Our People

OUR STAFF

John Fanestil, Executive Director, began his work with the Foundation for Change in January, 2007. Actively involved as an organizer in movements for border justice, immigration reform and LGBT rights, John brings to his philanthropic work the heart and practices of an activist. John is a graduate of La Jolla High School, Dartmouth College, Oxford University – where he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics as a Rhodes Scholar – and the Claremont School of Theology. An ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, John worked from 1992 to 1995 as a pastor at United Methodist Churches in Southern California, including four years at a small bi-lingual church in Calexico. In Calexico he also served as President of the Neighborhood House, a community-based social services agency on the U.S./Mexico border. John is also a writer: Doubleday published his first book, Mrs. Hunter’s Happy Death, in 2006. His writing has also appeared in The San Diego Union-Tribune, The Los Angeles Times, The Christian Century, and other publications.  To learn more, visit johnfanestil.com.

Jean Fisher, Office Manager, earned her B.A. in Business at Alverno College in Milwaukee, WI, an M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Education and a Certificate in Peace Studies at the University of WI - Milwaukee (UWM). As a former employee at S. C. Johnson, Jean served on the Gay & Lesbian Business Council and co-facilitated diversity training workshops for employees. With close to 40 years of extensive volunteerism, including co-facilitation of Study Circles on Racism and inner-city forums for Sustainable Racine, board member with Friends of Peace Studies – UWM and steering committee member with Activist San Diego, she continues to volunteer advocating anti-militarism and "human justice" issues with a focus on universal healthcare reform, and movement-building of a green, sustainable & progressive socially-responsible economy. Jean's personal passion is art that produces controversy.

Andrea Rocha, Program Officer, was born in Mexico City to an American mother from Chicago, Illinois and a Mexican father, from San Luis Potosí. She received most of her formal education in the U.S., having earned a B.A. in Latin American Studies from U.C. Berkeley and a Masters in Education (M.Ed) from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. The core of Andrea’s values- what she considers her real education- has been shaped by working on economic and environmental justice initiatives with indigenous and migrant communities in both the U.S. and Mexico. Andrea has worked in international progressive philanthropy for the last 8 years. In 2004 she moved to Ensenada, Baja California, with her husband, Salvador, and worked with the Alliance for Sustainable Development with Indigenous Communities of Baja California (ADESU). Andrea and Salvador moved to San Diego in 2007.

Michele Silverthorn, Communications Manager, began her work in community building as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador. For over three years she worked with local communities to develop formal community groups and expand the reach of their tourism activities. Before working in El Salvador Michele graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a B.S. In City and Regional Planning and spent time traveling in Europe and Australia. Upon her return from El Salvador she attended Brandeis University where she received her M.A. in Sustainable International Development.  In addition to her work at the Foundation for Change she is on the board of OUT for Work supporting LGBT college students transitioning to the workplace. She and her husband Steve stay busy raising their two boys to be conscious world citizens.

Darrell Netherton, Executive Aide, received his B.A. from the University of Iowa, his M.A. at the University of Maryland, and his J.D. from American University in Washington, D.C. He began his career as a teacher of Social Studies and English, later served on the staff of a senior Member of Congress, and as Counsel to a Congressional Committee. For the next 22 years, he held a variety of positions with the US Merit Systems Protection Board, including Legislative Counsel and Director of Regional Operations, where he supervised 70 Federal administrative judges who heard Federal employee appeals from all over the U.S., until his retirement in 2001. He has been active his entire life in religious, cultural and other non-profit organizations, and held a number of leadership positions in several, including six years on the Associates Board of Directors at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. After relocating to San Diego in 2006, he became interested in the critically important work of the Foundation for Change, and joined the staff on a part-time basis in April, 2009.

OUR FOUNDER

Victoria Danzig, Founder, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in La Jolla. After first awarding grants in 1983, Victoria and others worked for ten years as a chapter of the Los Angeles-based Liberty Hill Foundation. In 1994, when the San Diego Foundation for Change became its own non-profit corporation, Victoria became President of the Board, a position she occupied until the year 2000. Currently she chairs the Foundation’s Honorary Committee. Each year the Foundation for Change recognizes an exceptional community organizing effort in San Diego with the “Danzig Award,” given in Victoria’s honor.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lou Terrell, President, is a retired Professor at San Diego State University, where for twelve years he chaired the Political Science Department. A graduate of Williams College and Stanford University, where he earned his Ph.D. in Political Science, Lou has served as a City Councilman and Mayor of Del Mar. He has also served in leadership positions on the Boards of San Diego Association of Governments, Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and the Del Mar Foundation.

Nicole Trombley, Vice President, is a massage therapist and owner of Equilibrio Massage, specializing in prenatal and postpartum massage. Before launching her massage practice, Nicole worked for six years at the National Network of Grantmakers, a national membership organization of progressive funders committed to moving more funding dollars to social and economic justice.

