Our Board of Directors

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.

Dachelle is a dedicated leader serving as Director of Survivor Empowerment Services at YWCA Greater Los Angeles, 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.

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.

Josephine Smedley is the founder of JAS & JOY2 LLC, a storytelling and engagement studio dedicated to dismantling stigma, addressing disparities, and reducing harm through prevention, advocacy, and narrative change. She amplifies authentic voices to build safer, healthier communities and the systems that sustain them.

Josephine believes healing and transformation begins with the stories we tell—about ourselves, our communities, and what’s possible.  Narrative change is prevention, stories are solutions, and technology should amplify humanity, not replace it.  

Her approach is shaped by an extensive public service background in youth development, community health, and violence prevention—experience that grounds her philosophy in both lived insight and systems-level practice.

As a survivor and advocate, Josephine understands the transformation that occurs when silence is replaced with truth and when stories become catalysts for real solutions. Her leadership bridges individual healing and systemic change—reshaping narratives, building trust, and advancing people-first approaches across prevention and support efforts.

Through JAS & JOY2, Josephine delivers keynotes, workshops, and trainings that blend storytelling, strategy, and AI for advocacy. She equips leaders and advocates with practical, immediately usable tools to strengthen engagement, deepen connection, and improve outcomes in systems-change work.

As a board member with the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, Josephine champions prevention, expands post-crisis support, and uplifts youth leadership to end teen dating violence. She is committed to approaches that help young people build healthy, respectful relationships—starting with the relationship they have with themselves.

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.

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.

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.

Jessica Macias joined YWCA of Monterey County as Chief Executive Officer with a deep commitment to advancing the organization’s mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

A California native, Jessica brings more than 20 years of experience in education, nonprofit leadership, and community advocacy. Her career has been dedicated to creating opportunities, resources, and safe spaces for individuals and families to thrive. She is passionate about equity, inclusion, and ensuring that every voice is heard and valued.

Jessica’s leadership style is rooted in collaboration, transparency, and community partnership. She looks forward to working alongside staff, board members, volunteers, and community partners to strengthen and expand YWCA’s impact across the county.

Outside of her work, Jessica is a proud wife and mother of two boys. Together, they enjoy car shows, camping adventures, and relaxing movie nights.

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 works at National Consumer Law Center as the California Project Director. Previously she was a Program Director at OneJustice, where she focused 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.

Shailaja is the Executive Director of Narika. Shailaja holds 13+ years of experience in the field of domestic violence advocacy, management and leadership. She brings a diverse range of expertise to her work, heavily influenced by her passion for community building and theater and inspired by the journeys of her  matriarchal ancestors. Shailaja has served as a Commissioner at the Contra Costa Commission for Women and Girls. She is also the Co Founder of the grassroots non profit Rewire Community. Shailaja earned her Masters in Mass Communications from the University of Florida and loves books, long walks and music.

I have worked for the Human Response Network (HRN) for 27 years, serving all of Trinity County—a large, rural region where it can take three hours to drive north to south and two hours east to west through winding mountain roads. During my tenure at HRN, I have held multiple roles, including Preschool Teacher, School Age Child Care Teacher, Program Director for Childcare and Community Services, and, for the past six years, Executive Director. These experiences have provided me with a deep understanding of the needs of families and communities in rural areas, many of which do not have access to services. I am passionate about providing all the services we offer for Trinity County, as these are our neighbors, friends and families.  Many of our services overlap between the different departments in the agency. Although my background is more in education it has overlapped with domestic violence from the beginning when families were affected by domestic violence.
 

Stephanie Whack (she/her) is the Domestic Violence Program Coordinator at Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. She was born in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and graduated from Paris I – Pantheon – Sorbonne University with a Master in Business Law.

As a survivor of domestic violence herself, Stephanie brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, a perspective that has shaped her commitment to systems change from the inside out. A few years after moving to the United States, she started her journey at Haven Hills in an entry-level position. Stephanie was promoted several times within the agency from donation and volunteer coordinator, to Outreach Advocate, and eventually Outreach Prevention Supervisor.

She became a Domestic Violence Regional Coordinator for Service Planning Area (SPA) 5 West LA, stationed at Sojourn and then Saint Joseph Center. She specializes in the intersection of victimizations and homelessness.

Her journey continued into her current role, where she can finally advocate for systemic change for survivors like herself and victims and survivors of domestic violence. Now she is tasked to provide guidance on a programmatic level, overseeing a portfolio of approximately 27 federally and locally funded contracted providers while driving policy solutions at the institutional level.

Her eagerness for change motivates her to be an active participant as an Executive Committee Member of the Guideline for Effective Response to Domestic Abuse (GERDA), a Core Team Member of the DVHSC, and the Immediate Past Chair of the LA City Domestic Violence Alliance.

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.