Board of Commissioners
A 25-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the Governor supports California Volunteers. Its role is to carry out the mission and objectives of California Volunteers and fulfill the statutory responsibilities for State Commissions under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.
Commission members serve as unpaid “Ambassadors of Service,” promoting volunteerism in their communities and encouraging all Californians to serve. They also support California Volunteers by:
- Approving grant policies, procedures, and funding proposals submitted to the Corporation for National and Community Service
- Advising on policy, communications, program decisions, and special initiatives through meetings, committees, and task forces
- Engaging key constituencies—government, nonprofits, business, labor, and faith communities—to build support for volunteer programs
- Coordinating with state agencies and service programs to ensure a unified statewide service system
- Representing California Volunteers at service events and helping promote service across the state
- Supporting funded programs by attending site visits, launches, and graduations
- Contributing to the development of the Unified State Plan
Commission Responsibilities
Commission members serve as unpaid “Ambassadors of Service,” promoting volunteerism in their communities and encouraging all Californians to serve. They also support California Volunteers by:
- Approving grant policies, procedures, and funding proposals submitted to the Corporation for National and Community Service
- Advising on policy, communications, program decisions, and special initiatives through meetings, committees, and task forces
- Engaging key constituencies—government, nonprofits, business, labor, and faith communities—to build support for volunteer programs
- Coordinating with state agencies and service programs to ensure a unified statewide service system
- Representing California Volunteers at service events and helping promote service across the state
- Supporting funded programs by attending site visits, launches, and graduations
- Contributing to the development of the Unified State Plan
The Commission
First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom
Honorary Chair – First Partner of California
Lindsay Fox
Commission Chair – CEO of The Sojourner Group
Jesse Melgar
Commission Vice Chair – Senior Advisor, Strategy and Public Affairs at the UC Possibility Lab
- Rima Barkett – Founder/President A Tavola Together Foundation
- Gregory Bradbard – Chief Executive Officer, IEHP Foundation
- Rodrego Byerly – President & CEO, EVITARUS Inc.
- Benjamin “Benji” Carvajal – Property Manager, Becks Motor Lodge
- Chrysanthy Demos – Founder & CEO of WellCent Inc.
- Jeff Hoffman – President, Jeff Hoffman & Associates Global CSR & Philanthropy
- Sloane Keane – CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Orange County & The Inland Empire
- David SK Lee – Chairman & CEO at Hing Wa Lee Group
- Wendi Lizola Gomez, CA College Corps Fellow
- Michael Lynch – Co-Founder and CEO of Improve Your Tomorrow
- Ben McCue – Executive Director, Outdoor Outreach
- Kathy McKim – Principal, Hawksbill Advisors
- Catherine Milton – Executive Director of Save the Children, U.S
- Araceli Mohamed – Founder and CEO, Volunteer with Cheli and Account Manager, National University
- Dan Newman – California public affairs & political campaign strategist
- Darren Dow Ocasio – Battalion Chief – Rank and File Director, CAL FIRE- CAL FIRE Local 2881
- Yvette Radford – Vice President, External and Community Affairs, Kaiser Permanente
- Vicente Sarmiento, Supervisor, Orange County Board of Supervisors
- Tony Thurmond – State Superintendent, California Department of Education
- Sean Varner – Managing Partner, Varner & Brandt LLP
Commission meeting agendas can be found on our Public Notices page.
