Our Board of Directors

karen kaur has dedicated her life to interrupt and dismantle gender-based violence since she was a young girl. She is passionate about community-led and multi-sector collaborative systems change for health equity, intersectional racial, gender, and economic justice, and violence prevention. She actively engages in uprooting the systemic causes of domestic violence to prevent trauma and violence and nurture safety and healing for all, especially the most vulnerable.

Most recently, karen held leadership positions with the International Rescue Committee and WEAVE Inc. to drive systems change in economic/housing security and healthcare access for refugee and immigrant families and children impacted by gender-based violence and child-trafficking. In addition, karen has worked with victim-survivors of gender-based violence in emergency shelters, managed domestic violence, sex-trafficking, and sexual assault crisis calls, and facilitated support groups for children exposed to violence.

As a proud daughter of working class immigrants from Punjab, she always leads with her heart to build a more just, loving, and equitable world. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Youth Forward, an organization dedicated to improving the health, education, and wellbeing of our most vulnerable children and youth. 

Saara is committed to transforming culture to eliminate inequality and violence. She holds an MA in International Affairs, earned in 2013, where her thesis examined global advocacy campaigns addressing gender-based violence. With over a decade of experience, Saara has been a passionate advocate for survivors, leveraging community-based approaches and prevention strategies across East Africa, the U.S., and her local communities in Seattle and the Bay Area.

As an activist and organizer, Saara brings her deep commitment to equity into the domestic violence field, amplifying community voices and fostering intersectional strategies that address the needs of the most vulnerable. In her time on the board Saara has been committed to increasing the visibility and participation of member agencies and survivors in the Bay Area region and across the state. She has also contributed to enhancing the Race, Power, and Privilege Committee on the Partnership Board, driving initiatives that deepen community engagement and advance systemic change.

In her role as Communications and Community Engagement Specialist at the Asian Women’s Shelter (AWS), Saara focuses on expanding outreach and enhancing awareness of culturally specific services for marginalized survivors, including immigrant, LGBTQ, Arab, and Muslim communities. Her work includes spearheading impactful initiatives such as the LetsTalkAboutUs.org campaign, launched in 2023, which promotes prevention and awareness efforts. Since joining AWS, she has played a key role in growing housing and community-based programs, building partnerships, and sustaining vital advocacy and services for survivors.

Jobi is a Program Manager and a former Domestic Violence Health Advocate for Family Assistance Program located in the San Bernardino County of Southern California. Jobi always aspired to work in the medical field, but soon found out her passion was in helping others transition from traumatic life experiences. The Domestic Violence field felt so natural to Jobi, and she was able to assist victims in their journey to becoming a survivor. Jobi volunteered at Hope House, the emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence owned by Family Assistance Program, for two years before becoming Staff at the agency. Jobi enjoys reading, spending time with her children and family, drinking Dr. Pepper and dancing. When asked the message that Jobi wants to spread to the community she replied, “To the world you are just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” – Unknown.

Melissa has been part of the movement to end gender-based violence for 20 years.  Her core values are equity, liberation, and loving kindness, and she believes that transformation must be intersectional, intergenerational, and rooted in our diverse communities.  Melissa’s journey has been focused on building programs, and advocating for systems and policies, that promote equity for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, immigrants, limited English speaking families, and communities of color.  She currently sits on the leadership teams of the Domestic Violence Advocacy Consortium of Santa Clara County and the YWCA Mid-Peninsula Donor Advised Fund, and she is a commissioner on the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council.  She was also a board member and vice president of diversity for the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Silicon Valley Chapter.  Originally from Los Angeles, Melissa is a 2^nd generation Chinese American and has a B.A. in Feminist Studies from Stanford University.  She is also a graduate of the Blue Shield of California Foundation’s Strong Field Leadership program and the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Civic Leadership Program.

Amanda Gould (she/they) is the Senior Program Manager of the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, a project with the core mission of improving our country’s response to the unique needs of LGBTQ survivors. Amanda has been supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence for over a decade, working in the field as a survivor advocate, crisis responder, case manager, forensic exam accompanying advocate, violence prevention educator, and support group facilitator. Now they oversee and manage the National LGBTQ Institute on Intimate Partner Violence where they create and deliver training and technical assistance, organize policy advocacy work, and develop research and resources that expand the capacity of public and private agencies to provide culturally-relevant, survivor-centered, LGBTQ intimate partner violence intervention and prevention services.

Chelcee has dedicated her career to supporting social and community issues, bringing her passion and leadership across 15 years of experience in both the nonprofit and public sectors. Her journey has taken her through many roles, from direct services to executive leadership. Both professionally and personally, she is committed to empowering individuals and communities, ensuring they have the opportunities and tools to thrive. Chelcee is honored to be in leadership with the staff, board and partners of Live Violence Free in her current role as the Executive Director. She also serves as an adjunct faculty at Lake Tahoe Community College, where she teaches sociology as part of the incarcerated students program. Chelcee’s academic background is in sociology, and she has earned a doctorate degree in public administration. She has experience in collective impact, capacity building, community advocacy, and social research, including leadership in regional coalitions and county commissions.

