Dr. April Lea Go Forth, Aniyvwiya, founded RISE 27- years ago. She has written culturally appropriate curriculum for the University of CA, Berkeley, Tobacco Use Prevention Education, HIV prevention for the Center for Disease Control, AISES teacher training, and youth advocacy projects. A two-time Distinguished Native Educator and recognized Honored Elder, she received a Flying Eagle Woman award in Washington D.C. for philanthropy. Her music and film work holds acclaim, with a 2021 International Human Rights short film award on the MMIW crisis. Go Forth’s personal commitment to the education of Native youth is both service and example driven.

Rebecca “Maggie” Magdalena Escobedo-Steele is the founder of 7th Generation Warriors For Peace, an organization dedicated to working with communities, families, individuals, children and youth to prevent cycles of family violence, gang conflict, addiction and suicide, by promoting cultural healing, positive activism and empowerment. For over 25 years, Maggie has implemented women’s leadership programs, youth and community prevention healing events, peacemaking in prison facilities, and wellness workshops throughout California and the United States. Maggie is recognized as a Distinguished American Indian Educator by the California Department of Education, a Peacemaker by the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution, a Community Fellow for the California Wellness Foundation Violence Prevention Initiative, and an Ambassador for Peace Violence Prevention Coalition of Orange County. She has received the prestigious Chiefs award from Southern California Chief of Probation for her excellence and innovation in working to bring cultural healing and conflict resolution to countless individuals and families.

An accomplished artist and master drum maker, she has created murals with youth on reservations and schools throughout California and the nations. Her powerful stylized drawings have been given to youth and schools for decades. She is also a recording artist and is known for her beautiful drum songs and cultural storytelling. Her work is well known and respected in Native American communities. She is known as “Aunty Maggie” and is loved by many throughout the nation.

Dorothy Chaney is the Founder of the Wisconsin Community Health Alliance, an organization committed to supporting coalitions to improve the health of their communities. Dorothy is also a master trainer with the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). For more than 20 years, she has worked with community-based coalitions supporting their efforts to combat the impact of substance use on youth and families. Dorothy also works with communities to implement collective impact and results-based accountability approaches to improve community health. A part of CADCA’s international training team, Dorothy works in Albania and Indonesia supporting the formation of coalitions. In addition to being committed to supporting communities in public health efforts, Dorothy is a strong youth advocate and served two terms as an elected Board of Education member in Marshfield WI, where she resides with her two daughters. Prior to moving to Wisconsin in 2006, Dorothy served as the State Executive Director for MADD in Minnesota. She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in adult education.

Andrea Gil  received a bachelor’s degree in Latino/as Studies and Race and Resistance under the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University. Andrea joined Youth Leadership Institute as a youth participant for the Community Action Model (CAM), advocating for minimum price laws and price promotion in San Francisco. Andrea leads the HOPE Youth Coalition and Civic Empowerment Program. Andrea hopes to create a healthy community space filled with history and resources to assist the activists of today.

River Coyote is a Health Education Program Coordinator II for Placer County. They are a 27-year resident of North Lake Tahoe where they live in Incline Village with their wife Suz and dog Sweet Pea. River has 24 years of public health experience in two rural counties and served as Program Manager the Tahoe Truckee Future Without Drug Dependence Coalition from 2010-2021. They hold a master’s degree in Public Health, a Teaching Credential in Life Science, and a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. Recent successes include strategic planning with the Resilient Placer and United for Action Coalitions and utilizing a trauma-informed and equity approach to prevention.

Christina Ivazes started working in Substance Abuse Prevention from 1993-2000 and again from 2010-present. Her training in Stress Management and Biofeedback gives her a wellness lens knowing youth substance use is impacted by Mental Health and Wellness. She has been working in Placer County for 6+ years, has three grown daughters, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, keeping her very connected to every generation. Currently, she collaborates with numerous partners to increase community partnerships and positive youth outcomes.

