The Uplift Central Coast Coalition has officially appointed the Uplift Steering Committee. The Regional Steering Committee and Subregional groups will be responsible for guiding the overall CERF planning process, including an array of responsibilities such as: approval of processes; criteria and metrics; setting priorities, work streams and issue roundtables; stakeholder engagement strategies; implementation projects for funding recommendations and/or inclusion in the final Regional Plan. They will also be responsible for all final decision making, including the final approval and adoption of the final Regional Plan and recommendations for support for implementation funding.
The Subregional Steering Committees have balanced geographic representation from each of the tri-counties represented.
NORTHERN SUBREGION
Francisco Rodriguez
Labor Organizations
Francisco is the Secretary-Treasurer of the Monterey Bay Central Labor Council. Francisco was also a teacher as well as a union president for over 20 years.
Location: Santa Cruz, Monterey
Kristina Chavez Wyatt
Employer, Businesses, Business Associations
Kristina serves as a Client Advisor- Strategic Growth, Northern California for California Manufacturing Technology Consulting (CMTC, NIST MEP Center), as the Executive Director of the San Benito County Business Council and Owner/President of Farmhouse Communications. She has nearly two decades of community engagement, business and economic development, workforce, advocacy and public affairs experience. Her focus is to develop and execute strategies, tactics and building networks in manufacturing, land use, community development, agriculture and government.
Location: San Benito
Gabriela Lopez Chavez
Grassroots and Community-Based Organization, Community Organizer, and Community Members
Gabriela Lopez Chavez is the executive director at Loaves, Fishes & Computers, Inc. (LFC), whose mission is to help overcome the digital and economic divides by providing low-cost or no-cost computer systems, technology assistance and computer repair to low-income families, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and non-profit organizations. Gabriela has nearly 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector and has served as Director for the Taylor Farms Center for Learning with the First Tee in Monterey County.
Location: Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, San Benito County
Enrique Arreola
Government Agencies
Enrique is the Deputy Director at San Benito County Health and Human Service Agency. He is a Board Member for the California Workforce Association Board of Directors and has long-term experience in the community, directing workforce development as well as community Services.
Location: San Benito
Richard Vaughn
Economic Development Agencies
Richard Vaughn is the Economic Development Manager for the County of Monterey. Richard has been involved in various community events and was formerly San Bernardino County’s economic development manager.
Location: Monterey
Michael Castro
Philanthropic Organizations
Michael Castro is the Director of Community Initiatives and Partnerships at the Community Foundation for Monterey County. Michael directly administers the Salinas Inclusive Development Initiative (SIEDI), the VIDA (community health worker) program and the Community Wellness Collaborative (formerly the COVID 19 Collaborative).
Location: Monterey
Jackie Cruz
Education and Training Providers
Jackie Cruz is the Vice President of Advancement & Development at Hartnell Community College. She began her career in the non-profit sector 19 years ago at the United Way Monterey County and joined Hartnell College in January 2009. She launched the Salinas Valley Health Professions Pathways Partnership, along with four capital campaigns, one for the arts, one for athletics, one for agriculture, and one for STEM.
Location: Monterey
Alma Cervantes
Workforce Entities
Alma Cervantes has led the Education Equity Justice Action Team for Building Healthy Communities-Monterey County for the last 8 years at a local, county and state level. She has more than 10 years of expertise in community engagement, grassroots organizing, policy advocacy and culturally rooted healing informed practices.
Location: Monterey
Eloy Ortiz
Environmental Justice Organizations
Eloy Ortiz is the Special Projects Manager at Regeneración-Pajaro Valley Climate Action. He aims to help farmworkers and others in Pajaro recover after disastrous flooding forced thousands to evacuate and families homeless. Eloy is also the Board President for the Center for Farmworker Families.
Location: Santa Cruz, Monterey
Diane Ortiz
Work Center
Diane Ortiz is the CEO and co-founder of the Youth Alliance. Diane has worked with historically marginalized communities to establish culturally relevant services and social justice leadership development to support generational healing, educational success, and restorative systems transformation.
