Rafael is full-time faculty member in the Humanities & Religion Studies departments at Santa Rosa Junior College. Rafael donates of his own time and money volunteering with programs addressing the needs of troubled youth in our community. He serves as a mentor to several young men with the objective of connecting them with positive alternatives. Rafael is the president of the board of directors at Humanidad Therapy & Educational Services. He previously was a board member of another non-profit since 2003, but began volunteering in 1997. Rafael worked with a program where he communicated with 286 inmates in prisons within the United States. The program provided books to inmates as funding allowed. Rafael immigrated to Santa Rosa from Oaxaca Mexico at the age of 15 to live with his brothers while he attended Santa Rosa High School. In addition to earning his associate degree, Rafael has completed five SRJC certificate programs: Law Enforcement, Corrections, Children & the Justice System, Laws of Arrest, and Juvenile Counselor. He earned his BA degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Sonoma State University. In 2010, Rafael earned his Master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Sonoma State University.

Josselyn has been a volunteer for Humanidad since fall of 2013 and continues to be. She’s been a Board Member since 2013 and works for a non-profit for children and their families, birth to five years of age, at the Early Learning Institute. Josselyn was also an organizer and supporter for Idle No More SF Bay Area in the East Bay. Josselyn enjoys her free time connecting with nature by hiking, camping, climbing and backpacking. She also loves making ceramics and eating good food and spending time with friends.

Gordon Scott, also known as Bart, has been a lawyer practicing in Sonoma County for over 30 years. He spent 10 years as a deputy district attorney, but in 2000 celebrated the new millennium by becoming a street lawyer. The focus of his practice is criminal defense either in the trial courts or on appeal. Though his Spanish is marginal at best, he has had an active practice representing members of the Latino community in Sonoma County. This started when his son’s former futbol teammates grew up and started breaking the law. He is strongly committed to an inclusive and fair legal system. That’s not the default. Bart’s wife is Yvonne, una Colombiana. They travel to Colombia as often as possible. His son is fluent in Spanish and makes fun of him when he tries to speak it.

Angie Avalos is a dedicated community advocate passionate about supporting underserved communities and creating spaces where individuals and families feel seen, heard, and supported. With over six years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has developed a strong commitment to connecting individuals and families with the resources and support they need. She currently serves as a Bilingual Resource Specialist at Latino Service Providers, where she helps community members access essential resources, coordinates outreach efforts, and works to make services more accessible to Latino and Spanish-speaking families throughout Sonoma County. Angie also serves on the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights and is currently pursuing her education at San Francisco State University, with the goal of becoming a high school English teacher supporting English Language Learners.

Lilian is a Program Analyst with the County of Sonoma, Employment and Training Division, overseeing youth workforce development programs. With over a decade of combined experience in public and nonprofit sectors, Lilian brings a deep commitment to community empowerment. A graduate of Sonoma State University with a BA in Psychology, Lilian initially aspired to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. While her career path took a different course, her passion for mental health advocacy remains steadfast. Lilian is dedicated to challenging the negative stigma around mental health that still prevails in our communities. Heartened by Humanidad’s impactful work, Lilian joined the Board in the fall of 2023. She is eager to contribute her expertise in program development, community outreach and mental health advocacy to help Humanidad achieve its mission and vision.