Candidate Responses

Self-Nominated

Please summarize the reasons you are submitting this nomination
I am interested in serving as a regional representative because I find tremendous value in coming together with others around a shared goal. I have valued CPEDV and their role in our movement since I began working in the DV field in Sacramento in 1999. It is important for us as a field to come to together and develop a unified voice that incorporates the interests of all our diverse organizations. I know we are stronger together and we can all learn from each other. I understand the value of uplifting the views of all organizations – big and small. I also know it is important to build relationships and trust among sister organizations within the region, so we can work together to advance all of our agendas and goals to best serve survivors.

Describe this nominee’s participation in the Partnership’s regional networks, policy committees, peer learning circles and other components of our Membership community
Since joining WEAVE in 2019, I have consistently attended the regional convenings and am diligent about taking notes and sharing them internally with WEAVE’s Leadership Team. Since being appointed as the interim Regional Rep I have consistently worked with Partnership staff to facilitate those meetings. I developed and distributed a survey to the North Region members to get their feedback about how the meetings should be structured, topics they would like to explore, and their ides for increasing engagement and attendance. Additionally I participate in the Housing First Peer Learning Circle, work with policy staff on the child care and DV ad hoc committee, as well as contribute my thoughts and experience to the legislative  / policy discussions and efforts. My goal in continuing as the North Region Rep is to continue attending the meetings, build stranger relationships with others in the region, share information and resources among organizations in the region, provide input and assistance when needed, and serve as the Northern California region’s collective voice for the larger CPEDV board.

Tell us about the nominee’s professional skills in finance, fundraising, government affairs, human resources management, marketing and public relations
I started my DV experience in Sacramento with the CA Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning (now Office of Emergency Services (OES)) as a Criminal Justice Specialist in the Domestic Violence Unit. Through that experience, I was the program specialist for many of the DV programs throughout the state and visited many agencies, all unique in their approach to the work. In the Children’s Branch I managed the Criminal Justice Act funds and developed innovative pilot programs (some of which still exist today) to improve the investigative and judicial response to children exposed to domestic violence. After being with the State for eight years, I served as the Associate Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Center (CAPC) which included the local Sacramento County Child Abuse Prevention Council and the Statewide Prevent Child Abuse California. While there for nine years, I oversaw the Birth & Beyond home visiting and family resource center (FRC) program. I advocated for and eventually was successful in expanding the program to include a co-located domestic violence advocate or counselor at each of the nine Birth & Beyond FRCs. I was also part of hosting delegations from various former Soviet Union countries who came here to learn about our domestic violence and child abuse laws, as they were writing their own new laws. During my time at CAPC, I served as the Chair of the Sacramento County Child Protective Systems Oversight Committee and was appointed to the Steering Committee on the Reduction of Disproportionate African American Child Death (now the Black Child Legacy Campaign) and chaired the Evaluation Subcommittee. I also participated in the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Leadership Sacramento Program and was a Sierra Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Fellow. Currently, I am the Chief Program Officer of WEAVE and oversee our Residential and Response Programs, managing a team of 41 staff and implementing more than 20 grant programs. I also serve as a Placer County First 5 Commissioner.

How does this nominee represent California’s rich diversity? How might this person bring underrepresented voices into the center of our work?
I am a native Californian of Italian dissent, with grandparents who were immigrants and came over in the 20’s. I am married to an African American/ Black male and am raising two strong, resilient, independent, powerful teenaged daughters. I have worked tirelessly with the African American / Black community in Sacramento and in my own personal spheres of influence to create space to uplift voices, direct funds to invest in communities, and develop inclusive policies. I was the only staff for the Blue Ribbon Commission on the Reduction of Disproportionate African American Child Deaths and the primary author of the report recommending the Board of Supervisors  take action. That lead to the Steering Committee, of which I was an original member, which eventually created the Black Child Legacy Campaign (BCLC). The BCLC is a community driven multi-pronged approach to invest in the highest need communities in Sacramento County. In my role at WEAVE I have created programs and paid partnerships to include grassroots organizations in the work, conducted listening sessions with the African American / Black Community in South Sacramento and created and revised services based on the input, have mentored and promoted BIPOC staff to leadership positions within the organization, started the monthly social justice space, created a social justice sharepoint site with anti-racist, anti-oppression resources, and  initiated the minimum requirement for all staff to engage in anti-racist/anti-oppression professional development /learning.  I am dedicated to uplifting and centering the voice and experiences of underrepresented voices in our work.

