Horace Mann Insurance Companies, Reedley
Pamela Acuña is an insurance professional, wife, and mother. Born in Lubbock, Texas and raised in Reedley, Pam has worked in the insurance industry for over 16 years, starting as a file clerk and working her way up to presently running her own agency where she specializes in serving educators throughout the entire state of California. She is currently the co-chair of the Hispanic Heritage Celebration and served as a director for the Reedley Chamber of Commerce. Pam is an active member of the Central California Latina Network, Rotary Action en Español, Washington School PTC, AMAE and Chambers of Commerce for the cities of Reedley and Orange Cove.

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Sacramento
Kathy Anuszczyk teaches cooperatively with other home educating families. She volunteers at Spirit in the Arts, an open art studio located in an economically challenged part of town, and she is a liturgical musician at a Catholic retreat center. Her artwork and music provide opportunities for self-examination and expression, as well as recognition and spiritual growth. She finds many wonderful involvements in her community with her children, especially in connecting with mentors for youth, sharing resources, gardening with neighbors, and social and ecological activism. She lives in a diverse, older neighborhood in north Sacramento with her six children and husband.

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Parlier Unified School District, Parlier
Jean Brletic was born in Florida, but grew up in the Central Valley, specifically in Reedley. She attended both Reedley College and CSU Fresno, receiving by BA in Linguistics-Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, California Teaching Credential and is currently completing the last semester of her Reading and Language Arts MA. She has been a classroom and reading resource teacher for the Parlier Unified School District for the past eight years. Jean teaches GATE classes, participates in the Parent Teacher Club, and works with students and parents each day. Jean is married and has three children.

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Sacramento City Unified School District, Sacramento
Ann Collentine grew up in Sacramento and left in 1973 to attend UC Santa Cruz. After graduating with a BA in Economics in 1978, Ann taught in Indonesia. Ann then moved to the Bay Area where she organized a union at a publishing company and then became a teacher. Ann later moved back to Sacramento in 1987 to raise a family. For the past 17 years, she has worked in the nonprofit sector and public sector in Sacramento. Ann has a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration from California State University Sacramento. Ann is dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and families through policy and direct service. Currently, Ann is the coordinator of a Healthy Start Family Resource Center in South Sacramento.

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American Friends Service Committee-Proyecto Campesino, Visalia
Martin Cuevas was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and came to the United States when he was 11 years old. He grew up in Porterville, working as a farm laborer with his family. He attended Porterville Community College, and California State University at Bakersfield, where he earned a BA in Liberal Studies. Martin is currently an associate coordinator of the American Friends Service Committee’s Proyecto Campesino in Visalia, working on issues facing farm workers such as health, housing, education, labor and immigration/citizenship. He has recently started working on transnational issues and had the opportunity to travel to El Salvador over the summer in preparation for working with Salvadorans that live in the area.

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University of California, Merced
Josh Franco was born in Mexico and raised in Bellflower, a city located in Southeast Los Angeles County. After graduating from high school in 2003, he attended Cerritos College where he studied Economics and Political Science. In fall 2005, Josh transferred with highest honors to UC Merced and is currently pursuing a BA in Public Policy. At UC Merced, he is employed as a Resident Assistant, serves on the Student Affairs Advisory Committee, and chairs the Student Government Committee on Constitution and By-Laws. Additionally, he interns at Congressman Dennis Cardoza's office and regularly attends Merced County Association of Governments meetings.

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USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Madera
Jenny Gabor has lived in the Fresno-Madera area since 1998, working alongside farmers and ranchers in their agricultural communities. She was raised in the eastern portion of the San Francisco Bay and has a BS in Animal Science and Management from UC Davis. Jenny works in the Natural Resources Conservation Service branch of the USDA, working cooperatively with landowners, tribes, resource agencies, and nonprofit groups. She is a coordinator for the NRCS Earth Team volunteers and she is involved with natural resource education programs for high school students promoting community resource awareness and career opportunities to tomorrow's leaders.

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City of Riverbank, Riverbank
Alysia Gomez works for the City of Riverbank as a Code Enforcement Officer II. She has also worked in Obstetrics and Gynecology for over ten years. She enjoys serving and being a part of her church family, spending time with her children and their friends, running marathons, reading, working with children and teens, and anything adventurous. She is a single mother of three boys.

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Affordable Housing Development Corporation, Clovis
Amber Herzog Lyman is a fifth-generation Fresno County resident and returned to the Central Valley after graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Comparative Literature. Amber works as a Project Manager for AHDC, Inc., a multi-family real estate development and ownership firm that has developed, built, and currently owns and operates over 6,500 units of multi-family housing in over 30 California cities. Amber is also a board member of the Family Self-Sufficiency program, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that currently provides one-on-one case management, planning, and financial support to families seeking to permanently leave public assistance and reach their goal of economic self-reliance and homeownership.

