Meet The
Board of Directors
The Board is an all-volunteer effort to aid the Rainbow Community Center's vision and future. Click here to learn more about joining our board:
Dorann “Dodi” Zotigh, CST, MS
President
Dodi began volunteering with the Rainbow when she first moved to the Bay Area in 2009, and joined the Board in July 2015. She took over as Board President in April 2019. She has a BA from Cornell University in Feminist, Gender, Sexuality Studies, a Masters in Educational Leadership and a Masters in Human Anatomy and Physiology Instruction. While attending Cornell, she was President of ZAP!, a sex, gender and sexuality discussion panel; Fundraising Chair for Cornell’s Gay Straight Alliance; an active member in Haven, Cornell’s umbrella LGBT organization; and the Undergraduate Representative for the Feminist, Gender, Sexuality Studies Steering Committee. Dodi spent 11 years in the Army Reserves while Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy regulated gay and lesbian soldiers. Dodi works for Mt. Diablo Unified School District at the Adult Education School as the Career and Technical Education Center Coordinator for Allied Health and Pathway Development. She is passionate about continually improving education and helping individuals learn in a challenging, safe, and empowering environment where all identities are acknowledged and supported. Dodi is also the mother to two little ones who challenge her to make this world a safer, more welcoming place for them to grow up.
Chris Wikler
Secretary
Chris Wikler was born and raised in the East Bay, and after four and a half years in Boston, is thrilled to be back home and working as staff for the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Chris is a graduate of Tufts University, where he received a B.A. in international relations and political science. He comes to the board with a background in political campaigns, serving as deputy campaign manager for a Boston-based District Attorney race, as well as campaign staff to Berkeley State Senator Nancy Skinner. Additionally, he worked for Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, the nation's first openly gay AG. Chris enjoys mountain biking, alpine skiing, and earned his Eagle scout award prior to the Scouting program's acceptance of LGBTQ youth and adults among their ranks. Chris is passionate about policy, local government, and connecting people in need with the services and support they deserve.
Robyn Kuslits
Vice President
Robyn is a proud Genderqueer Transwoman who is a student at John F. Kennedy University College of Law. She grew up in Contra Costa County, where she returned after her service in the United States Navy. Robyn has a B.S. in Business from University of Phoenix, and was a former Gender Voice Facilitator, Food Pantry Manager, and Director of Programs for Rainbow Community Center. She is also a founding member of Lambda Democratic Club of Contra Costa County, the first LGBTQ+ democratic club in the county. In her free time, Robyn enjoys trail running, watching movies, and playing games with friends. She currently lives with her adorable cat Duke. She is excited to contribute her knowledge and skills to an organization that holds such a dear place in her heart!
Stefano Gonzalez
Treasurer
Stefano Gonzalez is a trans Latinx producer originally from New York, where he obtained his BA in Broadcasting and Mass Communications. After college, he taught video production to high school students in the Bronx. In 2008, Stefano moved to the Bay Area, where he completed his MFA in Motion Pictures & Television while continuing to teach video production, in addition to science and animation, for a San Francisco non-profit. Since then, he has helped to garner numerous awards at film festivals around the world. His short script, How To Kill Someone You Hate, won Best Short Film and Best Directing awards at the 2014 Epidemic Film Festival. Do They Fit?, a coproduced short film, was an official selection of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. In 2017, Stefano founded Transgress Studios LLC, a film and video production company designed to transcend repetitive narratives and uncover stories untold. That same year, his company produced it's first feature film, TRANSFINITE, a sci-fi omnibus film composed of seven standalone short stories where supernatural trans and queer people of color use their powers to protect, love, teach, fight and thrive. TRANSFINITE has been an official selection over 19 film festivals and counting. But by far, one of Stefano's most cherished achievements is writing the proclamation for Transgender Day of Remembrance in 2019 for Richmond, CA, where the city raised the trans flag for the first time. In addition to credits including executive producer, producer, director, writer, and actor, he was also a paralegal for 4 years at a law firm specializing in immigration. He resides in Richmond with his wife, stepson, and two dogs.
Michelle Paquette
Director
Michelle Paquette has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area most of her life, and has just relocated to the Portland, Oregon area with her wife, while staying virtually connected to the East Bay. She has worked in a variety of technical fields, as both an engineer and an instructor. She holds 19 patents for inventions used by hundreds of millions of people every day.
She is currently engaged in teaching and public speaking on both technical topics and social issues, particularly on topics related to gender and rights. Michelle is also active with Mt. Diablo Unitarian Universalist Church as a member and Worship Associate. She is a member of the Voices for Trans Equality network and a GLAAD Media Institute Alumnus.
Denisen Hartlove
Director
Denisen, her husband Jay and their family have been East Bay residents for over 20 years. With two children who are LGBTQIA, she is a strong ally of the rainbow community. The Rainbow Community Center served as an invaluable resource in offering support and community to their family, and Denisen is now excited to be in a position to offer support to other families like hers. Denisen graduated from Golden Gate University in 2000 with a B.A. in Psychology with high honors, followed by literal decades of working for lawyers and writing for the newspaper. When not chasing teens and her family’s menagerie of pets (2 dogs, 2 cats, 2 bunnies, and one rat … as of 3:30 today, that is, because we never know who’s arriving next …) she loves her career as a full time Realtor in Contra Costa, Solano, and Alameda Counties. Favorite quotes include Ralph Waldo Emerson’s, “To laugh often and much, to win respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better… this is to have succeeded,” followed by, “Hold my earrings.” She has a habit of swearing, a decent right cross, and a welcome mat to all comers to their front door. In her off hours, she - wait, what off hours? But if she had them, she’d be even more enthusiastic about her family, advocating for the LGBTQIA community, and Netflix.
Alvaro Gonzalez
Director
Alvaro Gonzalez was born and raised in Chile and moved to the USA right after college. His first ever Pride was in Salt Lake City, UT where he finally felt part of a community. Alvaro brings to the Board more than 8 years of experience in fundraising and corporate relationships, hoping to be a helping hand to the Development team. Alvaro worked as a Senior Project Manager for San Francisco Pride for over 7 years, where he worked with Community Organizations, big Corporations and City leaders. He also has worked with LGBTQ+ organizations in Eastern Europe, which use another specific set of knowledge to connect with that community.
Alvaro has a 9 year old four legged “daughter” who owns his heart. He loves to travel, even if it’s to the next town from home, discovering new places and enjoying new experiences.
“Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts” - Barbara Gittings.