Be kind. Be fierce.

“The mark of a wild heart is living out the paradox of love in our lives. It’s the ability to be tough and tender, excited and scared, brave and afraid - all in the same moment. It’s showing up in our vulnerability and our courage, being both fierce and kind.” 

-Brene Brown

Our Team

  • A man with glasses and a mustache wearing a black baseball cap and a blue plaid shirt, standing in front of a floral patterned background.

    Jose Andrade

    Nueva Vida Café

  • A woman with glasses and dark hair, wearing a blue shirt, standing in front of a colorful, floral background.

    Silvia Andrade

    Nueva Vida Café

  • Self-portrait of a man with sunglasses, a mustache, and tattoos on his face and neck, standing outdoors with trees, palm trees, and parked cars in the background on a sunny day.

    Mark Ashford

    Healing Circle Facilitator

  • A woman with blonde hair wearing a pink lace top sitting on a red chair in a room with bookshelves.

    Vanessa Ashford

    Program Manager

  • A man with glasses, a beard, and a shaved head sitting in front of a bookshelf, wearing a black t-shirt with a graphic design, jeans, and chains around his neck.

    Sam Brown

    Special Projects

  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a turquoise blouse, sitting on a pink chair, smiling at the camera with a bookshelf in the background.

    Allyson Dubenko

    Finance and Operations Director

  • A smiling older woman with curly gray hair and glasses, sitting on a red armchair in front of a bookshelf filled with books and decorative items.

    Ann Fisher

    Director of Training and Programs

  • Woman sitting on a pink armchair in an office or library, smiling, with a bookshelf and a potted plant in the background.

    Lilia Gopar

    Community Health and Healing Program Coordinator

  • A smiling middle-aged woman with short gray hair, wearing a yellow patterned blouse, sitting on a red armchair in a room with a bookshelf in the background.

    Pat Hall

    Projects Director

  • A woman with short, gray hair wearing glasses and a pink collared shirt, smiling in an indoor setting.

    Debi Higgs

    Program Facilitator & Trainer

  • A woman with long, dark wavy hair smiling at the camera, wearing a white shirt inside a home.

    Xenia Leal

    Program Assistant

  • A smiling elderly woman with curly gray hair, wearing glasses and a black jacket, sitting indoors with a window and trees visible in the background.

    Shanti Marcella Macartney

    Compassionate Care Counselor

  • A woman with dark hair smiling, seated in a pink chair, in front of bookshelves filled with books.

    Patty Marquez-Singh

    Restorative Justice and Community Healing

  • Young woman with long, wavy brown hair sitting on a pink couch in a room with a bookshelf in the background.

    Brittany Mendoza

    Connection Navigator

  • A man with a mustache smiling, wearing a white checkered shirt, sitting on a bench with a colorful cushion in a room with blue bookshelves filled with books and decorative items in the background.

    Jorge Mendoza

    Nueva Vida, President

  • A young woman with shoulder-length dark hair wearing a black shirt, looking slightly to the side, against a plain light-colored background.

    Tiffany Mendoza

    Nueva Vida Program Assistant

  • A woman with long blonde hair smiling, sitting on a red chair in a room with bookshelves, picture frames, and a plant in the background.

    Reneé Ridgway

    Program Administrator

  • A smiling man in a white chef's jacket sits in front of a bookshelf with colorful books.

    Mark Segovia

    Youth Diversion Program Coordinator

  • A woman with dark hair and glasses smiling, sitting on a pink chair in a room with bookshelves and a plant in the background.

    Fatima CarradonnaSoza

    Reentry and Diversion Program Coordinator

  • A woman with gray hair smiling, sitting in a red chair in front of a bookshelf filled with books.

    Olivia Soza-Mendiola

    Special Projects

  • Woman with shoulder-length dark hair smiling, wearing a black shirt, sitting on a red couch in a room with bookshelves and green plants.

    Shelley Swan

    Executive Director

  • A woman with short, light brown hair, smiling, wearing a bright blue sweater with lace-up detail on the shoulders, and a beaded necklace with a circular pendant, sitting in front of a pink wall with a colorful floral and bird pattern.

    Malika Lynn

    Program Instructor

  • Smiling woman with dark hair, wearing earrings, in front of a decorated Christmas tree.

    Alicia Eastvold

    Controller