On a scale from 1 to 10 (1=low, 10=high), how informed are you about the Partnership’s mission and strategies?
9

Please summarize the Partnership’s priorities as you understand them.
As I understand it, CPEDV’s priority is to fulfill its mission to serve as a collective voice of a diverse coalition of organizations working to eliminate domestic violence through public policy, community awareness, and building capacity to advocate and serve all survivors. CPEDV does this through their key values of culturally responsive, partnership, equity, community, and bravery – taking informed and insightful risks to disrupt the status quo.  Through my observations and interactions with CPEDV, I have watched as they have been intentional about uplifting the voices of underserved survivors and domestic violence organizations that may not always have a voice. I have witnessed a shift in focus to exploring community and survivor led strategies, acknowledging the intersection of domestic violence and social justice issues, and creating opportunities to learn from the experience and expertise of others outside of the field. It has been brave and necessary for CPEDV to be leading the field in discussions, training, and exploration about how to engage men, both abusers and allies, into the conversation and the work. To be truly community led and culturally responsive, as a field we need to find alternatives to the criminal legal system for abusers, and serve whole families, including abusers and children.  I have been grateful for the regular regional convenings and trainings to learn from others, and appreciate CPEDV holding space for agencies to process and learn from each other about ways to adapt and navigate providing services while keeping supervisors and staff safe during COVID 19.

Describe your leadership experience in business, philanthropy, legal, government and nonprofit sectors.
I started my DV experience in Sacramento with the CA Governor’s Office of Criminal Justice Planning (now Office of Emergency Services (OES)) as a Criminal Justice Specialist in the Domestic Violence Unit. Through that experience, I was the program specialist for many of the DV programs throughout the state and visited many agencies, all unique in their approach to the work. In the Children’s Branch I managed the Criminal Justice Act funds and developed innovative pilot programs (some of which still exist today) to improve the investigative and judicial response to children exposed to domestic violence. After being with the State for eight years, I served as the Associate Director of the Child Abuse Prevention Center (CAPC) which included the local Sacramento County Child Abuse Prevention Council and the Statewide Prevent Child Abuse California. While there for nine years, I oversaw the Birth & Beyond home visiting and family resource center (FRC) program. I advocated for and eventually was successful in expanding the program to include a co-located domestic violence advocate or counselor at each of the nine Birth & Beyond FRCs. I was also part of hosting delegations from various former Soviet Union countries who came here to learn about our domestic violence and child abuse laws, as they were writing their own new laws. During my time at CAPC, I served as the Chair of the Sacramento County Child Protective Systems Oversight Committee and was appointed to the Steering Committee on the Reduction of Disproportionate African American Child Death (now the Black Child Legacy Campaign) and chaired the Evaluation Subcommittee. I also participated in the Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Leadership Sacramento Program and was a Sierra Health Foundation’s Health Leadership Fellow. Currently, I am the Chief Program Officer of WEAVE and oversee our Residential and Response Programs, managing a team of 41 staff and implementing more than 20 grant programs. I also serve as a Placer County First 5 Commissioner.

Board members help to foster a positive image of the Partnership. Describe relationships you have with business leaders, policy-makers, media outlets, philanthropists and the broader community. Tell us how you intend to cultivate those relationships on behalf of the Partnership.
Throughout my career I have developed an abundance of relationships through my employment, partnerships, community engagement, leadership programs, and personal relationships. One of my strengths is ‘connection’ and I love being connected, staying connected, and connecting other people and organizations. That said, I still have many relationships from my leadership programs including with banks, law firms, city council members, school board members, foundations, lobbyists, media, and professional sports teams. Through my work with the Oversight Committee and the Black Child Legacy Campaign, I developed strong relationships with Sacramento County Supervisors and the directors of County agencies including Child Protective Services, Human Assistance, Public Health, Behavioral Health, and First 5. I have maintained close friendships with people I worked with 20+ years ago at the state, as well as throughout my career, including OES, CDSS, and CDPH. Through my non-profit work for the last 10+ years, I have many working relationships and partnerships with community-based organizations, community leaders, community members, and activists. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team at WEAVE I assist with donor cultivation and stewardship and am actively involved in seeking grants and other funding for our programs. I intend to continue building relationships and using my full sphere of influence to continue uplifting voices of those who traditionally do not get the opportunity, to magnify systemic issues that need improving, and to inform messaging and policy to influence social change.

Like other nonprofits, Partnership Board members are expected to raise funds on behalf of the organization. What will you do to help us meet our annual fundraising goal?
I will help promote and participate in the Board’s fundraising plan to increase and diversify revenue.

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