Our Team
Susana De Anda
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Susana De Anda is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Community Water Center. Susana is a seasoned community organizer and has received numerous awards and recognitions, including: James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award (2018); White House Champion of Change for Climate Equity (2016); Mark Dubois Award from Friends of the River (2014); “150 Fearless Women in the World” by Newsweek Magazine (2012); “Women on Top – Top Activist” by Marie Claire magazine (2012); AOL sponsored PBS three-part series titled, Makers: Women Who Have Shaped America (2012); and “Las Fabulosas” and “Inspiring Latinas” by Powerful Latinas (2011); and the 2009 Petra Foundation Fellowship award. In addition, Jill Iscol’s book, Hearts on Fire, features a chapter on Susana De Anda and CWC (2011).
Susana’s experience includes planning and organizing positions at the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment; the County of Merced Planning Department; the Santa Barbara County Water Agency; and the Santa Barbara non-profit Community Environmental Council. Susana earned a B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara while completing a double major in Environmental Studies and Geography. Susana served for the past few years on the Community Funding Board of the Grassroots Fund through the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, Tulare County Water Commission, and on the Board of Directors of the Tulare County United Way. She currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Water Solutions Network and is a Steering Committee member on the Water Equity and Climate Resilience Caucus. Susana is also a co-founder and member of the board of Water Education for Latino Leaders (WELL).
Contact: susana.deanda@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0219
Abraham Mendoza
Policy Manager
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Abraham Mendoza III joined the Community Water Center in September 2022 as Senior Policy Advocate. Prior to joining CWC, he served as a Legislative Advocate with the CA Association of REALTORS, and has experience working in nonprofits, the private sector, and the California State Legislature.
Born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley, Abraham is proud of his campesino heritage and credits his family’s lived experiences for nurturing his passion for advocacy. He became aware of the social determinants of health from an early age and remembers living with contaminated drinking water as a child in South Hanford, CA. He moved to Sacramento in 2012 and graduated from Sacramento State in 2017 with a B.A in Social Work & a Graduate Certificate in Applied Policy & Government.
As Senior Policy Advocate, Abraham is committed to amplifying CWC’s policy work in Sacramento to help ensure that all Californians have access to safe, clean & affordable drinking water. In his free time he enjoys cooking, gardening, road trips and street photography.
Contact: abraham.mendoza@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Angie Gonzalez
Administrative Assistant
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Angie joined CWC in November 2024 as an Administrative Assistant, where she helps with clerical and program support across the organization’s three offices. Born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley, Angie now lives in Visalia, California.
Angie is currently working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Accounting from Western Governors University. Before joining CWC, she worked at Ace Hardware as a Customer Service Representative and a Customer Service Liaison for all Emery Jensen stores in California. Angie also has experience in property management and has worked with several programs that help provide affordable housing, such as Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Housing Authority of Tulare County, and Housing Support Services through CSET.
Angie cares deeply about issues related to housing and water rights, especially how they affect communities in the San Joaquin Valley. She is excited to be part of CWC and to help address these important issues.
Contact:
angie.gonzalez@communitywatercenter.org
Based on Visalia
Celina Mahabir
Federal Policy Advocate
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Celina Mahabir is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Nova Southeastern University. She joined the Community Water Center in August of 2022 as a Federal Policy Advocate.
Having worked in both the government and nonprofit sectors, she is incredibly interested in the impacts of nonprofit advocacy on the development of federal policy. Her previous work focused on immigrants’ rights, low-income assistance programs, and civil rights protections. Celina is excited to represent CWC in Washington, D.C. and further the fight to protect the human right to water.
(She’s also excited to be the honorary representative of the East Coast.)
Contact: celina.mahabir@communitywatercenter.org
Based on Washington, D.C.
Christina Marquez
Administrative Manager
Hailey Shingler
Community Solutions Coordinator
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Christina Marquez-Guerra joined CWC in July 2019 as the Administrative Assistant and in 2022 was promoted to Administative Associate. Christina is primarily responsible for providing administrative, operations, facilities, clerical and program support to the organization’s internal systems.
