing policy coalitions and state-level initiatives. Previously, he served on the Board of ASD, and was an equity impact manager at the County of San Diego Office of Equity & Racial Justice, where he built data and grantmaking initiatives to advance equitable outcomes and foster belonging. He also served as the assistant director for the 21st Century China Center at UC San Diego, and co-founded the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and Welcoming San Diego, a cross-sector strategy to advance immigrant integration. Prior to moving to California, he built diverse advocacy coalitions in Massachusetts, and was a consultant in the field of corporate social responsibility and a freelance journalist covering Asian American affairs. Samuel is a graduate of Gordon College (BA) and the University of Massachusetts Boston (MS) and has completed advanced studies at Tufts University and Harvard Kennedy School. He is currently a Community Scholar at the University of San Diego School of Leadership and Education Sciences, where he also completed the Horizon Scholars Program and the RISE Urban Leadership Program.
Job Titles:
- Board Director
- Member of the Board
Smith Sirisakorn, Board Director is a leadership and community development professional with experience as an advisor to numerous boards and campaigns. Currently, he is President of the Retirees Chapter for the United Domestic Workers of America. His experience extends to strategic consulting, private equity management, and legal consultation. He has a biology degree from MIT, and a JD and Master's degree from the University of New Hampshire. He is a World Series of Poker Champion.
Job Titles:
- Communications Project Director
Tara Kaveh is a first generation Iranian-American, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her Bachelor's degree in Journalism with a concentration in Integrated Marketing and a minor in Ethnic Studies from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She has a dynamic background as a multimedia reporter, copywriter, graphic designer, and marketing manager. Growing up in a progressive environment, Tara has had a passion for human rights and social justice from a very young age. She has worked with numerous organizations including Amnesty International, The Beat Within, and the National Iranian-American Council. When she's not working as an activist, Tara loves writing, photography, international travel, and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Ted Womack Jr. was born and raised in San Diego. From a young age, Ted has shown interest in empowering and educating his community through resource development, relationship building, and shared information. Ted began canvassing with Alliance San Diego in 2012 and quickly realized he connected deeply with Alliance San Diego's mission and goals. Returning to ASD for civic engagement programs, Ted started utilizing his experience to create change in his community, even hosting his annual 2M Toy Drive to help people get presents for kids for Christmas. In his spare time, Ted works as an audio engineer, writer, and event manager. His professional and personal work has provided Ted the opportunity to create relationships across various sectors of work.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Secretary of the Board
Victor Roosen, Board Secretary Victor Roosen, formerly with the American Red Cross, is now the Senior Emergency Planning Advisor at SDGE. He is a former regional disaster relief manager for the American Red Cross overseeing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery programs. This included staffing, volunteer management, program development, FEMA compliance, disaster planning, and community based organization relationships.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Treasurer of the Board
- Deputy Director of the Museum of Photographic Arts
Vivienne Esrig, Board Treasurer Vivienne is currently the Deputy Director of the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park. She comes with a lifetime of experience in non profits managing and administrating one thing or another including 20 plus years at Harvard Medical School. She was the Treasurer of the Board of MOXIE Theater Company and has served on various other boards both nationally and regionally including the National Organization for Women (Boston) and the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom. She has a BA in Finance and an MBA in non profit management and is a life long Bostonian.
Yolanda Torres Villa has over ten years of experience as a non-profit community advocate. She is Mixtec, an Indigenous Native from Oaxaca, Mexico. She holds two Bachelor of Arts in Women's Studies and Liberal Studies, emphasizing Latin America Studies from California State University San Marcos. Yolanda has worked as a Legal Advocate and Small Business Developer at Access Inc. Her expertise includes guidance on business start-ups and assisting Victims of Domestic Violence in obtaining their legal status. Yolanda has developed and maintained strong relationships with immigrant communities throughout her career. She enjoys doing arts/crafts and nature walks with her two children in her spare time.