B/Bianca Gutierrez  (elle/they ella/she). They’re HELLA proud to be first gen chicanx, nonbinary, queer. They are majoring in Sociology to then transfer to a University to continue studying and absorbing all the knowledge in sociology, social work and social justice. Their career and life end goals are just to absorb as much knowledge as possible, escuchar todas las historias de nuestra gente, absorb knowledge spread knowledge a whole cycle of never ending learning and teaching in whatever way that ends up looking for them.

Carol (she/her Pronouns) identifies as Lesbian and Queer, and. comes to Rainbow with over 30 years of clinical experience. She has worked as a Therapist in Private Practice and in agency settings as Program Director, Training Director, and Clinical Director of a community based Mental Health Agencies. Currently Carol provides Clinical Supervision of Psychology students, and therapists in training for Licensure: Clinical Social workers, Licensed Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists. She has worked in this capacity at John F. Kennedy University, Pacific Center for Human Growth, and Rainbow Community Center. Carol assists therapists in finding their clinical confidence, expertise, and particular skill in working with the LGBT+ community, and other marginalized populations. She works from a place of authenticity, presence and mutual empowerment.

Christian (he/him/el) is a gay Mexican man that was born in Guadalajara, Mexico and has been a Concord resident since 2004. Serving as the Executive Director of Rainbow Community Center, he brings over a decade of programming, outreach and community engagement. Some of his focuses include project planning and implementation that cover multiple programs such as HIV prevention, mental health, youth programming, fundraising, training, food pantry deliveries, social media content creation, volunteer services and older adults programming. As the Executive Director, Christian Aguirre wants to continue to lead through partnerships by creating opportunities of engagement through programs, groups, events and activities that are affirming and welcoming to all of our underserved  LGBTQIA+ BIPOC, PLWHA and undocumented communities.

Christian is also a skilled professional makeup artist and hair stylist that enjoys connecting  with his clients by creating beautiful looks for their special occasions. He is the owner of a small business named C&A Creations where he has had the honor to create his own eyelash collection and work with various Latinx celebrities such as Jacqueline Andere, Ninel Conde, Fedro, and the Mexican superstars Tatiana & Alicia Villarreal. Last but not least, Christian is also known as Bella Aldama, a Latina Bay Area Drag Queen performer that enjoys hosting and planning events, while celebrating race and culture. She continues to educate and share information on how to prevent HIV and has visited over 20 cities leading Drag Queen Story Hour events.

Christopher received his Bachelor of Science at Boston’s Northeastern University and an addition graphic arts degree at Epping Forest College, London, England. His most recent work experience was as a Program Coordinator for 140+ disabled/formerly homeless seniors in a supportive housing setting. Prior to that, Christopher lived in Zurich, Switzerland for 7 years and traveled extensively through Europe and Asia and taught English in Dharamsala, India.

Correen “Cori” Johnson (she/they) has come into their role as the Youth Housing Case Manager with over 7 years of experience in non profit housing and youth program development with a focus on social emotional curriculum as well as motivational interviewing. Growing up a part of BIPOC and LGBTQ, Cori has the hope of continuing to serve and develop nuanced approaches to meet the wide range of obstacles our houseless youth are facing in the intersectionalities of LGBTQ community. In their free time, Cori can be found covered in paint as she creates art and runs a small business.

Cristina is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Rainbow Community Center. Her past endeavors range from being a bike messenger to earning an FCC License and broadcasting in Top Forty Radio. Raised in San Francisco, Cristina was also very much inspired by and always gravitated towards the Cultural Arts. The Mission Cultural Center housed a space of Arts, Dance and Music. There, Cristina was a student of Capoeira, silkscreening and Dance. "La Danza Azteka allowed me to give back to the community in a very spiritual way." The well being of Mind Body and Soul are very important to Cristina and has always felt a need to help others balance and navigate through tough times. Having moved from City to City in the last five years, Cristina has found herself in the East Bay helping the most marginalized such as the Rainbow Spectrum and would very much like to use her past experiences and skills for the greater good! "At this point in my life and the times that we are going through, it is Paramount that we invest in each other's wellbeing."

Dana TherActivist Johnson, MSW (They/Them/Theirs) is a gender non-binary masculine of centered community activist that brings experience as an Author, documentary filmmaker, DEI&B practitioner, and Professional Development trainer. Dana also has 18 years’ experience counseling and servicing justice involved youth. Dana received a master’s degree in Social Work from Cal State University East Bay, BA in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University, and a variety of professional certifications.