Christina is from Tulare, California and holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance from California State University, Fresno. In her senior year at the university, she was the Financial Administrator of the Hispanic Business Student Association where she was responsible for handling all the finances of the club and was involved in volunteering in the communities. From this experience, she grew a passion to bring awareness to seek support for the communities. She believes in the Community Water Center vision for all communities to have access to clean, safe, and affordable water.
Contact:
christina.marquez@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia, CA, (559) 733-0219
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Meet Hailey, the quintessential problem-solver with a passion for environmental stewardship. With a Bachelor's in Marine Science and a knack for making connections, she's been making waves in the field since she graduated from Coastal Carolina University. Before CWC, Hailey was a Groundwater Analyst at the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. There, she took on developing outreach initiatives, managing databases, and cultivating relationships with state and local agencies. Hailey's been a driving force in protecting Idaho's groundwater. Her innovative educational outreach efforts, meticulous fieldwork, and dedication to groundwater quality were a testament to her commitment to making a positive impact. Hailey's journey has been marked by a passion for education, collaboration, and environmental preservation. With an eye on the future and a heart in tune with the environment, Hailey's story is one of growth, impact, and a deep-rooted love for our planet.
Contact: hailey.shingler@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831)288-0450
Jahari Garcia
Policy Assistant
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Prior to joining the Community Water Center, Jahari interned in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for an attorney and political activist Florencia Gomez, researching indigenous land rights and practices. Jahari also worked at Barrios Unidos, focusing on prison reform and connecting individuals to essential resources. Additionally, she interned for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Washington, D.C., researching the largest environmental issues affecting Hispanic communities, such as water access, water quality, and food quality. These experiences have deepened her commitment to environmental justice and led her to CWC.
Some of her hobbies include running, hiking, and playing with her dogs.
Contact: jahari.garcia@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0129
Brandon Bollinger
Director of Community Advocacy
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Brandon Bollinger joined CWC in March of 2020. As Organizing Manager based in Watsonville, Brandon will be responsible for leading CWC’s organizing and base-building programs across the Central Coast.
Throughout his academic and professional career, Brandon has been involved in work around gender justice, human rights and community-based approaches to social change. He has worked on environmental education across schools in Monterey County, Human Rights and Environmental Justice issues in South America with Amnesty International’s Secretariat in Peru, and also served with the Peace Corps in Amazonas, Peru doing community based work around youth development and leadership building.
In 2016 he received his M.A. in Gender and Development from the Institute of Development Studies, and his BA in Sociology at Kenyon College.
Contact: brandon.bollinger@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
David Okita
Senior Fellow
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David joined Community Water Center in 2015 as a Senior Fellow. David is primarily responsible for providing water management analysis for development of drinking water solutions for low-income communities and communities of color.
David retired in 2015 after serving 25 years as the Solano County Water Agency General Manager. He served 25 years on the Board of Directors of the State Water Contractors. Prior to his tenure with the Solano County Water Agency, David worked for 11 years in various engineering and planning positions for Contra Costa County, finally as an Assistant Director of the Community Development Department. He has a degree in Civil Engineering from UC Davis and a Masters in Public Administration from Cal State East Bay. David is a licensed Civil Engineer.
Contact: david.okita@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Anavel Valdez-Lupercio
Director of Operations
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Anavel Valdez-Lupercio carries over 15 years of administrative and financial experience. Anavel is responsible for managing and implementing internal systems, procedures and policies in support of CWC’s objectives as well as managing the office sites in Visalia, Sacramento, and Watsonville. Anavel joined CWC in 2013 as a Program Associate and in 2014 was promoted to Operations & Facilities Manager. She assumed the position of Director of Operations in 2018.
Prior to CWC, Anavel worked alongside great community leaders who breathed a passion for community work. CWC’s vision for all communities to have access to safe, clean, and affordable water fosters this passion and commitment toward the betterment of her community and beyond.
Contact: anavel.lupercio@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0219
Arun Chand
Community Water Solutions Coordinator
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Arun Chand is originally from Fiji. He moved with his wife to the United States in December 2024. He studied at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts with double majors in Community Development and Sustainable Development.