Shelley Rogers is a Certified Prevention Specialist with Granite Wellness Centers. She is currently the Program Director for the Coalition for Auburn and Lincoln Youth and previously as Director for Coalition for Nevada County Youth. With 16 years of experience in the prevention field, Shelley’s passion for prevention and strength as a community mobilizer are reflected in her work and strong relationships and partnerships.

Crystal Gonzalez holds a master’s degree in Public Health from San Jose State University with an emphasis in Community Health Education. She has a background in working in different non-profits and working with underserved communities, including work with youth, food banks, and research. She has a strong interest in health promotion and empowering underserved communities to advocate for themselves that will then lead them to live healthier lives. 

Sofia Cuentas is a recent graduate from University of California Santa Barbara, with a major in Sociology. She has experience volunteering in non-profits where she learned the importance of community advocacy to create positive and healthy experiences for youth. Sofia is interested in public health and returned to her hometown to contribute to health equity.

Dr. Wanda Boone is the Champion of Change Facilitator. She has engaged almost all formal and informal leaders with a large segment of youth and parents to be involved in the advancement of prevention activities. Wanda is a member of influential national, statewide and local committees that will further advance the goals of TRY’s comprehensive prevention action plan to reduce the outcomes of drug use and misuse that can be linked to crime, school suspensions, health, mental health, addiction, suicide attempts and accidental overdoses. She is a Co-founder of the East Durham Children’s Initiative, Member of the Governor’s Task Force on Substance Use and Gangs, a Co-Chair on the Mayor’s Poverty Reduction Initiative Public Safety and Health Subcommittees, Member of the Durham Crime Cabinet, Agency member of the Misdemeanor Diversion Program, Chair of the Health Committee of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People, Member of the City-Wide PAC, Vice Chair, Northeast Central Durham Leadership Council, Member of the Duke Population Health Improvement Leadership Advisory Board; Member School Advisory Group for the Duke Integrated Pediatric Mental Health Collaborative; Member Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and NC Health Disparities Workgroup.

Rachel Minnick is a self-described “collaboration nerd,” and the director of the Youth & Family Collective. Her nonprofit and local government experience spans over 25 years in organizations in the Bay Area and Sacramento, including the City of Sacramento, Reading Partners, Peninsula Family YMCA, WEAVE, Child Action, Inc., and the California Charter Schools Association. Her passion is building collaboration and trust among local nonprofits and philanthropy, with the end goal of improving services for those in need. She earned her master’s degree in Educational Entrepreneurship from the University of the Pacific in July 2020.

Ebony Chambers is the Chief Family & Youth Partnership Officer at Stanford Sierra Youth and Families and has over 17 years of experience working with issues of social justice, equity, education, mental health and diversity. She is a speaker, educator, and workshop leader who has worked extensively throughout the United States and has served nationally and locally as an advocate and activist for access to care and the elimination of the stigma of mental illness for underserved and unserved communities. Ebony also worked with the National Council of Behavioral Health, on addressing health disparities within her local community, with a focus on eliminating barriers and increasing access for the LGBT community.

Thomisha Wallace began her journey as the Youth Advocate Manager at Stanford Sierra Youth and Families in September of 2018. Thomisha’s experience stems from navigating through the mental health system on behalf of herself as well as her family. Driven by a passion to serve youth who have similar experiences as her own, Thomisha pursued a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a master’s degree in Social Work. She loves being able to support Youth Advocates in empowering youth, and elevating youth and families’ voice and choice within their services and lives.

Mary Bier has been leading prevention work in North San Mateo County since 2005 after an alcohol related accident took the lives of two Pacifica teens, one who was her nephew Jonathan. She is the director of Alcohol and Other Drug Services at the Daly City Youth Health Center and program director for the Pacifica Prevention Partnership, a special program of Jefferson Union High School District. Her passion work includes working with teens and her role as adult ally for Be the Change Youth Council is by far her favorite.