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Four Seasons Ag Consulting, Livingston
Cindy Lashbrook lives and farms organically along the Merced River in Livingston. She has been active in promoting sustainable agriculture practices in the San Joaquin Valley since 1988. She is currently on the state boards for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers and California Certified Organic Farmers and a trustee for CCOF’s Foundation. She is an independent agricultural consultant and helps implement grant projects through the East Merced Resource Conservation District, setting up field days and forums for landowners and managers about water quality practices and helping to implement watershed-oriented, place-based learning in schools along the entire length of the Merced River. She has been increasingly involved in local land use issues.

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California State University, Stanislaus, Turlock
Victor Mitre was born and raised in San Jose and for the past 10 years he has made his home in Turlock. He currently serves as the annual giving and scholarship specialist at California State University, Stanislaus. Victor graduated from the California State University, Stanislaus with a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Psychology. He is currently a graduate student pursuing his masters of arts in Public Administration. Victor is involved in Toastmasters International and his community experience includes numerous projects through his association with Chi Delta Beta Fraternity. Victor enjoys spending time with his wife and newborn daughter as well as golf with friends.

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El Rincon de America, Reedley
Jose-Karim Nunez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and moved to Orange Cove in 1982. He has worked his family's restaurant business for over 12 years. He is actively involved in issues that affect businesses in his community, and has recently joined the Board of Directors for the Reedley Chamber of Commerce. He is also involved with the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Karim will be returning to school to obtain his BA in business.

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Elk Grove Medical & Dental Supply, Elk Grove
Davies Ononiwu, an entrepreneur, was born in Oka, Nigeria. He is the founder of Onitech Systems Solution Group Inc. and also the co-owner of Elk Grove Medical and Dental Supply. He is very active with community and neighborhood issues. Through volunteer work with the Sacramento County Probation Department Neighborhood Accountability Board, Davies has the opportunity to hold juveniles accountable for delinquent behavior and, at the same time, develop the community's most valuable resource—it's youth. He also co-founded the Elk Grove Citizen's Community Council. He graduated from the National University, San Diego with a degree in Business Administration and is currently working on his MA/PhD in Leadership and Management from Trinity College.

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Cherry Creek Veterinary Hospital, Elverta
Pollie Parker was born and raised in the Midwest, receiving her BFA from the University of South Dakota and her DVM from Iowa State University. She moved to California in 1983 and has lived with her husband on acreage in Elverta since 1988. She owns and operates Cherry Creek Veterinary Hospital in Antelope. Dr. Parker was appointed to her local CPAC in 1989 and served as chair for seven years. In 1998, she was elected to the Board of the Park District and is currently serving her second term.

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Big Chico Creek Watershed Alliance, Chico
Susan Strachan was born and raised in Alabama, and came to Chico by way of Virginia, Lake Tahoe and the San Francisco Bay Area. She has a Bachelor's degree in Economics and a Master's in Environmental Planning and Resource Management. Her professional career includes land use planning, water quality management, and stakeholder outreach. In her current position as Watershed Coordinator for the Big Chico Creek Watershed Alliance, she works developing plans and projects to protect and restore the creek and its watershed.

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Oak Valley Hospital-Family Support Network, Waterford
Patty Torres was born in Colima, Mexico and came to Stanislaus County at 13 years old. She lives in Waterford with her husband and children, Carlos and Mia. In 2000, Patty graduated from both high school and the Job Skills Academy and Industrial Technology program at Modesto Junior College. In March 2001, the Stanislaus Commission for Women recognized Patty as an "Outstanding Young Woman of Stanislaus County." Patty graduated from Modesto Junior College in 2004 with an AA degree in Human Services. Patty has worked at the OVHD Family Support Network, a resource center, for the past four years as a Community Outreach Leader. Patty is an active member of her church and conducts the women's ministry program on the radio.

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Yolo County Board of Supervisors, Woodland
Tricia was raised in Woodland, California and earned a BA in Communications from the University of San Francisco. She returned home from college and accepted a job at The Woodland Daily Democrat covering Yolo County government and agriculture for three years. She left The Democrat for The Vacaville Reporter where she covered city government before choosing a new career with the Yolo County Board of Supervisors as deputy to Supervisor Duane Chamberlain. In her spare time, Tricia enjoys spending time with her friends and family and playing racquetball.

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