Before joining Community Water Center, Arun served as the WASH Program Systems Coordinator at Live & Learn Environmental Education in Australia, where he worked on water, sanitation, and hygiene programs aimed at improving the health and well-being of underserved communities in the Pacific.
When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors, exploring nature, and continuing to learn about ways to create positive change in communities.
Contact:
arun.chand@communitywatercenter.org
Based on Visalia, (559) 733-0219
Andrea Rivera
Digital Communications Specialist
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Andrea Rivera is an immigrant from Mexico. In 2019, she graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a B.A. in communications. Previously, she worked at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) as the social media manager. There, Andrea helped uplift the voices of immigrants. While at CHIRLA, she noticed how most of the resources often left out the communities in the Central Valley. Now, she works online to spread information that the community needs to have access to safe and affordable drinking water.
Contact: andrea.rivera@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0219
Chris De León
SJV Community Advocacy Manager
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Chris joined the Community Water Center in September of 2024 as the San Joaquin Valley Community Advocacy Manager. Chris will be responsible for leading San Joaquin Valley-based community advocacy campaigns, working with CWC’s community solutions and policy teams to advance safe drinking water projects and policies.
Prior to CWC, Chris served as the Farm & Gardens Program Director at Fresno Metro Ministry, where he partnered with community members and organizational partners to transform vacant lots and unused spaces into urban farms and community gardens. During his time, Chris implemented various programs to develop resilient community-based food systems, including the development of the YoVille Community Garden & Farm, a 7.5 acre food hub. Chris has several years of experience working in community organizing, education, outreach and program management. He is passionate about environmental justice and empowering communities to create community-driven solutions.
Chris earned a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies and a minor in Business Administration from Fresno Pacific University. During college, Chris was selected as a Doris Duke Scholar with the University of Washington Doris Duke Conservation Scholars Program, where he engaged in conservation issues throughout the state of Washington.
Contact: chris.deleon@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia office
Daisy Gonzalez
Community Solutions Coordinator
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Daisy Gonzalez joined the Community Water Center in July 2020. As a Community Solutions Coordinator, Daisy will support San Joaquin Valley communities in making informed decisions about drinking water solutions.
Daisy was born and raised in the Salinas Valley, where she worked as an environmental justice advocate and an elementary school teacher. In her previous role with the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Daisy led extensive outreach and education efforts to support communities experiencing unsafe drinking water in the Salinas Valley. Her diverse experiences working alongside farmworker families and children have motivated Daisy to continue challenging systemic inequalities that impact communities of color in California.
Daisy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from UC Berkeley and a Master’s Degree in Management from UC Merced.
Contact: daisy.gonzalez@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0129
Erick Orellana
Senior Policy Advocate
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Erick is a native of the Central Valley and a product of the California State University. Erick joined Community Water Center in 2021 and currently serves as a Senior Policy Advocate.
Previously, Erick worked in the California Assembly and with NextGen Policy advocating in support of protections for immigrants in detention centers, increased agricultural workplace safety guidelines, and closing inequitable education gaps for students of color.
As a Senior Policy Advocate, Erick leads on safe and clean drinking water program implementation, engages community leaders and members in water policy development, and advises California Agencies on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives to achieve the Human Right to Water. Erick is also a member of the Safe and Affordable Fund for Equity and Resilience’s Advisory Group.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his dog, playing pick-up soccer, and volunteering with his local church.
Contact: erick.orellana@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Erica Diaz
Community Solutions Advocate
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Erica is originally from Woodlake, CA and joined the Community Water Center in June of 2022 as a Community Solutions Advocate.
Prior to joining CWC, she worked at Fresno Barrios Unidos as a Health Educator where she facilitated reproductive health curriculum and counseled middle/high school students on reproductive rights.
Erica earned her Bachelor of Arts in both Political Science and Chicana/o Studies from San Jose State University. During college, Erica was also involved in various student organizing groups, like Students for Quality Education, where she advocated for accessible and affordable higher education. Her hobbies include creating art and exploring restaurants in the Valley.
Contact: erica.diaz@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0129
Hilda Caballero-Garcia
Federal Policy Intern
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Hilda joined Community Water Center in November 2024 as a Federal Policy Intern focusing on researching the impacts of federal funding and policy decisions on CWC’s local and state-level work.
