A joyful, inclusive, and thought-provoking one-day conference that establishes fresh new conversations, perspectives, and exposure to different ideas from Santa Cruz and the world beyond.
Speakers
Speakers may not be confirmed. Check event website for more information.
Alex Chavez-Guerrero
Alex Chavez-Guerrero, a Watsonville-based software engineer, began his tech journey at Buoy Labs, later acquired by Resideo Technologies. With a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering from San Jose State University, he excels in cutting-edge technologies. At DigitalNEST, Alex advocates for scalable social capital impact, emphasizing intergenerational narratives, growth, and mentorship. Alex will be speaking with Jacob Martinez and Martín Vargas Vega.Angela Chambers
Angela Chambers is a community leader, advocate for youth, and acclaimed dance artist. Her journey in the arts shifted from Musical Theater to dance at UC Santa Cruz, where she discovered its potential for personal transformation and social activism. Angela emphasizes access, equity, and excellence through her teaching and directing at Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center and the Santa Cruz County Black Health Matters Initiative Youth Ambassador program.Antonella De La Tore Marcenaro
Antonella is a Queer, able-bodied, neurodivergent, light-skinned Peruvian immigrant with 10+ years of experience in outdoor education. Antonella founded PUENTES to facilitate outdoor programs for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color that center joy, community building, personal growth, and outdoor skills development. A Counseling Psychology master’s student, Antonella aims to support the mental health of Latinx individuals and communities.August Lee Stevens
August Lee Stevens is a musician and singer-songwriter with an atmospheric range of indie soul and folk. A lover of storytelling, she uses music to cut into the heart, inviting people to look in on some of her most intimate moments. She just released her debut EP, Better Places in partnership with Women’s Audio Mission (WAM).César Rojas-Bravo
César Rojas-Bravo, born in Costa Rica, pursued a double major in Physics and Classical Philology (the study of Ancient Greece and Rome) before moving to California. Currently completing a Ph.D. at UC Santa Cruz, he is dedicated to bringing astronomy to underrepresented communities globally. Graduating soon, César enjoys exploring diverse cultures, languages, and people in his free time.Daisy Nuñez
Daisy Nuñez, daughter of farm workers, serves as a counselor at Watsonville High School and Hartnell College. As a thanatologist and Hospice board member, she brings a unique perspective to her work supporting individuals experiencing grief. In her spare time, she volunteers as a lector at Saint Patrick’s Church and enjoys traveling as well as spending time with her family.Daniel Nemire
Santa Cruz native Daniel Nemire has dedicated twenty years to honing his musical craft. As the frontman of hard rock band King Tide and also as a prolific solo acoustic artist, Daniel explores various genres in his guitar and vocals. Beyond performance, Nemire fosters community through music, seeing it as a force for societal reflection and transformation.Effron “Donnie” Veal
Effron "Donnie" Veal, is an education advocate. After 23 years in prison, Donnie emerged as a beacon of resilience, navigating academia and societal reintegration since his release. His journey from confinement to community empowerment exemplifies the transformative power of education and determination. Donnie earned his undergraduate degree in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz in 2023.Elie Mabanza
Elie Mabanza, hailing from Congo Brazzaville, infuses his music with African roots, blending rhythm and harmony to narrate personal tales. Self-taught on guitar from age ten, his songs, sung in Lari, Lingala, French, and English, depict life's joys and sorrows. Through solo acts, duets, and with his band Mokili Wa, he spreads joy globally, advocating for unity amid suffering.Esabella Bonner
Esabella Bonner, entrepreneur and visionary, orchestrated Santa Cruz County's largest protest in 2020, drawing 5,000 attendees. This sparked her commitment to movement work, fostering inclusivity for black and brown individuals at paddle outs for Black Lives Matter. Her organization Black Surf Santa Cruz aims to promote physical, spiritual, and communal wellness and healing through surfing, recreation, and education.Galina Hale
Galina Hale, a former Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Research Advisor, focuses on mainstream finance in climate solutions. Her research explores global food system sustainability and international financial stability, emphasizing climate risks. With 30+ published articles, she serves on multiple editorial boards and presents her work regularly at scholarly and policy meetings worldwide.Jacob Martinez
Jacob Martinez founded Digital NEST, empowering rural youth for employment. He spent nearly 10 years encouraging Latina girls to study computer science. Jacob is on the boards of Santa Cruz Works, Center for Rural Innovation, and the advisory council for the Aspen Institute Technology Accountability Coalition. Jacob will speak with Martín Vargas Vega and Alex Chavez-Guerrero.Juliano Calil
Juliano Calil, Senior Fellow at the Center for the Blue Economy and Adjunct Professor at the Middlebury Institute, pioneers science communication for climate action. With a Ph.D. from UC Santa Cruz and a Master's from UC Santa Barbara, he collaborates with communities on innovative solutions for climate challenges like coastal flooding, wildfires, and heatwaves.Kara Meyberg Guzman
Santa Cruz Local CEO/Co-founder, board Tiny News Collective