Armin Kuhlman, Treasurer, is currently Human Resources Manager and Controller at Gibson & Barnes in El Cajon. He also provides part time controller and income tax services. He has a BS in Public Administration and MBA in Finance from the University of Missouri. In addition to being a CPA, Armin is a Certified Management Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst. Besides recently becoming Treasurer for the Foundation for Change, Armin has recently been a volunteer with READ San Diego, Sierra Club and AARP Tax Aid program.

Sarah Azaransky teaches in the Theology and Religious Studies Department at the University of San Diego.  A graduate of Swarthmore College, Harvard Divinity School, and the University of Virginia, Sarah has conducted research about grassroots development in Ghana, and about peace movements in Northern Ireland, Israel & the West Bank, and Sri Lanka.

Gordon Clanton has taught sociology at San Diego State University since 1975. A graduate of Louisiana State University and U.C. Berkeley, where he earned a Ph.D. in sociology and religion, Gordon was active in support of the black civil rights movement and the United Farm Workers, and in opposing the Vietnam War. For over ten years Gordon wrote a column of political and social commentary for the Del Mar Citizen, the Blade-Citizen, and the North County Times.

Michelle Ciccarelli is a partner with Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP, the nation's preeminent law firm representing consumers, workers and shareholders victimized by corporate fraud. Michelle was a key member of the team that won some of the most significant legal victories against the world's most powerful corporations -- she helped recover over $7 billion for victims of the Enron fraud and millions for women in the Mariana Islands forced to perform slave labor in sweatshops for the Gap.  Michelle has trained lawyers and law students to represent immigrants, pro bono, in deportation proceedings at the Federal Penitentiary in Kentucky, assisted Haitian refugees seeking asylum in Miami, and served as an intern to former Congressman Joe Kennedy.

Aurora Cudal is a professional public health educator whose career spans more than forty years of community and academic work in the Philippines. She immigrated to the United States in 1993, eventually became a U.S. citizen and is greatly involved with local and national Filipino community groups as an advocate for community health development, political empowerment.and social justice.

Brenda Evans Cooper is a Bishop and Senior Pastor of Christ Chapel World Ministries, headquartered in North Park, and Christ Chapel World Ministries in Oceanside, CA.  In addition to 23 years of ministry, including 10 in San Diego, Brenda’s community experience includes founding and overseeing Alternative Community Services, an organization to support those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS; Whoze You are Ministries, an organization that provides counseling and food to those in need; and a mentoring program for an affiliate church in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

Eric A. Isaacson, is a San Diego lawyer with Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP. Eric's practice with the leading plaintiffs’ firm focuses primarily on civil appeals. He earned his A.B. summa cum laude from Ohio University in 1982, and a Juris Doctor degree with high honors from the Duke University School of Law in 1985. Eric has filed “friend of the court” briefs on behalf of a variety of organizations opposing institutionalized discrimination.

Marcy Campbell Krinsk is an activist serving environmental, political, animal and human rights organizations.  She is currently an active member of No Border Wall Coalition, Sierra Club, African Wildlife Fund, DCCC (Speaker’s Cabinet), DSCC and served as a founding member of the Inaugural Finance Committee 2009 (DNC).  Marcy is a President’s Circle member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation and a board member of the Operation for Hope Foundation. She is also a founding board member of Public/Private Solutions for America’s Health Care Future (PS2), which is part of the Heinz Family Philanthropies.

Robert P. Meinzer, Jr. is a long time telecommunications industry entrepreneur who now participates in charitable organizations, political causes and private investments. Bob founded and led the growth and development of Westlink Paging Inc. to the tenth largest Paging enterprise in the U.S., selling the company to Arch Communications in 1996. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Democratic Congressional Committee (DCCC) have been his primary involvements over the last two election cycles for Presidential and Congressional races.

Leiana Naholowaa is a native of Guam and has lived in San Diego since 1996. She works with San Diego Food Not Lawns, a group advocating for local food justice, and Famoksaiyan, a network of Guam activists. She chairs the Foundation for Change Grantmaking Committee, and serves on the national Advisory Board of the Funding Exchange, a national network of which the Foundation for Change is a part.

Geshalem Perez began work in May, 2009 as an organizer for the United Domestic Workers of America, Local 3930, AFL-CIO (the Homecare Providers Union).  Her prior work experience includes almost two years as the Administrative Assistant at the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.  Geshalem graduated with a degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Diversity and Change at SDSU in 2007 and have been actively involved in the Labor Movement and with the Fiesta del Sol Steering Committee.

