Isai Pazos has been a community organizer for over two decades and has volunteered for many years with the oaxaqueño community in Los Angeles and with Senderos in Santa Cruz, helping with our Guelaguetza and other events. Isai is Zapotec from the community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, Oaxaca. He comes from a family of immigrants and understands the needs of immigrant youth and families. Isai is trilingual, speaking Zapotec, Spanish, and English.
Isai’s most recent position was Director of Community Affairs with CIELO (Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo) in Los Angeles. He has served as President of the California nonprofit ORO (Regional Organization of Oaxaca) and has been instrumental in coordinating the nationally respected Guelaguetza events in Los Angeles, as well as supporting other communities in California to organize festivals.
Isai is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles and has guided many young people towards higher education and cultural enrichment. He founded two businesses, one focused on marketing and the other promoting cultural roots and traditions. In his work with various Indigenous communities he has served in a community liaison role with the Mexican and Guatemalan Consulates. His experience includes establishing citizenship workshops, teaching folkloric dance, and revitalizing ancestral practices like wood carving and weaving. He understands and appreciates the depth and differences of each tradition and culture.
Upon joining Senderos Isai stated, “I am very excited to join Senderos which has been at the forefront of Indigenous cultural arts programming for over 20 years and also supporting educational opportunities for Latino youth and families. It’s beautiful to be surrounded by talented and dedicated people working together towards a common purpose. I am grateful for the opportunity to work closely with co-founders Maestra Fe Silva-Robles and Dra. Nereida Robles Vásquez, the Board of Trustees, cultural arts Instructors, and the community. Together we are strong, and I know our teamwork will make us reach our goals and achieve greatness as an organization.”
Executive Director,
Isai Pazos
Program Director: Fe Silva–Robles
Fe is the co-founder of Senderos, serving as the Artistic/Program Director in a volunteer position. Fe is an Indigenous woman from Santiago Laxopa, a village in the Sierra Norte mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, and she grew up speaking Zapotec. Fe earned a degree as an elementary teacher with a minor in dance in Mexico. She learned Spanish in elementary school and learned English at 36 years of age when she moved to the USA. Along with her sister Nereida, Fe started these artistic activities in 2001 after seeing that Latino immigrant youth and their families have huge challenges in staying connected to their culture. Fe is retired from her long-time position as a bilingual School/Community Coordinator with Santa Cruz City Schools. Fe serves on the County Latino Affairs Commission, the County Rise Together Racial Equity Coalition, teaches Zapotec at UC Santa Cruz, and maintains close relationships in Oaxaca to support the cultural arts movement she has created in California.
Board of Trustees
Board Past President
Community Coordinator
Helen Aldana (they/them/theirs) currently serves our county through community collaborations full-time. Through these collaborations, Helen has had the pleasure in creating spaces for folks to learn, share, and grow with one another. Helen enjoys long walks on short beaches and bringing folks together at monthly queer conviviós. All in all, it’s a good time creating good times for good people.
Community Liaison, Pittsburgh Office of the Mayor
Lindsey Nicole Aquino-Robles (she/her) has been involved with Senderos her entire life. She’s performed as a musician and a dancer. Senderos is in her heart! Lindsey especially admires how Senderos creates a powerful sense of community and Senderos youth develop pride in their heritage.
Lindsey is an alum of Santa Cruz High School and Saint Mary’s College of California, graduating with a BA in Politics and a BA in Spanish Linguistics. Lindsey went on to complete the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs in Pittsburgh, PA, and is currently working as a Community Liaison under Neighborhood Services in the Pittsburgh Mayor’s Office. While thinking of next career steps, Lindsey is enjoying runs in the park, finding new coffee spots with friends, volunteering and, of course, she’s still dancing.
Board Treasurer and Retired Executive Director, Encompass Community Services
Carolyn retired in 2014 as the Executive Director of Encompass Community Services, the largest multi-service nonprofit in Santa Cruz County. Carolyn holds an M.B.A. from Santa Clara University and had previously worked as the CFO of Encompass. Carolyn has served on many Boards and commissions, including United Way, Santa Cruz Education Foundation, and the Criminal Justice Council. Carolyn is inspired by the spirit, creativity, and dedication of the Senderos community.
Board Secretary and Retired Principal, Branciforte Small Schools Campus
Curt Coleman has been married to Carolyn since 1976 and they have two grown children and one grandchild. Curt encountered Senderos through Nereida Robles in 2002 and has been a supporter of Senderos (and Nereida!) ever since. He retired in 2011 as the principal of the Branciforte Small Schools Campus. Curt finds inspiration in the Senderos community, especially the proudly bi-cultural children and youth.
Medical Assistant,
Kaiser Permanente
Maribel was born in Leon Guanajuato and has been part of Senderos since 2016. She immigrated to the United States when she was 3 years old, and has been living in Santa Cruz since. Seeing the experience of her family’s struggle with the limited Latinos in the medical clinics made her want to pursue the medical field. She is currently working as a State Certified Medical Assistant for Kaiser Permanente. She has a strong belief that Latino based organizations serve as a trusted anchors that promote a culture of empowerment in our community.
