Board of Directors
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Bill Baker is the son of Edwin and Dorothy Baker and is a retired software developer and manager. He has multiple degrees culminating in a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. During his career he focused on project management and process improvement.
Heather Chambers is the Treasurer and longtime supporter of DAYS Long Beach, and a California CPA with over 35 years’ experience working with tax-exempt organizations. Graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, returned to school and in 1993 received her CPA license. In 2011, Heather launched her own accounting company, Heather Chambers CPA She has been serving as Treasurer of the organization since 2005. |
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Dr. Norma Stoltz Chinchilla is Professor and Co-Chair of the Department of Sociology at California State University Long Beach where she has been a member of the faculty since 1962. She has published books and articles on the impact of immigration on Los Angeles and the role immigrants have played in shaping the Greater Los Angeles area and received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Contributions to Central American Studies from the Lozano-Long Institute and the Center for Mexican American Studies at the University of Texas in recognition of her work. Dr. Chinchilla is a member of the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Long Beach and the co-founder of the Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition, a group of individuals and organizations dedicated to helping immigrants engage in civic life and the creation of a community context that is welcoming of all of its diverse residents.
Lisa Heard has worked for Nordstrom Risk Management for over 30 years, mainly handling employee prevention and injury claims and was awarded the Nordstrom Corporate Risk Management Employee of the Year. She has been the Alto soloist of the First Congregation Church of Long Beach for over 30 years, and is very active on the many church boards, committees, and outreach programs. Her other love is performing on stage and has been seen in productions from New York to Los Angeles (most recently at The Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group) and is a founding member of Three Special Girls/Orphean Circus.
Scott Heidegger is a Principal at The Raben Group with over twenty-five years of strategy, marketing and business development experience. With an extensive background in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, Scott consults clients on how to effectively communicate messaging, engage target audiences, and build relationships, while efficiently managing budgets, measuring performance and maximizing ROI. Scott also combines his knowledge of integrated traditional, digital and mobile marketing to help clients in both the business and non-profit sectors traverse new technology solutions. Before consulting, Scott spent fifteen years in corporate marketing for internet and technology companies, and owned an event management company that managed all levels of non-profit event programs including televised awards shows, conferences and small networking receptions.
Dr. Patricia Kalayjian, prior to her current position as Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies, served as Chairperson and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at California State University Dominquez Hills. Interdisciplinary Studies is a PACE program, designed to help fulltime working adults complete their baccalaureate degrees and advance in their careers. Frequently the first in their family to attend college, IDS/PACE students—and indeed CSUDH students in general--are remarkable in their resolve and commitment to alter their lives through higher education.
Reverend Elena Larson has served as the 13th installed Senior Minster of First Congregational Church of Long Beach (United Church of Christ) since 2013. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and Pacific School of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union, Rev. Larssen studied theater at Occidental College. Ordained to the campus ministry at Stanford University, she previously served two local churches as Associate Minister (Palo Alto, CA and La Grange, IL) and was Associate Conference Minister for the Minnesota Conference from 2008 to 2013; in that role, she was the youngest regional executive in her denomination. Nationally, Rev. Larssen is a Presidential Fellow of her denomination, Vice President of the Board for the Christmas Fund, and deeply engaged in leadership development for new clergy. Locally, Rev. Larssen is actively engaged with CCEJ, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, and a member of the current class of Leadership Long Beach. She is passionate about the power of congregations of all faiths to fight poverty, keep the arts alive, and build a just and tolerant society.
Robert Stapp, the Chairperson of DAYS Long Beach, is Director of Human Resources at Antioch University Los Angeles one of five campuses in the Antioch system. He has years of experience working with students and faculty to ensure that students have a high quality education. He is committed to programs that nurture youth knowledge, skills and critical thinking which promote lifelong learners, democratic leaders and global citizens who live lives of meaning and purpose. Mr. Stapp is also committed to social justice and has been involved in numerous campaigns.
Nancy Valencia, is the Executive Director of DAYS Long Beach, a Long Beach native, attended local elementary and middle schools, graduated from Long Beach Jordan High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach. Nancy worked as a counselor with Harbor Area Halfway House, reuniting female offenders with their families, providing resources for employment, housing, drug counseling, and parenting classes. She taught elementary school in Long Beach Unified School District and Norwalk/La Mirada School District and in 2002 became a member of the Board of the DAYS Long Beach and in 2004 she became the Executive Director. Nancy is passionately committed to issues relating to children and social justice and is also a member of the board member for Comunidades Con Poder Para El Cambio (CPC), The Building Healthy Communities (BHC) School Work Group, and Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition.