Raised in Stockton, California, Hilda is a first year at the University of California Davis, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Public Service.
She has experience in government and non-profit sectors, interning for her local district congressman and working as a Youth Advocate and Youth Organizer for the nonprofit Little Manila Rising, focusing on environmental justice issues impacting marginalized communities of color.
She likes to crochet, play board games, and read webcomics in her free time.
Contact: hilda.caballero@communitywatercenter.org
(559) 733-0129
Imelda Ramirez
Field Director
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Imelda Ramirez joined the Community Water Center Action Fund as the Field Director in February 2024.
As the Field Director, Imelda is responsible for strategizing campaigns to empower historically disenfranchised communities who lack access to clean drinking water in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
She most recently worked as a Field Representative for Assemblywoman Esmeralda Soria based in Merced, CA. Imelda has extensive experience managing political field campaigns in the Central Valley to elect decision-makers who put community needs first. Imelda also has an organizing background as the Lead Organizing at Communities for a New California Education Fund based in Fresno from 2018-2021. Here she learned the fundamentals of organizing community members to advocate for basic needs like clean and safe drinking water.
Imelda was born and raised in Hanford, CA, and comes from two Mexican immigrant parents with 4 siblings. She went on to earn her B.A. in Philosophy and Minor in Chicano studies from UC Davis in the spring of 2018.
Contact: imelda.ramirez@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0129
John Erickson
Technical Director
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John leads the scaling of CWC’s capacity to provide technical assistance support to communities. He previously worked with CWC as a Community Solutions Manager on the Central Coast and as a part-time consultant.
John has experience working with community water boards and the AguaClara project to implement sustainable drinking water treatment plants in Honduras, researching the effects of piped water supply outages with Panama’s national water utility (IDAAN), and as a water and wastewater engineering consultant with Hazen and Sawyer. In 2022 he was a Fulbright U.S.
Scholar teaching at the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. John received his B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Cornell University and his Masters in Public Policy and PhD in Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley.
Contact: john.erickson@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831)288-0450
Katie Havens
Development Director
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Prior to joining CWC, she served as the Director of Strategic Partnerships at CLEAN International, where she worked with diverse partners on international and domestic water projects. Prior to that, Katie was the California Director at SOURCE Global, a drinking water technology company. Katie has held key development roles and served as a consultant for various nonprofit and social impact organizations.
Katie holds an MBA from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University, specializing in Social Impact, Leadership and Organizational Transformation, and Strategy, as well as a BA in Political Science from Sonoma State University. She serves as a Board Member and treasurer for the Association for Environmental and Outdoor Education (AEOE) in California. Born and raised in San Diego, Katie now resides in Los Angeles, CA. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family.
Contact: katie.havens@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0219
Janaki Anagha
Staff Attorney
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Janaki Anagha is CWC's Director of Community Advocacy. Previously, she worked in the San Joaquin Valley advancing agricultural and environmental policy towards justice for communities bearing the burden of California’s food system. She has worked at California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. in Fresno enforcing environmental justice and worker protections such as access to clean drinking water for unincorporated communities and assisted in the creation of Community Alliance for Agroecology, based in Delano. Janaki is a founding member of the California Farmer Justice Collaborative and has farmed in diversified and orchard crops across the state. Janaki holds a J.D. from UC Davis School of Law and a B.S. in International Agricultural Development from UC Davis.
Contact: janaki.anagha@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Kjia Rivers
Senior Policy Advocate
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Kjia Rivers joined Community Water Center in May of 2022 as a Policy Advocate working on drought, nitrate, and climate change related drinking water issues.
Originally from San Diego, Kjia attended the University of California, Santa Barbara to obtain her Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies and Political Science. During her time at UCSB, Kjia was able to learn about environmental justice issues and how vulnerable communities are often left out of the policy making process.
In addition to her studies, Kjia played on UCSB’s volleyball team and worked with UCSB CALPIRG to advocate for policies that aimed to reduce single use plastic.