Location: San Benito
Maria Elena Manzo
Disinvested Communities
Maria Elena Manzo is the Program Director for Mujeres en Acción, a women’s economic self-sufficiency and leadership development program. Maria Elena was co-chair of COPA’s founding assembly in 2003 and continues to be a key leader in this regional non-profit organization she also led the organizing strategy for Monterey County’s Esperanza Care.
Location: Monterey
Valentin Lopez
California Native American Tribes
Valentin Lopez has served as Chair of the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band since 2003 and is the President of the Amah Mutsun Land Trust. Valentin is a Native American Advisor to the University of California, Office of the President on issues related to repatriation. He is also a Native American Advisor to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Phoebe Hearst Museum of Anthropology.
Location: Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito
SOUTHERN SUBREGION
Jeremy Goldberg
Labor Organizations
Jeremy Goldberg is the Executive Director of the Central Coast Labor Council. Jeremy worked for the first Obama presidential campaign and has worked at the National Association of Letter Carriers as the National Field Director helping to stave off congressional efforts to cut jobs and reduce mail service to the American people.
Location: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Michael Boyer
Employer, Business, Business Associations
Michael Boyer is the CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast serving over 3,000 local children. Michael is a founding Director of the Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County, he also serves as the Chair of the Economic Development Committee for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and serves on several Boards of Directors
Location: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara
Cameron Gray
Grassroots and Community-Based Organization, Community Organizer, and Community Members
Cameron Gray is the Director of Climate Mitigation for the Community Environmental Council (CEC). He is also the co-chair of the Network Health and Learning committee.
Location: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Joyce Howerton
Government Agencies
Joyce Howerton is the former Mayor of Lompoc. She was formerly the Executive Director of the Santa Barbara County Action Network and before retiring was the District Representative for State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson.
Location: Santa Barbara, Santa Maria
Nicki Parr
Economic Development Agencies
Nicki Parr is the Chief Operating Officer of Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV). Nicki has been instrumental in creating a number of WEV’s innovative training programs, such as its financial education program, and its business recovery and resilience program.
Location: Santa Barbara, Ventura
Vanessa Bechtel
Philanthropic Organizations
Vanessa Bechtel is the President and CEO at Ventura County Community Foundation. Bechtel served as executive director of the Santa Barbara City College Foundation and was recognized as Nonprofit Leader of the Year by the Ventura County Leadership Academy in 2019.
Location: Ventura
Wendy Sims-Moten
Education and Training Providers
Wendy Sims-Moten is a 30-year resident of Santa Barbara County, who has a deep-rooted interest in the progress, development, and well-being of this community and its residents. Wendy is the Executive Director of First 5 Santa Barbara County. Her civic and community involvement include Organizer and Chair, African American Women of Santa Barbara County, Board Member, CAUSE Action Fund, Board Chair, Gateway Educational Services, Board Member, McCune Foundation, Board Member, Proud alum of Emerging Leaders and member of St. Paul AME Church.
Location: Santa Barbara
Corlei Prieto
Workforce Entities
Corlei Prieto is the Director of the Santa Barbara Adult Education Consortium. Corlei leads a diverse group of constituents ranging from students, faculty, staff and local public entities such as the local libraries, Santa Barbara County’s educational programs, and the local Workforce Board.
Location: San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura
Rita Casaverde
Environmental Justice Organizations
Rita Casaverde is the Executive Director of Diversity Coalition San Luis Obispo County. Rita also serves as the Chair of SLO County UndocuSupport Executive Committee and is part of the newly formed SLO County Climate Justice Alliance.
Location: San Luis Obispo
Rebecca Evans
Work Center
Rebecca Evans is the Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC.) Her role is to ensure that the WDBVC focuses on supporting workers and job seekers, especially those with barriers to employment.
Location: Ventura
Denise El Amin
Disinvested Communities
Denise El Amin is a member on the Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Commission and president of the Santa Ynez High School PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association). Additionally, she holds various leadership posts and works across organizations to improve the Solvang community.
Location: Santa Barbara
Location: Santa Barbara
Scott Lathrop
California Native American Tribes
Scott Lathrop is the CEO of ytt Northern Chumash Nonprofit. Scott is also a member of the President’s Council of Advisors at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo.
Location: San Luis Obispo