Olivia Puentes-Reynolds began her civic duties in high school as Red Cross President. She has since served on the Boards of Girl Scouts, San Diego Parks and Recreation, San Diego Mayoral Advisory, San Diego County Regional Health Advisory, UCSD Board of Overseers, San Diego MANA (a national Latina organization) and the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women. Olivia has over 30 years of professional work experience in local municipal management.

Nancy Rodriguez is owner of Tochtli Angel Arts offering gatherings with "two spirit" (LGBT) indigenous elders and she and her life partner are Capitanas of Danza Coyolxahuqui. She has a lifetime of involvement in the arts as an advocate, a performer, writer, producer, director, patron and sponsor.

Peter Zschiesche is the Founding Director of the Employee Rights Center, a non-profit program offering education and advocacy to all workers regarding their workplace rights. A former machinist, Peter served many years as a Machinist Union representative for workers in local shipyards and industrial sites. He now represents the Machinist Union Local 389 on the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council and is an elected Trustee of the San Diego Community College District.

Bill Harman is the Development Director/World Religion Teacher at The Grauer School, Encinitas, a private, humanitarian college preparatory middle/high school.  Bill was engaged for many years in international project management for the Lutheran Church and from 1982-2005 he served as pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Encinitas, CA. The President and founder of the San Dieguito Interfaith Ministerial Association in Encinitas, Bill has served as a Board Member of Planned Parenthood of San Diego/Riverside Counties and many other community organizations. 

Anthony White is an assistant director at Family Health Centers of San Diego. His community organizing experience includes work with the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative, San Diego LGBT Leadership Council, Immigration Equality, and Equality California/San Diego. Anthony lives in Tijuana.

GRANTMAKING COMMITTEE

Connery Cepeda is a professional community and transportation planner for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Connery is active with progressive planning organizations and is committed to economic, environmental, and social justice.

Connie Garcia has been working on women’s rights, workers’ rights, and environmental justice issues for more than 10 years in  the San Diego-Tijuana Region.

Jill Holslin is a Lecturer in Rhetoric & Writing Studies at San Diego State.  She has worked on social justice issues in San Diego since 1988, primarily on issues of peace and education with Middle East Culture and Information Center and SDSU’s Center for Islamic & Arabic Studies.

Adriana Jasso grew up in a migrant farm worker family. Her activism began in high school as a student organizing against Proposition 187. In 1997 Adriana moved to San Diego where she completed a B.A. and M.A. from UCSD becoming the first in her family to be awarded an advanced degree. In 1997 Adriana became an active participant with the Raza Rights Coalition, a community organization dedicated to defending the self-determination and human rights of the Mexican/Latino community. Adriana was hired as Project Voice Program Coordinator by the American Friends Service Committee in September of 2006.

Lisa Kove is a military veteran with approximately 30 years of progressive community involvement.  She has a wide range and depth of experience/ expertise in: leadership, management, logistics, analysis, and technology.  

Jesse Mills is a professor of Ethnic Studies at University of San Diego. His community organizing experience includes work with IRC Students Plus, La Resistencia San Diego, and Somali Family Services. Jesse brings networks in academia, East African communities, refugees and the arts and has expertise in writing, editing and research.

Vernon Mitchell is a lifelong Christian activist. He worked with Dr M. L. King, Jr and staff from 1965-1966 and in 1968. After serving as a pastoral minister for 30 years, he now is involved in interfaith, interracial peace and justice ministries.

Leiana Naholowaa was born and raised in Guam and has been chairing the Grant Making Committee since 2006. She became involved in the San Diego progressive community after teaching in France for two years where she experienced a political awakening. Leiana is actively committed to issues related to decolonization, food justice and social and economic rights.

Zach Negin’s professional background is in Engineering and green building.  Zach organized the successful Leap 4 Change Art Auction in support of the Foundation for Change.

Quynh Nguyen has been working at the Center on Policy Initiatives for 10 years – organizing, building a membership, and raising money to help build a movement for economic justice in San Diego.

Aracely Rodriguez

Nancy Rodriguez is owner of Tochtli Angel Arts offering gatherings with "two spirit" (LGBT) indigenous elders and she and her life partner are Capitanas of Danza Coyolxahuqui. She has a lifetime of involvement in the arts as an advocate, a performer, writer, producer, director, patron and sponsor.

Elizabeth Saenz-Ackerman

Trish Vasta is a self-employed independent contractor in San Diego and manages the financial accounts for Activist San Diego (ASD), a past Foundation for Change grantee. She has done major community organizing on different levels with ASD, Puppet Insurgency, CIRCA, TranscenDANCE, and No Border Camp.

Anthony White is an assistant director at Family Health Centers of San Diego. His community organizing experience includes work with the San Diego HIV Funding Collaborative, San Diego LGBT Leadership Council, Immigration Equality, and Equality California/San Diego. Anthony lives in Tijuana.