Dana’s an Author and Filmmaker of the memoir, TherActivist: They/ Them/ Theirs, a narrative embracing Identity, Intersectionality, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The TherActivist embodies a "therapeutic activism" approach, while servicing and empowering BIPOC communities, LGBTQI+ communities, and most vulnerable populations.

Dana serves as a LGBTQ+ Commissioner and PRIDE Initiative co-chair for the County of San Mateo; and a board member of CoastPride Center. Dana embraces the role as a LGBTQ+ Ambassador servicing the entire LGBTQIA+ community of the County San Mateo. Dana’s a Fellow, of Equality of California Institute Leadership Academy; and Inaugural Class of 2022- member of Leadership Council San Mateo County.

Dana is motivated in assisting in the implementation of inclusive policies and protocols; and passionate about providing LGBTQI+ equity services, social justice services, and activism to marginalized communities. Dana is working with other community leaders to help bring visibility, resources, social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion to LGBTQI+ communities. When they are not working, Dana enjoys taking a self-care walk/hike, catching a movie, watching sports, and spending time with their partner, family and friends.

Dodi began volunteering with Rainbow when she first moved to the Bay Area in 2009. She joined the Board in July 2015, took over as Board President in April 2019, and finished her 6-year term in June of 2021. 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 the 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 Surgical Technologist Program Director and Healthcare Career Pathway Program Manager. 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, one who is neurodivergent and non-binary and one who is a heart warrior. Both kiddos motivate and challenge her to make this world a safer, expansive, and more welcoming place for them to grow up.

Erin Jones (She/They) is a proud demi-pansexual 25-year-old person, born and raised in Vacaville, CA. Erin always had a passion for theatre, but only just began pursuing it during their senior year of high school. Before that, she was involved in many different extracurriculars, such as baseball, softball, bowling, ballet, and wrestling. She has also been working with children for the last five years with the City of Vacaville’s Youth Services and Cambridge Elementary, the latter of which she started and facilitated a GSA club for the students after seeing a severe need of young LGBTQIA+ community building. Erin now spends her time acting, singing, baking, working on her photography, and working with the lovely people of Rainbow Community Center. They hope to be of help to the community and learn more and more from others every day.

Elyse (she/her) is queer identifying and a clinical intern at Rainbow Community Center. Elyse was born and raised in Chicago before moving to the Bay Area in 2020. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Knox College and is currently in her second year at UC Berkeley’s Masters of Social Welfare program. Elyse is passionate about serving the queer community and is interested in all things related to mental wellness, sexuality, sexual health, gender, and social justice. She’s gained 5 years of individual and group counseling experience working as a Behavioral Specialist at an intensive outpatient (IOP & PHP) mental health treatment program where she worked with clients of all ages.

In her free time, Elyse loves to hike around the Bay Area with her dog, spend time with friends and family, play games, watch nature documentaries, and read Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels.

Ginger (she/her pronouns) is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who provided clinical services at Rainbow from 2014-2018, first as an MFT intern, then moving on to become Lead Clinician and School-Based Services Coordinator before taking a full time position with Contra Costa County Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health. Out of commitment to this community and to the work of this agency, she has returned to Rainbow offering support for the counseling team as a clinical supervisor.  She hopes to empower newer clinicians to find their groove, increase their skills and confidence, and to empower the clients they serve. Identifying as queer herself, Ginger has focused her clinical experience within the LGBTQIA+ community, with particular concentration on transgender and gender expansive people. She recognizes the privilege in which she is situated in many respects as a Cis-White woman, and is a fierce advocate for social justice and human rights. Issues of diversity, intersectionality and social equity have always been of concern to Ginger, who strives to approach her role(s) with a culturally humble and trauma-informed lens. She has spent many years working with and advocating for youth, beginning in her previous career in Special Education, and places special emphasis on helping survivors of trauma and abuse. Ginger approaches her work with a collaborative spirit, from a perspective of resilience, strength and growth, and with respect for the powerful role of human connection. She views her own journey as one in progress and remains open to growth and learning. Ginger’s free time is spent with her beloved partner of almost 30 years and friends, appreciating nature, music and the arts. She is an animal lover, creative spirit, and activist.

Gretchen (her/she as she's brown and sweet) was born in the South Bay to immigrant parents and raised in the East Bay by a single one. Growing up as a third culture individual she has navigated between her Ancestral culture and the North American culture like a swirled soft-serve ice cream cone. Beautiful in theory, but messy in reality. Luckily, the flavor of life inspires her to continue to craft and sample, whoever she becomes in this world.
 