Contact: kjia.rivers@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Kelsey Hinton
Communications Director
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Kelsey originally joined Community Water Center as an AmeriCorps Fellow in 2015, supporting several areas of organizational development. Leaning into the importance of storytelling for successful advocacy, Kelsey became Communications Director in 2021. In 2023, Kelsey was promoted to a dual directorship as Political Director of Community Water Center Action Fund, now combining messaging with untapped voter power to move forward water justice in California.
Kelsey has a long standing interest in water quality issues globally, but when she joined CWC in 2015, she learned first hand the inequities facing rural, communities of color in California. She's excited to be part of the movement for safe and affordable drinking water for all Californians.
Kelsey holds a Master of Public Affairs in Policy Analysis, as well as a Bachelors of Public Affairs in Environmental Management from Indiana University.
Contact: kelsey.hinton@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Maraid Jimenez
Communications Manager
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Maraid joins the Community Water Center as a Communications Associate, focusing on coordinating media opportunities and providing messaging support in English and Spanish. She is a Sacramento native with family roots in Mexico.
Previously, she worked in the mortgage industry assisting Spanish speaking clients navigate a complicated system. Prior to this, Maraid worked with the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Justice program and with the State Water Resources Control Board on the Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms program.
Maraid holds a B.S. in Society and Environment and a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. In 2019 she studied a semester at the National Autonomous University of Mexico where she completed an internship at the Mexican Senate of the Republic.
Contact: maraid.jimenez@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Miguel Rojas-Flores
Community Solutions Advocate
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Miguel was born and raised in Merced, CA and joined the Community Water Center in March of 2024 as a Community Solutions Advocate.
Miguel has several years of experience working in education from music to outdoor science education. He has also worked in urban greening and environmental restoration projects from Fresno to Joshua Tree. Miguel was drawn to CWC because of CWC's commitment to building and maintaining community relationships in the Central Valley.
Miguel earned his Bachelor's degree in Biology from the University of California, Merced, and his Master's degree in Environmental Health Sciences from the University of Washington. For his Master's work, Miguel developed and piloted an assessment for the Agricultural Leadership Program in Washington, working closely with agricultural workers, researchers, and many other partners in English and Spanish.
Apart from work, Miguel enjoys spending time outside whether it's a hike, playing volleyball or soccer, or simply going for a walk. He also enjoys exploring the Valley, drumming, and is always down for un cafecito!
Contact: miguel.rojas@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0219
Lauren Chew
Community Solutions Manager
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Lauren joined CWC in September 2023 and works in the Visalia office. She is passionate about community empowerment through improving water access and sanitation and has been involved in community development projects since 2016. She has a background in Civil Engineering with emphases in water resources and geotechnical engineering. After working in water and sanitation with a non-profit in the Dominican Republic she completed a Master’s in Engineering for International Development at the University College London. She is happy to return to California to contribute to technical assistance projects and advocate for clean and affordable water.
Contact: lauren.chew@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0219
Kyle Jones
Policy & Legal Director
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Kyle Jones joined the Community Water Center in July 2021 as Policy Director.
Prior to joining CWC, Kyle was an Associate Attorney, practicing environmental law, land use law, and local government advocacy, including working and litigating under the California Environmental Quality Act. Prior to that, Kyle served as a Policy Associate for Sierra Club California, specializing in water issues in California before the Legislature and numerous state agencies.
Kyle earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pacific, McGeorge School of Law with a concentration in Environmental Law in 2014. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, with a concentration in logic, from California State University, Sacramento in 2011. His hobbies include traveling with his partner, or staying in with his two pugs.
Contact: kyle.jones@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Maricela Mares-Alatorre
Community Solutions Advocate
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Maricela Mares-Alatorre joined Community Water Center in May 2022 as a Community Policy Advocate. She has over thirty years of experience in the environmental justice movement. Maricela played a leading role in the fight to stop the expansion of California’s largest toxic waste landfill. She was also part of the landmark Title VI Civil Rights Settlement filed by People for Clean Air & Water of Kettleman City and Greenaction for Health & Environmental Justice against the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Department of Toxic Substance Control. This settlement assured that regulating agencies would consider cumulative health impacts in vulnerable communities when permitting hazardous waste facilities. It also required that agencies enforce language access policies. Additionally, the settlement ensured that drinking water issues in Kettleman City were addressed. As a result, in 2020, the town of Kettleman City went from well water contaminated with benzene and arsenic to a surface water treatment plant.
