Governance Council Members

Rosa Lopez

Residence: Central Kern

Ocupation: Senior Policy Advocate and Organizer

Experience: Rosa has lived and worked throughout the county for over 25 years. She worked in the Central Subregion during her time at Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (GBLA), where she assisted residents experiencing a number of legal and social barriers to accessing housing, medical care, immigration relief, and other basic necessities. Currently, Rosa works in all Subregions with the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California (ACLU SoCal), where she works with the community to uphold our rights, specifically with marginalized communities working to advance social and economic justice. Rosa is always seeking opportunities to continue supporting her community. The governance council offers her an immense opportunity to work alongside Kern’s most vulnerable communities and help advance racial and economic equity. Given her personal and professional experience, she has the skills necessary to ensure that directly impacted communities are central to the CERF’s implementation process. Thus, it ensures that the projects and industries reflect the needs and values of each sub-region.

Quote on Equity: "The COVID-19 pandemic showed us how vulnerable our communities, specifically Kern’s rural communities, are. These communities don’t have equal access to resources and opportunities... Allowing communities to actively participate through the CERF process will ensure an accurate analysis of each sub-region's challenges, thus developing and implementing appropriate opportunities to advance sustainable economic prosperity."

Yuriria Lopez Arciga

Ocupation: Community Navigator and Volunteer

Experience: Yuriria has been working as a community organizer and leader for seven years. She has been serving the school districts and has volunteered with Vision y Compromiso and Lideres Campesinas. She is passionate about community service and has been involved in health by participating in asthma prevention and education projects in farm working and rural communities. She is a community volunteer and advocates for the struggles of farm workers and low-income communities.

Quote on Equity: "To begin, it is important that we mention that equity is to give everyone what they need so that they may lead a dignified and happy life. Therefore, our laws must constantly consider this, especially in the divided communities. Here, we have seen the imperative need to fight for equity for members of the Indigenous communities, specifically in the areas of health, language, and education, so that they, too, can achieve a dignified life. That is why distributing resources equitably and fairly promotes the development and dignified life for all; we must first collect the data necessary to understand the specific needs and challenges these communities face.”

Gema Perez

Residence: Bakersfield

Experience: Gema has lived in the city of Bakersfield for 21 years, where she has helped in her daughters' schools, community cleanups and other voluntary ways. Gema started the Greenfield Walking Group with the intention of improving her community.  Her interest in serving on the governing council is to ensure that projects create jobs, are accessible to marginalized and low-income people, and that industries do not affect or harm the environment and health.

Quote on Equity: "A transition that implements equity for me includes creating jobs for all, including the marginalized people and for industries to work harmoniously with their neighbors and to help us train the youth so that they can integrate into the workforce, giving better opportunities and decent jobs for them and employment opportunities for local workers."

Lori Pesante

Residence: Central Kern

Ocupation: Community Advocate & Educator

Experience: Lori lives in the Central Subregion and teaches at the Bakersfield College Delano Campus. Lori seeks to serve on the governance council to bring more opportunities to those most marginalized and overlooked.

Quote on Equity: "Equity means everyone has their needs met no matter where or how they started or have journeyed in life."

Alissa Reed

Residence: Bakersfield

Ocupation: Executive Secretary for the Kern, Inyo, & Mono Counties Building Trades Council and Workforce Development Board member and past Chair

Experience: Alissa has sought opportunities to promote and further collaborative efforts to advance long-term strategic workforce development. In her current role as Executive Secretary, she advocates for labor through building relationships that advance apprenticeship programs and offer economic development opportunities for career growth in the construction industry. Alissa has been involved in our local community and workforce development efforts for many years, serving on the Workforce Development Board since 2008. She is interested in serving on the governance council and actively participating in efforts to reach disinvested populations to ensure equitable participation in programs and services offering workforce development in disadvantaged communities.

Quote on Equity: "In the recovery transition process, equity means prioritizing the needs of the most marginalized residents who may have been disproportionately affected by economic downturns or crises to ensure that recovery efforts not only rebuild the economy but also address longstanding inequities leaving no one behind."

Jaime Lopez

Ocupation: Taft College - Workforce Development

Experience: Jaime is new to serving the West Kern community but has extensive experience serving rural communities across Kern County. Throughout his career, he has worked in various capacities supporting the development and implementation of Workforce Development programs and Education opportunities for disadvantaged populations in rural Kern. With his extensive experience in education and workforce development, Jaime believes he would serve the Kern CERF Coalition well in promoting economic development through an equity lens. Serving in the governance council would also allow him to leverage his expertise and continue supporting the advancement of the Taft community through equity-focused economic development initiatives.

Quote on Equity: "Equity in regional economic and recovery transition means providing disadvantaged groups in our community with the necessary tools to overcome their challenges... Kern County is home to many from disadvantaged groups such as farmworkers, English Language Learners, and foster youth, which positions us well to create long-lasting impacts to support residents."

Nataly Santamaria

Residence: Bakersfield

Ocupation: Network Manager with Vision y Compromisio

Experience: Nataly has been a resident of Kern County since 2007. During that time, she established roots by raising her family here. Kern County is also where Nataly began her work as a Promotora in her community, acting as a bridge to resources and advocating. She believes that as a community navigator, she is responsible for being in spaces where she can lift the voice of the community. By being on the governance council, that space will allow and ensure that the community is represented and has a seat at the decision-making table.

Quote on Equity: "There are many ways to promote equity. One important step is to address historical and systemic inequities that have marginalized certain groups of people... Another important step is to create amore inclusive economy supporting businesses that are owned and operated by women, people of color, and other underrepresented groups."