Cara Varnell is a long-time supporter of the DAYS Long Beach and has been involved with all aspects of the organization from management and planning issues to writing grants and coordinating fundraising events to teaching art, design and anything else needed at Summer Day Camp. She is an art conservator and since 1980 has worked for major museums around the country. For the past 14 years she has been the owner of a private art conservation business in Los Angeles. Her clients list include museums and archives throughout the US and Europe as well as corporate and private collections.
Dr. Kris Zentgraf is Chairperson and Professor of Sociology at California State University Long Beach. In 2011, she received the CSULB Community Service Award. Recently, Dr. Zentgraf was honored as one of the 2015 Women of Distinction Award winners for the 70th Assembly District of Patrick O’Donnell. Dr. Zentgraf, was nominated by several CSULB faculty members and community members, for her commitment to immigrant rights, comprehensive immigration reform, and for her unwavering support for undocumented students at CSULB. Dr. Zentgraf is co-founder of Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition a grass-roots community-based organization working for a more humane and just immigration policy with greater respect for all immigrants.
Jeff McFarland - Bio coming soon.
Reverend Jerry Stinson is magna cum laude graduate of both Occidental College and the Divinity School at Harvard University, Rev. Jerry Stinson has been a minister in the United Church of Christ for forty-four years. He retired from parish ministry at the end of 2012 after serving for twelve years as Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Long Beach. He previously served congregations in Carlsbad, California and Almira, Washington as well as serving for four years with the United Church Board of World Ministries in southern Africa.
Rev. Stinson has worked with several groups seeking social justice and progressive theology including Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. He was a recipient of that organization’s 2013 Giant of Justice award. He was a founding member of the Christian Muslim Consultative Group of Southern California and served on the Board of Directors of The Center for Progressive Christianity. Rev. Stinson was a founding member of the Long Beach Jewish-Christian-Muslim Leadership Forum. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the South Coast Interfaith Council and was president of the Long Beach Religious Leaders Association. He received the Interfaith Unity Award from the South Coast Interfaith Council, the Interfaith Courage Award from the California Council of American Islamic Relations, the Muslim Peace Award from the Southern California Islamic Center, and leadership awards from Masjid Al-Shareef and the Long Beach Islamic Center.
He served previously on the Board of Directors of the Southern California American Civil Liberties Union, the Board of Directors of Progressive Christians Uniting and the National Advisory Board of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Rev. Stinson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Beach NAACP and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award given jointly by the City of Oceanside, CA and the Oceanside branch of the NAACP in recognition of his involvement in the struggle for civil rights. He was also the first United Church of Christ minister to receive the Disciple of the Year Award given by the Pacific Southwest Region of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in recognition of his commitment to social justice, peace and freedom for all.
Lisa Heard has worked for Nordstrom Risk Management for over 30 years, mainly handling employee prevention and injury claims and was awarded the Nordstrom Corporate Risk Management Employee of the Year. She has been the Alto soloist of the First Congregation Church of Long Beach for over 30 years, and is very active on the many church boards, committees, and outreach programs. Her other love is performing on stage and has been seen in productions from New York to Los Angeles (most recently at The Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group) and is a founding member of Three Special Girls/Orphean Circus.
Scott Heidegger is a Principal at The Raben Group with over twenty-five years of strategy, marketing and business development experience. With an extensive background in both the corporate and non-profit sectors, Scott consults clients on how to effectively communicate messaging, engage target audiences, and build relationships, while efficiently managing budgets, measuring performance and maximizing ROI. Scott also combines his knowledge of integrated traditional, digital and mobile marketing to help clients in both the business and non-profit sectors traverse new technology solutions. Before consulting, Scott spent fifteen years in corporate marketing for internet and technology companies, and owned an event management company that managed all levels of non-profit event programs including televised awards shows, conferences and small networking receptions.
Dr. Patricia Kalayjian, prior to her current position as Interim Dean of Undergraduate Studies, served as Chairperson and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at California State University Dominquez Hills. Interdisciplinary Studies is a PACE program, designed to help fulltime working adults complete their baccalaureate degrees and advance in their careers. Frequently the first in their family to attend college, IDS/PACE students—and indeed CSUDH students in general--are remarkable in their resolve and commitment to alter their lives through higher education.