Chelcee was raised in South Lake Tahoe and has deep roots in the community. Growing up in a single-parent household and within a working-class family, she was instilled with values that emphasized advocacy and community. Chelcee is passionate about social justice advocacy, the intersection of anti-violence and justice issues, and public safety reform. With determination, energy, and optimism, Chelcee remains committed to addressing these critical issues and effecting positive transformation within her community and beyond.

Dachelle is a dedicated leader serving as DV program manager for SCADP Inc, (Angel Step Inn), with over 7 years of frontline service in Domestic Violence and its various intersections including substance abuse and human trafficking. Her passion lies in helping survivors heal from the trauma they’ve endured, with a keen awareness and respect for the many intersections involved and in need of addressing. Advocating for holistic healing, she promotes sustainability to break the cycle of abuse. Her educational background includes degrees in Psychology of Substance Abuse and Human Services with an emphasis on Mental Health Recovery. She’s currently pursuing a Masters in Public Administration, specializing in Nonprofit Management. As a thriving survivor herself, Dachelle brings a passionate drive and a unique perspective to her impactful work.

Giovanna (She/Ella) has dedicated her career to assisting victims of violence and abuse, focusing on helping survivors heal from trauma since 2001. She is the Executive Director of the Women and Children’s Crisis Center in Whittier. She previously worked as the Associate Director of Domestic Violence Programs at the YWCA of San Gabriel Valley and as a Victim Services Supervisor and Youth Services Coordinator. Gio was the founding manager for The LGBTQ+ Center of Long Beach’s Domestic Violence Services program and is passionate about empowering victims to become survivors. She is completing her master’s in social work at Arizona State University. She serves as the Co-Chair of the LGBTQIA+ Committee for the Los Angeles Domestic Violence Council and End Abuse Long Beach board secretary.

Ken Oplinger is the Executive Director of Domestic Violence Solutions for Santa Barbara County.  He has 32 years’ experience leading non-profit organizations across the Western US.  At DVS, he leads a countywide organization that has 75 DV shelter beds, clinical counseling, a job & life skill program and a large Housing First program.  Ken has built an expertise in government advocacy that has taken him to Washington DC, Ottawa, and to 16 states and 5 Canadian provinces lobbying on a host of issues.

Laura Elizabeth Morales Sandoval, M.S., AMFT, is a passionate Housing Services Manager and mental health therapist dedicated to guiding individuals toward safety, stability, and healing. A survivor of child abuse herself, Laura has transformed her lived experience into a lifelong mission to support others on their path to recovery. For over a decade, she has worked closely with survivors of domestic violence and sexual abuse, bringing cultural and religious competence and deep empathy to her work. Her work blends clinical expertise with heartfelt advocacy, creating spaces where healing is not only possible, but empowered.

Leigh Ferrin is a Program Director at OneJustice, where she focuses on supporting legal services organizations by increasing pro bono involvement in the California legal services community, assisting organizations with strategic thinking and planning, and with their consumer law projects. Prior to OneJustice, Leigh spent 14 years at nonprofit that provided free civil legal assistance to low-income community members, where she advocated on behalf of low-income consumers, supervised the legal work of the office, including the systemic advocacy work, coordinated the pro bono program, and helped manage internal policies and procedures. She graduated from Pomona College in 2002 with a B.A. in Psychology, and from Loyola Law School in 2008.

Lisa Mantarro Moore has served her community in a number of various roles which include parent, advocate, community leader, project manager and political professional.  She has over 30 years of experience in working with Members of Congress, the California State Assembly, local governments, community projects and non profits. Lisa Mantarro Moore has developed her skills in managing and organizing diverse socio-economic, ethnic, and geographic communities, agriculture-based communities, and Latino communities just to name a few.

Lisa Mantarro Moore has developed extensive relationships throughout the Central Valley and is accustomed to working with a variety of communities for positive resolution. In addition to her work on the political spectrum, she has focused on the development and growth of several non profits including the Family Justice Center of Stanislaus where she serves as the Executive Director.  The Family Justice Center of Stanislaus is where services are provided to those who are victims of family violence, trauma, abuse and human trafficking.    Additionally, she has also served her own community when she was elected to the Ceres City Council and served as Vice Mayor.

Wendy Blanco is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 21 years of experience in the field of trauma.  Wendy has had experience in multiple capacities within the field of intimate partner violence including being in roles as a peer counselor, advocate, case manager, shelter advocate, prevention specialist, trauma therapist, and a clinical supervisor. Wendy has been a licensed social worker for 10 years and has had an opportunity to train and mentor new clinicians joining the field. Currently, Wendy is the Director of Clinical Services at Peace Over Violence, a local domestic violence and sexual assault center that seeks to build healthy relationships, families and communities free from sexual, domestic and interpersonal violence.