Maricela holds a B.A. in Linguistics with an emphasis in English/Spanish bilingualism/biculturalism. Her background includes teaching, community organizing and employment counseling. She has an interest in creative writing and has been a participant in local poetry readings.
Contact: maricela.alatorre@communitywatercenter.org
Visalia Office, (559) 733-0219
Mikel Irigoyen
Community Solutions Manager
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Mikel Irigoyen joined CWC in May 2022 as a Community Solutions Coordinator. Most of Mikel’s prior background has focused on watershed restoration and spatial analysis using geographic information systems. Mikel is passionate about the intersection of people, safe drinking water, and aiding community-driven solutions to address water justice issues.
Mikel earned his Master’s degree in Water Resources Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Contact: mikel.irigoyen@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office: (831) 288-0450
Pai Venegas
Contracts Manager
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Pai Venegas brings over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, excelling in grant writing, fund development, and operational management to ensure lasting impact for underserved communities. She began as a volunteer at a small mental health nonprofit supporting immigrant and refugee families, and she now proudly serves on its board of directors. Prior to this, she taught English to in South Korea for nearly two years. She holds a degree in Communications from the University of California, Davis, and pursues courses at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies to further her education in International Trade and Economic Diplomacy and Financial Crime. In her free time, Pai enjoys crossword puzzles, outdoor adventures, and occasionally takes on week-long trekking trips once a year.
Contact:
pai.venegas@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
Mayra Hernandez
Community Advocacy Manager
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Mayra Hernandez joined Community Water Center (CWC) in February 2019 as a Community Organizer. She is now a Community Solutions Advocate, leading and managing community engagement and base building projects in the Central Coast. Mayra believes that food is a big part of all cultures and not enough attention is given to commodity chains, especially in communities of color and low-income communities, where people face many injustices. Mayra's research in commodity chains sparked her interest in social and environmental justice.
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. Prior to joining CWC, she worked in education for more than seven years as a Peer Counselor at Watsonville High School and volunteered in several K-12 schools (in low-income communities).
Contact: mayra.hernandez@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office: (831) 288-0450
Mateo Kushner
Policy Advocate
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MJ Kushner joined the Community Water Center in April 2024 as a Policy Advocate. Originally from the South San Francisco Bay Area, MJ’s time pursuing a BS in Agricultural and Environmental Education at UC Davis allowed him to discover a passion for California water, and all the politics and history that come with it. This, along with his long-standing care for California’s people and culture, led MJ to the Community Water Center, where he is able to use his interest in water to expand its safe and affordable access to all Californians.
In his free time, MJ can be found digging through the crates at a record shop, knitting with a baseball game on, or out on a hike with his friends.
Contact: mj.kushner@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
Natalie Garcia-Grazier
Deputy Director
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Natalie has more than decade of experience working on environmental justice issues in California. When she started at Community Water Center in 2015 as Development Director, she helped lead efforts to significantly increase CWC’s budget and more than double the staff to strengthen the movement for safe and affordable drinking water. In her current role, she focuses on the coordination of key programmatic strategies, sustainable organizational growth, and building a thriving organizational culture.
Natalie holds a Bachelor of The Arts in Mass Communications and Journalism from California State University, Fresno, and has experience in environmental journalism and grantmaking. Natalie was born and raised in the San Joaquin Valley and currently lives in the Central Coast working out of CWC’s Watsonsville office.
Contact:
natalie.garcia@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
Pedro Alberto Enriquez
Community Solutions Advocate
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Pedro Enriquez grew up on the East Side of San Jose, CA, and joined the Community Water Center in August of 2022 as a Community Solutions Advocate.
Pedro was drawn to CWC because he wants to facilitate long-term potable water solutions within low-income, predominantly Spanish-speaking communities that have long been wrongfully overlooked in the political process.
His commitment to community enrichment began on the EastSide of San Jose where he helped support cafeteria workers in their unionizing efforts, organized communities to fight for affordable housing, and worked with a predominantly Spanish-speaking population to motivate them to become politically involved. He went on to earn his BA in Philosophy from UCSC where he enjoyed studying metaethics, philosophy of religion, and existential phenomenology.