Assistant to Director of Adult School
Sequoia Union High School District
Todd Livingstone has spent his career working with children, teenagers, and adults in education. He started as an Art and Technology teacher at the middle and high school levels in Watsonville, California. Todd has been a school administrator for elementary, middle, and adult school. He is currently the Assistant to Director of Adult School, Sequoia Union High School District. As a first generation college student, he has a special interest in helping others achieve the same opportunity. He especially appreciates Senderos’ mission of teaching Latino culture and history through the arts with a college preparatory focus for students. Todd has also served the community in other board member capacities including Schools Plus Nonprofit Public Schools Foundation of Santa Cruz County (president), Santa Cruz County Workforce Development Board, Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, and California Council for Adult Education, Steinbeck Chapter (president).
Centeotl dancer
Santa Cruz High school student, class of 2023.
Scholar Funding Manager, Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program, Stanford University
Perla is a daughter of Mexican immigrants from the states of Oaxaca and Durango, and also a first-generation college graduate from San Jose, California. She has earned a B.A. in Politics and Latin American and Latino Studies from UC Santa Cruz, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Masters in Public Administration from San José State University. Perla has a passion for educational equity and community involvement which is carried out through her participation in the mentorship of community college students and as a board trustee for Senderos.
Senderos Co-founder
Social Worker, Santa Cruz City Schools
Dr. Nereida Robles Vásquez, both born in Santiago Laxopa, Ixtlan, Oaxaca, is one of the founders of Senderos. Nereida immigrated to the United States when she was 22-years-old. She learned English at Adult Education and since 1995 she has been an employee of Santa Cruz City Schools, currently working as a Social Worker. While working full-time and raising a child as a single parent, Nereida earned an AA degree at Cabrillo College and a BA degree in Psychology, a Masters degree in Social Work, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at San Jose State University. Nereida works as a Social Worker for Santa Cruz City Schools.
Software engineer at Intuit and Centeotl dance instructor
Kristen Silva is an indigenous woman of Zapotec descent from Oaxaca, Mexico. She attended Santa Cruz City Schools and graduated from Pomona College with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, and from UC Santa Cruz with a master’s in Secondary Math Education. Senderos was founded by her family. Kristen was accepted into the Apprenticeship Pathway Program, a program piloted by Intuit in partnership with AnitaB.org and Treehouse. She successfully completed the rigorous eight month program and recently became a Software Engineer with Intuit.
Attorney
Mandy Tovar was born and raised in Watsonville, CA. She attended public schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. After graduating from Aptos High School, she enrolled in Cabrillo Community College and transferred to San Diego State University. She graduated from SDSU with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. After college, Mandy enrolled in law school at California Western School of Law in San Diego where she volunteered at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. After graduating from law school and passing the bar exam, she began practicing law as a public defender in Fresno. In 2005, she returned to her hometown and began working as a trial attorney at the Santa Cruz Public Defender’s Office. Mandy is an experienced attorney who has defended clients accused of all manner of offenses, from misdemeanors to homicides. She has served Santa Cruz County as a public defender for over 17 years. Mandy is currently the director of the Training, Equity, and Development Division. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening, and yoga.
Board Advisors
Retired Superintendent, Santa Cruz City Schools
Gary started his career as a bilingual elementary teacher and has served in a number of leadership roles in K-12 and higher education. Most recently, he served as Superintendent of Santa Cruz City Schools. Gary has consulted with education systems in Central and South America and continues to work with school leaders in California and beyond, while nurturing his commitment to our local community.
Communications and Environmental Outreach Coordinator, City of Watsonville
Leonardo Cruz grew up in the state of Mexico and Jalisco. He coordinates the Nature center of Watsonville where he leads nature walks and shares tips and tools to save natural resources. Leonardo came to the U.S. to work on outdoor experiential education with the camp, Growing up Wild, based in the Watsonville mountains, where kids venture out on bilingual backpacking trips and learn about survival skills.
Retired Associate Superintendent, Santa Cruz County Office of Education
Mary Anne James has been involved with Senderos since its founding. A life long educator, she is committed to empowering Latinx youth and their families through educational and cultural enrichment.
Centeotl Dancer and
Diosa Centeotl 2015
Izamar Sanchez is the proud daughter of Oaxacan immigrants and a first generation graduate who received her B.A. in Anthropology and Economics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She served as a Board member of Senderos after becoming Diosa Centeotl in 2015 until 2020.
Assistant Vice President of Risk Management, Bay Federal Credit Union
Lucy Sierra is Assistant Vice President of Risk Management at Bay Federal Credit Union where she oversees Audit, Compliance and Fraud. She served on the Board from 2018-2021 and continues to serve on the Finance Committee. Lucy believes in Senderos’s vision and mission of creating an environment that promotes harmony, breaks stereotypes and encourages academic success.