BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Yá’át’ééh shí éí Cynthia Begay yinishyé. Kiis’áanii nishłį́. Naakaii Dine’é bashishchiin. Tódích’íi’nii dashicheii. Naakaii Dine’é dashinalí. Ákót’éego diné asdzáán nishłį́.
Cynthia Begay, MPH (she/hers) is Hopi, Sunforehead Clan, born for the Navajo and Mexican people. She is a doctoral student at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine and a Senior Epidemiologist for a Native-woman owned consulting company. She is a longtime advocate for Native communities to advance health equity and reduce health disparities. Guided by community-based participatory research methods, Cynthia has worked with Tribal communities in California, specifically in cancer control, mental health, and substance use, for over ten years. She is a co-founder of the non-profit Native American Pathways, located on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation. In addition to her work in public health, Cynthia enjoys creating contemporary and familial Hopi overlay jewelry, weaving, and visiting her family in Sipaulovi, Second Mesa, AZ.
Cynthia Begay
President
Hello/Hola/Lios enchim aniavu, ketchem allea? (English/Spanish/Yaqui)
Stephanie Guadron, M.Ed (Chicana/Yaqui) was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is owner of Corazon de Lucero, a heart healing and wellness community that focuses on reconnecting with Ancestral and Earth magic. She is a public servant, former teacher, education advocate, and mother. As a life-long learner, Stephanie believes that building community through cultural awareness starts with embracing the wisdom of our ancestors so that we could strengthen our hearts collectively to empower future generations and protect our Earth.
Stephanie Guadron
Secretary
Elizabeth Garcia is a Chicana born and raised on Tongva and Tataviam lands, Los Angeles, CA. Raised by immigrant parents, she has had the privilege and opportunity to work in various capacities within and outside of the nonprofit sector. Her experience as a receptionist, secretary, and bookkeeper for small businesses allowed her to prosper in an administrative and operational role at The California Native Vote Project (CNVP). Through her career journey, she has been able to earn a B.A in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Welfare and Social Justice from California State University, Northridge. She’s had the honor of volunteering at El Centro del Pueblo where she supported youth in the homework club. This is where early in her career she recognized the importance of community centers for families and youth. In addition, she spent time completing her externship at the Center for Living and Learning where she supported their executive director with partnership meetings and case workers with support services. Her time there reiterated the impact community-based organizations can have on the welfare of individuals. Elizabeth believes in the importance of all students having equitable access to higher education and living a healthy work-life balance. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling to new places with family & friends and being outdoors with her dog, Luna.
Elizabeth Garcia
Treasurer