After graduating he began working as a behavioral therapist in Santa Cruz County, mainly with people on the autism spectrum and young children with developmental delays. Pedro excelled in finding novel ways to connect with his clients, expanding their ability to live independently with dignity, and designing early childhood language development programs through play.
In his free time, you can catch Pedro playing baseball, eating spicy food, and enjoying good company.
Contact:
pedro.enriquez@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
Saul Reyes
Community Solutions Advocate
Roxanne Reimer
Project Director
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Roxanne Reimer joined CWC in April of 2022 as the Watsonville-based Community Solutions Manager.
Much of Roxanne's academic and professional career has been focused on the intersection of community development work and small water systems. She served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador from 2017-2020, during which time she acted as the project manager for a drinking water system project in a small, Andean community previously without a reliable source of drinking water. She has also done work in Peru, Bolivia and Guatemala.
Roxanne has a B.A. in Mathematical Sciences from Bethel College KS as well as a M.S. in Environmental Engineering and Certificate in Engineering for Developing Communities from the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Contact:
roxanne.reimer@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
Vida Sanchez
Community Solutions Fellow
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Vida Sanchez (she/they/ella) joined CWC in November 2024 as a Community Solutions Fellow.
Prior to joining CWC, Vida helped coordinate a citizen science pilot study with the Environmental Coalition for Water and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center to provide free well water quality testing and reports to domestic well users in the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada foothills.
Vida earned her Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from UC Davis and her Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from UC Berkeley.
Contact:
vida.sanchez@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
Shirley Robles
Sr. Community Solutions Advocate
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Shirley Robles is originally from Guatemala, where she was a teacher and a chemical engineer. She moved to the United States in 2014 to pursue new opportunities. After years of hard work, in 2021, Shirley received her Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration from Purdue University and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health. Before CWC, Shirley worked for a non-profit organization to help low-income communities to have access to healthcare coverage and community resources regardless of their immigration status. Coming from a low-income family, she knows how difficult it is to have access to vital resources such as safe, clean, and affordable water, and that is what motivates her to fight alongside our communities so they can have a voice in a world of injustice.
Contact: shirley.robles@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
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Saul joined the Community Water Center as a Community Solutions Advocate in August 2024,
bringing with him a strong background in technology and community advocacy.
Previously, Saul worked as a software engineer at 2ndNature, where he made significant
contributions to the company's software products focused on enhancing clean water solutions
and stormwater management. His role involved optimizing performance, adding new features,
and mentoring new engineers.
Saul's passion for community-driven initiatives led him to co-found SOMOS: The Central Coast
Technology Association, where he serves as President. Through SOMOS, Saul has
successfully organized events and built networks to empower tech professionals in Watsonville
and Salinas.
Saul earned his Bachelor's degree in Computer Science & Engineering from the University of
California, Merced. His education and professional experience have equipped him with the skills
to tackle complex problems and foster community growth.
Outside of work, Saul enjoys running, playing soccer, and engaging with his local community.
He is committed to ensuring that residents of the Central Coast have access to safe and
affordable drinking water and is passionate about environmental and social justice.
Contact: saul.reyes@communitywatercenter.org
Watsonville Office, (831) 288-0450
Tien Tran
Policy Manager
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Tien joined CWC in May 2022 as a Policy Advocate focusing on sustainable groundwater management. Previously, she was an analyst at the California State Water Resources Control Board, serving two board members. As a Senate Fellow in Senator María Elena Durazo's office, she managed housing and environmental policy.
Tien holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Yale College. She enjoys reading fiction, doing puzzles, and karaoke.
Contact:
tien.tran@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346
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Tien joined CWC in May 2022 as a Policy Advocate focusing on sustainable and equitable groundwater management. Previously, she served two board members at the California State Water Resources Control Board. Prior to this work, Tien was a Senate Fellow in Senator María Elena Durazo's office, managing housing and environmental policy.
Tien holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies from Yale College. She enjoys reading fiction, doing puzzles, and karaoking ballads.
Contact: tien.tran@communitywatercenter.org
Sacramento Office, (916) 706-3346