Poonam Chabra
Born in India and a U.S. resident for over half her life, Poonam Chabra is a devoted wife, mother, and Event Marketing Manager. With 30 years of community service, she champions diversity through her leadership on various boards and commissions. As the Founder and CEO of the Circle of Giving Seva Foundation, Poonam remains deeply committed to empowering local communities through her passion for education, service, and impactful giving.
Kylie Clark
Kylie Clark is the Policy Director at the Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits. She holds a Master’s in Human Rights from Columbia University and has a lifelong commitment to policy solutions that create tangible change for our most vulnerable neighbors, with an ongoing focus on homelessness and racial equity. In 2025, she served as Campaign Manager for Measure A and currently sits on the boards of three nonprofit organizations.
LaNola Engfelt
Nola is currently in her first year as a paralibrarian at Bret Harte Middle School in the San Jose Unified School District. The past nine years she served as a substitute teacher, specifically long-term in Language Arts, Social Studies, and Special Education. It is her passion to work with youth in many facets. She has taught Sunday School, directed Vacation Bible School camps, and coached youth girls for over 25 years. Although Nola has a bachelor’s in business from the University of Oregon, her passion and heart have always been with our youth.
Suman Ganapathy
Suman Ganapathy is a community volunteer and leader and has served as Morgan Hill’s Library, Culture & Arts Commissioner since 2019, championing the arts and literacy as pathways to healing, opportunity, and equity. As immediate past president and current AAUW Morgan Hill board member, she continues to work and advocate for equity.
Lissa Kreisler
Lissa Kreisler is a Bay Area original. Raised in San Jose, she earned a BA in Journalism from San José State University and began her radio career in college. After 40 years on Bay Area radio, including 30 years at KBAY, she’s a Radio Hall of Fame honoree and a community advocate.
Liz Lawler
Liz Lawler is a former Monte Sereno city council member and mayor, and former candidate for State Assembly. She currently serves on the Monte Sereno Site and Architecture Commission. She has been actively working with local agencies and Assemblymember Gail Pellerin to address fire evacuation in Monte Sereno in the wake of the Palisades and Eaton fires.
Patricia Palomares-Mason
Patricia Palomares-Mason, affectionately known as “Doña Pati,” is a longtime Gardner Neighborhood resident and organizer in San Jose. In her role as a Gardner Neighborhood Association board member, she champions revitalization, youth and senior programming, and equitable development. Drawing on her upbringing around the South Bay’s orchards and canneries, she advocates for housing, immigrant rights, and preserving community identity with a bold, justice-oriented voice.
Folake Phillips
Folake Phillips is a visionary community organizer, strategist, and artistic director committed to amplifying African diaspora voices and advancing health equity through arts, storytelling, and community-rooted initiatives. She is the founder of AWỌ Center and Creative Director of Afriicionado Collective, with over two decades of experience spanning multidisciplinary curation, intercultural program design, and human development. Folake is skilled in creating inclusive spaces for dialogue and heritage preservation with a focus on youth mental health and culturally grounded wellness solutions.
Wiggsy Sivertsen
Wiggsy, San Jose State University’s first openly gay employee, co-founded BAYMEC and helped defeat the Briggs Initiative. She counseled LGBTQ students, taught sociology on gay and lesbian issues, advised campus groups, trained police on LGBTQ topics, and led extensive work advancing civil rights, AIDS advocacy, and domestic violence prevention. For over 50 years, she has been a tireless social justice leader.
Lindsay Speth
Lindsay is a committed leader in wildfire resiliency throughout the San Lorenzo Valley. She serves on the Board of the Fire Safe Council of Santa Cruz County and leads a Firewise community in Ben Lomond. Her work reflects a deep dedication to education, community collaboration, and strengthening local preparedness.
Christina Stevens
For over 45 years, caring for seniors has truly been Christina’s life’s passion. From her early days as a candy striper to her role at Brookdale Senior Living, every step has been filled with love, compassion, and deep respect. It means everything to Christina to support, uplift, and bring comfort to them. She expresses how she is blessed to help these special seniors.
Tonje Switzer
Tonje Switzer, Executive Director of Santa Cruz Long Term Recovery Group and a CZU Fire survivor, leads core disaster case management and volunteer rebuild programming. Through partnerships with local, state, and national groups and agencies, she leverages her sociology background to build sustainable support systems to propel long-term community resiliency.
Isabelle Tuncer
Isabelle Tuncer, a native of France and nearly 30-year resident of Santa Cruz, is the founder and Executive Director of El Sistema Santa Cruz/Pajaro Valley, where she works to enrich children’s lives through music and community. A law school graduate and former Fulbright scholar, she brings over 20 years of experience in international trade and development and is also actively engaged in local initiatives, including the Santa Cruz Sister Cities Committee.
Ann Bennett Young
Ann Bennett Young is Managing Director of Mindshare Coaching, helping leaders inspire strong team results. Drawing on 30 years in the life sciences industry, she specializes in translating complex science into clear ideas. A Santa Cruz resident, she volunteers with the American Red Cross and leads Damians Ladder, supporting seniors and disabled homeowners.