Fueled by years of retail experience within a spectrum of communities, Gretchen was compelled to get her MA in Communication Studies with a focus on Intercultural Communication. She hopes to bring her experience and knowledge to RCC, but more importantly learn from those she will meet while with the organization. 

Jess Garman (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and Studio Art with a focus on Border Studies from Goucher College, and a Master of Library and Information Science along with a K-12 teaching credential from the University of Maryland. With over a decade of experience as a teacher and librarian, and previous work with the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare, Jess has a deep-rooted passion for education and human connection. Outside of the classroom, she expresses her creativity as an illustrator and printmaker with a residency at KALA print studios in Berkeley. Currently pursuing a Master of Social Work degree at New Mexico State University, Jess is excited about her Clinical Intern role at Rainbow Community Center, where she eagerly anticipates engaging with the community. With a lifelong goal of becoming a therapist, Jess hopes to bring her professional background, genuine enthusiasm, and compassionate nature to create positive change in the lives of the individuals and families she serves.

Jessie (she/they) is a proud transgender Chicanx woman from Salinas, CA and is a third year student in the Master of Public Health/Master of Social Welfare concurrent degree program at UC Berkeley. After graduating from UCLA in 2018, she worked as the Trans* Empower Workforce Development Program Manager at a community clinic in South Central Los Angeles. In that role she assisted transgender patients with job readiness skills, job placement, legal gender and name change paperwork, and trained employers in Los Angeles on transgender competency to best support transgender workers. Her research interests include how social and structural transphobia becomes internalized/embodied and affects mental health of transgender people of color. She also has experience providing therapy with transgender/non-binary youth of color. She hopes to one day receive a PhD in Public Health and be able to inform policy to combat transphobia and allow transgender people to live healthful, thriving lives.

Jimmy Ramirez (he/they) was born and raised in Contra Costa County. He earned a degree in Government at Georgetown University. Ramirez has organized on the issue of youth homelessness for over a decade and has completed fellowships at UC Berkeley and Columbia University. He enjoys gardening, bike rides, libraries, and Donna Summer.

Jorge Chamorro (he/him pronouns) Identifies as Pansexual. Jorge immigrated to the United States from Nicaragua at the age of 11. During his high school and early college years, he worked for many nonprofits organizations including, Instituto Familiar De La Raza, Horizons Unlimited, and Mission Neighborhood Health Center. For the last 15 years, Jorge has proudly served the LGBTQ+ community with his JCE company, to produce music and nightlife events for everyone in the community. Most recently he earned a Sex Health Educator certification from City College.

Julien “Jules” Frost (they/them or it/its) autistic trans-masc genderqueer born and raised in the Bay Area. As a “no good punk with a heart of gold”, they were always volunteering at events and wanted to do more with their work life. It wasn’t until after doing a program at Opportunity Junction that they found Rainbow and called it their new work home.

In their personal life, Julien likes to go to concerts, conventions, and go exploring with their partner. They believe in the power of learning, intersectionality, and being the best you can be. They also believe in spoiling their cat!

Kadeth (pronouns he/him and Sir) is a queer trans masculine artist and composer who fuses mythology, magic, shamanic arts and feminist theory with traditional psychotherapy to inform and guide his work. He is a Reiki Master Teacher and shamanic practitioner.  
 
Kadeth received his Master in psychology from JFK University where he focused on neuropsychology, feminist perspective and mental health care for the transgender, non binary and BDSM community. His prior work includes school based domestic violence education and intervention, grassroots reproductive rights support and many years in the veterinary community focusing on emergency and critical care anesthesia. 
 
Kadeth can be found found in his glass studio liquefying and spinning colored glass into artwork with very large amounts of fire. He reads research papers on medicine, biology, psychology and astrophysics for fun. 
 
“The good of the many outweigh the good of the few, or the one...and starts with the action of the one.”

Laura is a queer femme educator who brings 25 years of working with youth and their families through a healing centered, regionally informed, intersectional lens. She has trained cross-sector nationally, and developed curriculum to support educators, administrators, facilitators, and youth workers in providing restorative practices in their setting with a particular focus on serving LGBTQ+ youth. She most recently taught for 10 years where she was the Athletic Director, 8th grade advisor, and Social Emotional Learning curriculum writer and teacher. She also was the adult advisor to the GSA. Before teaching, Laura worked in the non-profit sector serving youth in Detroit, and later working to empower athletes of all abilities as the Vice President of Regional Sports at Special Olympics Northern California. In her free time she loves to swim, cook up new recipes in the kitchen, and explore the Bay Area with her amazing partner!