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Our Staff and Board

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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

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.