Kara Meyberg Guzman prioritizes serving marginalized communities through fair, accurate, and accessible news. As board president of the Tiny News Collective, a national nonprofit, she supports early-stage news entrepreneurs aiming to serve their communities, believing in the power of local media to elevate diverse voices for effective local democracy.Keith Greeninger
Keith Greeninger is a seasoned troubadour and award-winning singer-songwriter. His masterfully crafted tunes have earned him top songwriting awards at the legendary Telluride Blue Grass and Kerrville Folk Festivals. His songs cut an honest, hard-worn path to places of simple truth about good people holding on to hope and instinct in a world that often tries to strip these things away.Kyra Bobinet
Kyra Bobinet, MD-MPH, specializes in health behavior change, particularly the know-do gap (knowing, but not doing). She turned to neuroscience after 30 years of testing interventions and discovered the Iterative Mindset Method™. A Harvard Health Innovator awardee, Stanford educator, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe citizen, Dr. Bobinet pioneers sustained, brain-based behavior change.Luna HighJohn-Bey
Luna HighJohn-Bey, a Santa Cruz resident for over a decade, serves as Historian in Residence at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History. Originating from Washington, DC, she passionately explores community-based history, emphasizing the transformative power of understanding our shared past. Luna's dedicated work unveils overlooked narratives, recognizing community-led historical research as vital to true liberation.Madeline Aliah
Madeline Aliah, an 18-year-old transgender poet, draws on biracial South Asian roots and a dually religious upbringing in Christianity and Ismaili Islam, to cultivate empathy across diverse audiences. A member of the Santa Cruz Queer Trans Youth Council, she advocates for inclusivity, addressing educators on fostering diverse school culture. Her debut chapbook, This is My Body, Poems by a Teen Trans Fem, was released in January 2024.Maria Cadenas
Maria Cadenas, MBA, born in Mexico and raised in California, is dedicated to championing economic prosperity for rural Latine working class families on the California Central Coast. For over 20 years, she has led initiatives addressing issues from LGBTQ employee rights at Fortune 500 companies to immigrant community policies as the former Associate Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin.MariaElena De La Garza
MariaElena De La Garza is a seasoned nonprofit leader with over 30 years of experience. She strives to promote equity and is an advocate for the immigrant and low-income communities. She has been honored with many awards, including the UC-Santa Cruz Tony Hill Memorial Award for Social Justice and the Santa Cruz County Nexties Lifetime Achievement Award.Martín Vargas-Vega
Martín Vargas-Vega, a Latinx philanthropist and software engineer from Watsonville, California, is devoted to bridging the digital divide. As an engineer, he combines innovation with a commitment to societal progress. A board member of DigitalNEST and leader in Latinos In Tech, Martín oversees the distribution of $250,000+ in grants to Latinx-led nonprofits. Martín will be speaking with Jacob Martinez and Alex Chavez-Guerrero.Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela
Natalia Ocampo-Peñuela, a Colombian conservation ecologist, employs spatial tools to assess human impacts on bird populations. Prioritizing conservation areas, she emphasizes solutions benefiting both biodiversity and local communities. An avid birdwatcher, Natalia has spent time leading birdwatching trips across Latin America, combining her passion for birds with her commitment to conservation.Nicole Beck
Nicole Beck, with a Ph.D. in aquatic chemistry, is dedicated to bringing science to decision-makers. As CEO of a technology firm, she utilizes stormwater GIS software, empowering local governments and large landowners to manage urban runoff effectively. Her mission focuses on applying technical expertise to inform land management decisions and safeguard water resources.Stephen-Will Weir
Stephen-Will Weir, a passionate global sustainability expert, aids in waste reduction and combating deforestation. Straightforward and determined, he's deeply connected to family, friends, and community. Born in England, he now lives in Santa Cruz and has two grown sons. Stephen enjoys hiking, kite surfing, sailing, and nature. His superpower lies in assisting others toward fun, easy, and rewarding low-impact lifestyles.Terry Carr
Terry Carr, an industrial designer, centers his work on crafting eco-friendly products connecting people with nature, most notably through his roles in automotive design and clean energy innovation. He also co-founded his own company to inspire in-home food cultivation. Passionate about health and the environment, Terry aims to create harmony in our ever-changing world through every design endeavor.Trashy
Trashy holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work, equipping them for community strengthening. Currently pursuing a Clinical Mental Health Master’s, they aim to support queer, gender nonconforming, and trans individuals. As a non-binary individual, Trashy fosters safe spaces and community through drag. They are a member of Drag Story Time Santa Cruz.Xinistra
Xinistra holds a UC Santa Cruz modern literature degree. In drag, Xinistra emphasizes self-advocacy, and out of drag, she is working to support adults with developmental disabilities. A Pajaro Valley Pride board member, Xinistra, through drag, advocates for the LGBTQI+ community, empowering others and creating safe spaces for queer individuals.Organizing team