Reverend Elena Larson has served as the 13th installed Senior Minster of First Congregational Church of Long Beach (United Church of Christ) since 2013. A graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz and Pacific School of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union, Rev. Larssen studied theater at Occidental College. Ordained to the campus ministry at Stanford University, she previously served two local churches as Associate Minister (Palo Alto, CA and La Grange, IL) and was Associate Conference Minister for the Minnesota Conference from 2008 to 2013; in that role, she was the youngest regional executive in her denomination. Nationally, Rev. Larssen is a Presidential Fellow of her denomination, Vice President of the Board for the Christmas Fund, and deeply engaged in leadership development for new clergy. Locally, Rev. Larssen is actively engaged with CCEJ, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, and a member of the current class of Leadership Long Beach. She is passionate about the power of congregations of all faiths to fight poverty, keep the arts alive, and build a just and tolerant society.
Robert Stapp, the Chairperson of DAYS Long Beach, is Director of Human Resources at Antioch University Los Angeles one of five campuses in the Antioch system. He has years of experience working with students and faculty to ensure that students have a high quality education. He is committed to programs that nurture youth knowledge, skills and critical thinking which promote lifelong learners, democratic leaders and global citizens who live lives of meaning and purpose. Mr. Stapp is also committed to social justice and has been involved in numerous campaigns.
Nancy Valencia, is the Executive Director of DAYS Long Beach, a Long Beach native, attended local elementary and middle schools, graduated from Long Beach Jordan High School, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach. Nancy worked as a counselor with Harbor Area Halfway House, reuniting female offenders with their families, providing resources for employment, housing, drug counseling, and parenting classes. She taught elementary school in Long Beach Unified School District and Norwalk/La Mirada School District and in 2002 became a member of the Board of the DAYS Long Beach and in 2004 she became the Executive Director. Nancy is passionately committed to issues relating to children and social justice and is also a member of the board member for Comunidades Con Poder Para El Cambio (CPC), The Building Healthy Communities (BHC) School Work Group, and Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition.
Cara Varnell is a long-time supporter of the DAYS Long Beach and has been involved with all aspects of the organization from management and planning issues to writing grants and coordinating fundraising events to teaching art, design and anything else needed at Summer Day Camp. She is an art conservator and since 1980 has worked for major museums around the country. For the past 14 years she has been the owner of a private art conservation business in Los Angeles. Her clients list include museums and archives throughout the US and Europe as well as corporate and private collections.
Dr. Kris Zentgraf is Chairperson and Professor of Sociology at California State University Long Beach. In 2011, she received the CSULB Community Service Award. Recently, Dr. Zentgraf was honored as one of the 2015 Women of Distinction Award winners for the 70th Assembly District of Patrick O’Donnell. Dr. Zentgraf, was nominated by several CSULB faculty members and community members, for her commitment to immigrant rights, comprehensive immigration reform, and for her unwavering support for undocumented students at CSULB. Dr. Zentgraf is co-founder of Long Beach Immigrant Rights Coalition a grass-roots community-based organization working for a more humane and just immigration policy with greater respect for all immigrants.
Jeff McFarland - Bio coming soon.
Reverend Jerry Stinson is magna cum laude graduate of both Occidental College and the Divinity School at Harvard University, Rev. Jerry Stinson has been a minister in the United Church of Christ for forty-four years. He retired from parish ministry at the end of 2012 after serving for twelve years as Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Long Beach. He previously served congregations in Carlsbad, California and Almira, Washington as well as serving for four years with the United Church Board of World Ministries in southern Africa.
Rev. Stinson has worked with several groups seeking social justice and progressive theology including Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace and Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. He was a recipient of that organization’s 2013 Giant of Justice award. He was a founding member of the Christian Muslim Consultative Group of Southern California and served on the Board of Directors of The Center for Progressive Christianity. Rev. Stinson was a founding member of the Long Beach Jewish-Christian-Muslim Leadership Forum. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the South Coast Interfaith Council and was president of the Long Beach Religious Leaders Association. He received the Interfaith Unity Award from the South Coast Interfaith Council, the Interfaith Courage Award from the California Council of American Islamic Relations, the Muslim Peace Award from the Southern California Islamic Center, and leadership awards from Masjid Al-Shareef and the Long Beach Islamic Center.
He served previously on the Board of Directors of the Southern California American Civil Liberties Union, the Board of Directors of Progressive Christians Uniting and the National Advisory Board of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Rev. Stinson received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Long Beach NAACP and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Leadership Award given jointly by the City of Oceanside, CA and the Oceanside branch of the NAACP in recognition of his involvement in the struggle for civil rights. He was also the first United Church of Christ minister to receive the Disciple of the Year Award given by the Pacific Southwest Region of the Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in recognition of his commitment to social justice, peace and freedom for all.
