Our Staff and Board
STAFF
Belen R. Flores
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Belen Flores was born and raised in north Sacramento, CA where she enjoyed playing soccer and engaging in outdoor recreation. After graduating from high school she was recruited to the Sierra College women’s soccer team. After a few years of classes she decided to move to San Diego for a fresh start and a change of scenery, but a year and a half later decided to return home to finish her college education. While majoring in Mass Communication at CSUS, she simultaneously gained a passion for politics during the historic 2008 presidential election of Barack Obama. Interning for places like the district office of Pro tem Senator Steinberg and the California Center for Civic Participation, she established her interest in engaging low-income and diverse groups of youth to the political process so that they may take meaningful action in their communities. Over the past eight years at the CA Center Belen has helped mobilize hundreds of youth through her environmental program Green Focus and, as Executive Director, intends to expand several civic education programs for youth across the state. Email Belen at bflores@californiacenter.org
Carson Watts
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Carson Watts is here to bring people together who don’t realize they’re on the same team. He grew up in the Sierra foothills near Yosemite, and his passion for social justice and public service was sparked at Columbia Community College where his eyes were opened to the bigness of the world. He transferred to UC Santa Cruz and to study Sociology and Politics, and research environmental sanitation in slums, which you can read about in this article. After university he lived in the SF Bay Area and worked in grassroots fundraising and nonprofit capacity building before travelling and settling down in Midtown, Sacramento. Carson loves Sacramento and the surrounding landscapes; in the summer he works as a whitewater rafting guide on the American River, and on weekends and evenings he teaches AcroYoga/partner acrobatics. He is inspired by his work at the California Center and a firm believer in empowering young people to shape a better world for generations to come. Email Carson at cwatts@californiacenter.org
Drucella Anne Miranda
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Drucella Anne Miranda is a sister, mentor, artist, and decolonizing feminist. She was born in the borderlands of Texas and has been a long time resident of the Central Valley. An alumna from the University of California, Davis, she has a bachelors in Women and Gender Studies as well as American Studies focusing on critical feminist theory and youth development. As a student she worked as a community activist with youth to foster consciousness through critical dialogue and the arts. Currently she is working towards obtaining her Master’s degree in Public Administration through the University of San Francisco. Today she continues her activism through visual arts and works to raise self-efficacy among the youth within the Sacramento area. Email Drucella at dmiranda@californiacenter.org
James Muldavin
FOUNDER/EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Jim was the Executive Director of the California Center for Civic Participation for almost 40 years. Prior to founding the organization in 1981, Muldavin mowed lawns, scooped ice cream, moved furniture, sorted mail, washed dishes, cleaned buildings, poured beer, drove trucks, worked on the docks, and waited tables. After college at UCSB and working for a political awareness project for Boston area teens founded by his Aunt Albie, he returned to California to establish Capitol Focus, the former flagship program of the California Center. He is amazed at the longevity of the organization and grateful for the thousands of youth and adults whose curious spirits, generous hearts and thoughtful minds have made his work so rewarding.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Angelica Gonzalez
BOARD PRESIDENT
State Government Relations, Kaiser Permanente
healthy.kaiserpermanente.org
Kathleen Webb
DIRECTOR
Assistant Secretary, Innovation & Accountability
GovOps.ca.gov ;
Interim Director of the CA DMV
dmv.ca.gov
Kathleen Gutierrez
SECRETARY
Ph.D Candidate Southeast Asian Studies
U.C. Berkeley
berkeley.edu
Julissa de Gonzalez
VICE-PRESIDENT
External Affairs Specialist, Covered California
https://www.coveredca.com
Rob Grossglauser
TREASURER
Pinnacle Advocacy, Founding Partner
pinnacleadvocacy.com
Matt Henigan
DIRECTOR
Deputy Director
CalRecycle
https://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/
Mariana Sabeniano
DIRECTOR
Chief of Staff, Assemblymember Monique Limon
a37.asmdc.org
