Our People
epacenter staff
Alicia
Gutierrez
Center Manager
Darrell
Dela Cruz
Learning Coordinator
David
Castro
Associate Director of Facilities
Jennifer
Ifil-Ryan
Director of Programs
Michelle
Benigno
Assistant Director of Operations & Administration
Nadine
Rambeau
Executive Director
Richard
Davis–Lowell
Director of Administration & Operations
Tiffany
Fuller
Development & Communications Coordinator
Vida
Amanat
Partnerships & Special Projects Manager
epacenter Instructors
Angela
Gonzalez
Culinary Instructor
Cassandra
Coleman
Dance Instructor
Cristina
Velazquez
Visual Arts Instructor
Helen
Herrera-Montano
Digital Art Instructor
Michael
Turner
Music Instructor
Neil
Castro
Music Instructor
Robert
Crawford
Piano Instructor
William
Griffin
Audio Production Instructor
epacenter board members
John
Goldman
Board Chair
Amy
Lyons
Board Secretary and Treasurer
Staci
Edwards
East Palo Alto Resident
Jackie
Speier
United States Congresswoman
Keitlan
Wallace
East Palo Alto Resident
Deborah
Cullinan
VP, Arts
Stanford University
Advisory Councils
Youth Advisory Council
- Melanie Resendiz
- Elizabeth Wallace
- Wanis Moutri
- Lulu Herrera
Parent Advisory Council
- Jessica Torres
- Lina Wallace
- Jessica Torres
- Soledad Garcia
- Diana Herrera
- Nancy Sanchez
- Marisela Ramos Hernandez
Founding Youth Members
Between 2010 and 2016, East Palo Alto youth and their adult allies interviewed several hundred community members to learn about the needs and potential benefits of an arts center. These findings guided our program design, architectural design, site location, and operational development. Additionally, dozens of community leaders (youth and adult) have served on advisory committees and task forces to plan and guide the project.
The project is because of them, and so many individuals, and would not have succeeded without the passion and creativity of our community.
- Sam Afungia
- Marco Aguilera
- Angel Arteaga
- Juan Aviles
- Amber Boyd
- Jasmine Broussard
- Shana Brown
- Lasela Brown
- Manutu’ufanga Brown
- Daniel Calderon
- Judge Cantrell
- Kyle Carter
- Araceli Castaneda Ramirez
- Carlos Chavez
- Ketzalzin Cruz
- Darryl Davis
- Geeta Devi
- Jalia Dews
- Staci Edwards
- Staja Edwards
- Raevon Ellington
- Ofa Fehoko
- Maama Fihaki
- Jeimy Garcia
- Daniela Gomez
- Alondra Gomez
- Victor Gonzales
- Rafael Gonzales
- Shanae Greene
- Jennifer Guillen
- Yvonne Hamel
- Jhalia Harriss
- Jaquelin Henriquez
- Marypaz Hermasillo
- Rosa Hernandez
- Jose Hernandez
- Nayeli Hernandez
- Katerine Hernandez
- JP Infante
- Adrian Johnson
- Taufusinatiane Kefa Brown
- Monty Lauaki
- Kookee Leaaetea
- Daniel Liu
- Freddy Lopez
- Palutea Ma’afu
- Alipate Ma’afu
- Jashwana Macghee
- Martin Macia
- Palutea Maiafu
- Rosamia Morales Valdez
- Nancy Moran
- Christian Munoz
- Brenda Naranjo
- Daniel (Lettle) Nava
- Melissa Nunez
- Jose Oseguera
- Isaiah Phillips
- Reba Phillips
- Imelda Ramirez
- Randy Randel
- Nadeem Rasheed
- Kimberly Rebuelta
- Raul Resendiz
- Mark Jon Rosel Harris
- ExAvier Rushing
- Christian Salinas
- Jessica Salinas
- Jenee Sedano
- Juliette Silva
- Dede Smith
- ShaDai Smith
- Ake Soafanua
- Keyana Spencer
- Pisileni Tautua’a
- Sulia Teu
- Mele Teu
- Jules Thomas
- Yahaira Torres
- Mirabel Torres
- Mario Tuifua
- Casey Tupou
- Sapiesi Tupuou
- Judy (Vasi) Tutuvanu
- Andrea Isabel Valencia
- Patrick Vea
- Susan Sana Vunga
- Bryson Washington
- Sophronia Seta Yasike
“I didn’t want [my kids] to be in front of screens all day — they needed somewhere outside of the house to learn while they’re not in school. They’ve been making art at home, and they’re so much better behaved — constantly talking about what they’re working on here and love their classes! I am so glad that EPACENTER is here for them.”
LucIA garcia, EAST PALO ALTO RESIDENT and
EPACENTER Parent
