Our People
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
epacenter staff
Nadine Rambeau
Executive Director
Val Duran
Director of Program Services
Amy Gaerlan
Director of Administration & Operations
David Castro
Associate Director of Facilities
Michelle Benigno
Operations Manager
Darrell Dela Cruz
Learning Coordinator
Trishia DeLuna
Opportunity Coordinator
Elvira Escobedo
Receptionist
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