Ricardo Vidal and Deanna Cherry facilitate participatory, inclusive conversations that support organizations in reimagining their policies, practices and approaches. They center the lived experiences, histories, cultures, strengths and needs of communities that have been traditionally economically exploited, politically oppressed and excluded from higher education. They have a breadth of experience including working in non-profit, governmental, educational and carceral settings. This includes supporting Cuyamaca College with its Equity-Minded Teaching and Learning Institute (EMTLI) program, along with numerous workshops for other California colleges. By improving communication, well-being and accountability, Ric and Deanna have been able to assist in cultivating more interconnected, just and rewarding classroom and workplace cultures.

Ricardo Vidal has over 20 years of experience developing innovative, trauma-informed trainings and workshops for vulnerable, incarcerated and unaccompanied minors, drawing on indigenous wisdom and philosophy. He developed the R&D Facilitation framework for equity, called Equity Through the Lens of Balance. This approach builds trust and connection among those of divergent interests, and supports with resolving relationship challenges that often plague educational settings. His ability to inspire others to reconcile and heal their relationships with themselves and with one another - through making new agreements - has become a catalyst for sustainable cultural change.

For 10 years, Deanna Cherry was the lead facilitator for the USC Center for Urban Education, considered one of the most important designers of equity tools. While consulting for USC, she facilitated hundreds of trainings for campuses across the U.S. and in the Netherlands. She also managed long-term partnerships with campus teams seeking to better understand how they could improve students’ experiences. Prior to her work with USC, she raised over 15 million dollars for social justice programs. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Intergroup Relations and Discrimination. She is certified by the Institute for Integrative Coaching and is President of the Adamma Foundation.

Contact information:

Deanna: (213) 448-9648

Ric: (323) 317-4267

Dr. Nolan A. Jones is an Assistant Professor of Practice at Mills College in the School of Education. His interests include transformative education and teaching that heals, inspires, and builds community. He is also an author and blogger. He has a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley, a Master’s degree from Holy Names University, and a doctorate degree from Mills College.

Gabriela B. Delgado has worked in education and served youth for over 22 years. In her professional experience she has served youth, families, school staff, and community organizations in a variety of capacities. She provides professional learning on various topics including group facilitation, trauma-responsive approaches, restorative practices, adolescent female development and empowerment, and grant development and management.

Gabriela has a Master of Arts in Education/Counseling and Guidance from Point Loma Nazarene University and a Master of Public Administration from San Diego State University. She has worked as a K12 counselor, an adjunct instructor for graduate level programs, and is a certified grant professional by the Grant Professional Certification Institute.

Outside of her work, Gabriela is a professional organizer. With her attention to detail and distinct ability to develop systems, she assists individuals and organizations to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Gabriela enjoys spending time with family, traveling, and having fun with her dog!

Top five strengths: Achiever | Discipline | Developer | Input | Relator

Gabriela B. Delgado

Director/Owner

Saving Our Starfish &

Don’t Worry Be Organized

gabrielabdelgado@gmail.com

619-616-0897

JT Tomaschke feels most at home in nature, often hiking and camping alone to rest and reflect but also to do one of her favorite past times, watching and photographing wildlife. When she isn’t trying to take pictures of every shiny insect she sees, JT enjoys traveling, making friends with other people’s dogs, and hands-on creative processes, including baking, gardening, and building simple things.

JT has been a faculty member of the Athletics, Kinesiology, and Health Education (AKHE) Department at Cuyamaca College since Spring of 2016. Prior to starting at Cuyamaca, JT was a freeway-flying adjunct instructor at City, Miramar, and Southwestern Colleges and coached club, high school, and college soccer. She continued her own playing career with various coed and men’s indoor soccer teams and enjoyed some playing time with San Diego’s semiprofessional women’s soccer team. A few surgeries and major life events later, JT found herself drawn less to the stress of constant competition and more towards creating a sustainable balance within. She began to pursue Yoga teaching certifications and is immensely proud that in just a few years since starting yoga at Cuyamaca the college is now serving about 200 students a semester.

In addition to Yoga, JT has taught all sorts of classes from Cardio Conditioning, Weight Training, Flexibility Fitness and Tennis to lecture courses such as Introduction to Health and Techniques of Exercise Leadership. Currently, she is teaching Physical Fitness, Adaptive Physical Exercise, and several sections of Yoga, which she hopes to make more accessible and equitable for all.

Her philosophy is that Yoga is for Everybody, and Every Body!

Explore JT's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/YogaWithJT

Enroll in one of JT's summer 2022 courses (6/13/2022 through 7/21/2022):

• ES-028A-8963 - Beginning Yoga (100% online)

• ES-028B-8964 - Intermediate Yoga (100% online)

• ES-028C-8965 - Advanced Yoga (100% online)

Colleen Parsons is the Administrative Assistant III for the Facilities Department at Grossmont College. She is also the new CSEA Chapter 707 President. If you ask Colleen what she loves most about her job/jobs, she would say that there is never a dull moment. There is always something going on and always something to do.

Colleen has worked for Grossmont College for just over 6 years and started in the Business Communication Department before moving to the Facilities Department. Colleen grew up here in East County and is a graduate with an AA from Grossmont College and she has a BA in Education. She has been the lead negotiator for the CSEA Chapter 707 for over 4 years now, and has firsthand knowledge and experience when it comes to the Classified employees Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Kathleen Flynn, Tutoring Center Specialist in Grossmont College's Math Study Center, has been the Chief Union Steward for 2.5 years. She thinks there is not any other position in the union that is more fulfilling. Kathleen says, “The days are long, but I can sleep at night knowing I’ve helped someone.”

Kathleen has also been on the negotiations team for 3.5 years. Someone once told her, “Your union is only as good as its members.” And after the 4-year battle to get our longevity back, she decided to become part of the solution.

Kathleen started at Grossmont College as a student in 1997 and in the fall of 1998 was hired as a tutor in the Math Study Center. In 2001 she was hired there as a full time as the Tutoring Center Specialist in the Math Study Center. Kathleen says, “The best thing about my job is… everything! I love working with the students and tutors, and I work with the best team ever! I wish everyone had a “Dream Team” like we do. This is my Dream Job!” Kathleen will retire on June 30th after almost 21 years as a classified member and will finish out her union positions through December 31st.

In her spare time, Kathleen enjoys spending time with her cats, chickens, and grandkids, and she enjoys sewing, crocheting, building, electrical, plumbing, and anything DIY. YouTube is her best friend when learning something new. If it can be made or fixed by hand, she can do it. Her favorite project was salvaging pallets and turning them into a chicken coop, a duck house, and a doghouse. The cause she is most passionate about: As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, she is a volunteer minister spreading the good news to anyone willing to listen.

Things are constantly changing, and the current union leadership isn’t going to be around forever. So… Become a part of the solution.