An Update from Rise Together
Taking Root
For Gina Castañeda, being a part of Rise Together Santa Cruz County has helped her grow as a leader. The founder of Aztecas Youth Soccer, which supports at-risk youth on and off the field, a juvenile probation officer, and Community Foundation trustee says, “Rise Together has helped me connect to other local leaders in meaningful ways. I've learned that leadership extends beyond advocating for my own cause; it involves supporting and collaborating with fellow leaders to uplift their initiatives as well. This collaborative spirit has enriched our efforts and strengthened our collective impact in the community.”
Rise Together is a coalition of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color leaders and a team from Community Foundation Santa Cruz County working collaboratively to advance racial equity in Santa Cruz County. The group first gathered in summer of 2020 to sow seeds for what has become an established and effective coalition of leaders working to build a Santa Cruz County where everyone can thrive now and in the future. Now entering its fifth year, Rise Together is taking root, celebrating the impact of $1.3 million in grants advancing racial equity, welcoming new members, and reflecting on community conversations about building an inclusive county. The work of Rise Together is sustained by generous donations to the Rise Together Fund for Racial Equity by community members from all walks of life and grants from regional foundations.
Giving and Growing
Recent Rise Together grants totaling $340,000 have been distributed to 16 organizations and have resulted in a diverse array of concrete impacts for communities of color in Santa Cruz County. Our investments have helped build safe and celebratory spaces in nature; provide access, mentoring, and networking for emerging filmmakers; connect youth to culture and community through dance; increase access to quality health care for working families; provide election information in Spanish to Pajaro Valley residents; increase professional development resources to young leaders working in social services; offer parenting classes in three languages—English, Spanish, and Mixteco; and more. For all the grantees, there’s transformative change taking hold. Read all grant updates here.
Dr. Nereida Robles Vasquez, co-founder of Senderos, said her experience in Rise Together brought a sense of validation. “Being in an environment with other leaders of color gave me a platform to share the economic challenges and racial disparities faced by Senderos community members daily. It made me feel seen and valued by the Community Foundation. Overall, it has been a valuable learning experience to listen to other members of the Rise Together coalition.”
A Community Conversation
In spring of 2024, Rise Together partnered with TEDxSantaCruz to produce “Rising Together,” the first TEDx event held locally since 2019. After holding two public Rise Together events at the Community Foundation in 2021 and 2022, the coalition dreamed of reaching a broader audience and growing discussions and action within Santa Cruz County about racial equity and collaboration—planting the seeds for 2024 TEDxSantaCruz. Rise Together members supported every aspect of the event from serving as volunteers, speakers, producers, and advisors.
County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Faris Sabbah said, “TEDxSantaCruz 2024 was a shining moment for our County. It was the most inclusive event with the most diverse ideas and audiences I’ve ever seen!” Another attendee shared, “The speakers, topics, and audience represented the rainbow of our community. It’s so important to hear from folks that are not like ourselves to advance our understanding.”
Expanding The Circle
This year, Rise Together welcomes nine new members. The 2025 cohort includes leaders from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and skills. New members are working in social services, education, the arts, recreation, public health, healing, music, and dance.
New members are:
- Deutron Kebebew, MENtors
- Janet Johns, Esperanza Del Valle
- Jasmine Najera, Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance
- Kelvin Nivens, Project Daraja
- Lun Wang, County of Santa Cruz, Health Services Agency
- Oscar Corcoles, Fuerza Santa Cruz
- Reggie Stephens, Reggie Stephens Foundation
- Yadira Flores Martinez, County Park Friends, Latino Affairs Commission, Santa Cruz County
- Yesenia Molina, Watsonville Center for The Arts, Arts Council Santa Cruz County
They join continuing members:
- Angela Chambers, Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center; Santa Cruz Black Health Matters
- Ashlyn Adams, CA Film & Cultural Center
- Elaine Johnson, Housing Santa Cruz County and NAACP
- Esabella (Bella) Bonner, Black Surf Santa Cruz
- Gina Castañeda, Aztecas Youth Soccer
- Helen Aldana, Senderos
- Kara Meyberg Guzman, Santa Cruz Local
- Dr. Rebecca Hernandez, UC Santa Cruz University Library, Special Collections
- Ruby Vasquez, Estrellas De Esperanza
- Stephanie Barron Lu, Positive Discipline Community Resources
New Rise Together member Kelvin Nivens is the founder and executive director of Project Daraja, a nonprofit working to ensure the lowest earning communities of our county are afforded the benefits of specialized health care and wellness programs.
With 35 years of experience in the health and wellness industry, this new nonprofit leader is ready to bring his experience to the table and hopes to learn in reciprocity with other leaders. “I am excited to be a part of a collaboration that is actively seeking lasting, and impactful changes for our community,” Kelvin said. “This is an incredible opportunity to work alongside other dynamic leaders to better serve and support the Black and Brown communities of our county.”
Jasmine Nájera is the CEO of Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, which provides health education, mental health, and substance use prevention services to youth in South County. She says, “I’m honored to join the third cohort of Rise Together leaders to contribute to advancing racial equity in Santa Cruz County through collaboration and advocacy for systemic change that amplifies the voices and needs of BIPOC communities. This is an amazing opportunity to be part of meaningful work that creates tangible impact and fosters a more just and inclusive community for all.”
Keep Rising
As we continue to do the work of creating a county where everyone can thrive today, we never stop thinking about the future. Thanks to forward thinking donors, we have established the Rise Forever Endowment, a fund dedicated to advancing racial equity across Santa Cruz County and ensuring that people in our richly diverse county are forever welcomed, supported, and uplifted here.
CEO Susan True, a founding member of Rise Together, encourages the community-at-large to support the coalition as its efforts unfold new possibilities for all who call Santa Cruz County home. “Rise Together shows us a path forward that is inclusive and helps our whole community to take action so that all residents have what they need to thrive.”
