Dv-laa-ha~. I come from the Tolowa Dee-ni’, Karuk, and Wintu peoples. I was raised in my ancestral homelands along the Pacific Ocean and the rivers of Northern California and Southern Oregon. The grounding of my reality is knowing the importance of our natural world and each living being and understanding my responsibility for the care and stewardship of our world and all its inhabitants. My earliest memories are of my desire to support my community, especially the future generations. 

After college, I lived into my childhood goal for nearly two decades as a professional public school educator across Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. I was privileged to teach grades TK-12 and step into leadership roles as program directors and an administrator. In that professional life, I developed deep bonds with many and supported community. 

As I transitioned into a new profession, it was important for me to continue honoring those connections while supporting and being of service to my community. My desire for service, growth, and care led me to join the team at HAF+WRCF in 2018. Since joining the Foundation I have worked with HAF+WRCF’s many grant programs, the Humboldt Health Foundation, the Trinity Trust, the Northcoast Grantmaking Partnership, and Native Cultures Fund (NCF). These experiences provided me the opportunity to be of service to community while learning more about philanthropy and the many diverse needs of our community. From 2020 – 2025 I had the honor of stewarding NCF and supporting the cultural revitalization, reclamation, and healing of California’s first peoples. It was a privilege to work each day to support cultural revitalization and Native communities and students across the state. 

I am excited to step into a new role that allows me to again broaden my focus in support of the Programs, Community Partnerships, and Tribal Relations team as we continue towards the Foundation’s goal of a thriving, just, healthy and equitable region. This has always been home and there is beauty in working in a role that allows me to combine my depth of experience and deep connection to the region and work in partnership with an amazing team and community.