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Staff

Our Staff

10

Alison Edwards

(she/her), CEO
Bio
8

Angel Zavala

(she/her/they,them), Senior Human Relations Specialist
Bio
7

Brenda Chavez

(she/her), Restorative Justice Specialist
Bio
4

David Reyna

(he/him), Grants Writer & Grants Manager
Bio
12

Don Han

(he/him), Chief Growth Officer
Bio
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Gagandeep Kaur Mann-Saechao

(she/her), Director of Youth & Education Programs
Bio
5

Ginrich Moua

(s/he/they/them), Administrative Liaison & Sr. DEI Training Specialist
Bio
11

Ignacio Gutierrez

(he/him), Senior Restorative Specialist
Bio
6

Jesus Palapa

Senior Human Relations Specialist
Bio
17

Joyce Sanchez

(she/her), Senior Conflict Resolution Specialist
Bio
16

Marco Antonio Ortega

(he/él) Director, Dispute Resolution Program
Bio
13

Nicole Hernandez

(she/her), Development & Communications Associate
Bio
19

Peko Gomis

(he/him), Senior Conflict Resolution Specialist
Bio
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Rosabell Janec

(she/her), Senior Restorative Justice Specialist
Bio
9

Sami Frame

(she/her), Assistant Director of Youth & Education Programs
Bio
13

Seema Shah

(she/her), Chief Impact Officer
Bio
12

Xol Aceytuno

(they/them), Senior Restorative Justice Specialist
Bio
10

Alison Edwards

CEO

Alison has been involved with the organization since 1998. She served as program director for the BRIDGES program and then Deputy Director of the organization before becoming CEO in late 2017. Alison has a passion for leadership and has served as a leadership trainer and speaker. Alison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies and American Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder and earned her Masters of Arts in Cultural Studies from Claremont Graduate University. The fundamental framework of Groundswell's Community Building, Mediation, and BRIDGES programs are empowerment strategies rooted in grass roots organizing, diverse leadership development, and creative conflict resolution.

8

Angel Zavala

(she/her/they/them), Human Relations Specialist

Human Relations Specialist, first became involved with Groundswell by participating in the BRIDGES program at Newport Harbor as a high school student. Having grown up in the Orange County area, she is committed to helping her community become an equitable environment where all feel welcomed and empowering our youth to make a positive change. She has a strong passion for social justice and has experience working with multiple nonprofit organizations such as Orange County Environmental Justice and the Chicana Project.

7

Brenda Chavez

(she/her)
Restorative Justice Specialist

Brenda was born and raised in Orange County. While she was in middle school, she was initially introduced to the work of Groundswell through her school’s Bridges United organization. After having left Orange County for 6 years, she is happy to be back home and working with an organization that was so impactful during her upbringing. Though Brenda has been involved in community work for years now, she is most proud of the work she has conducted through equity minded programs such as the ASP Booklending Program through SPACES @ UCSD and Fun on Wheels through the City of Anaheim. Now, as a Restorative Justice Specialist, she is excited to start this new chapter of community work in her own hometown.

4

David Reyna

Grant Writer

David joined the Groundswell team in August, 2020. He is a native of Santa Ana and holds a Bachelors Degree in Public Administration and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis in Urban Management from Cal State University Fullerton. David has over 12 years of experience in the non-profit sector and has served in several roles which have involved completing government and foundation funding proposals to support innovative community programs. David is committed to being an agent of social change and furthering the mission of Groundswell by securing philanthropic dollars to support Groundswells' critical program and services across Orange County. In his free time, David enjoys traveling, visiting baseball stadiums, and attending concerts.

12

Don Han

(he/him), Chief Growth Officer

Don has been with Groundswell since 2001. He has served as a human relations specialist for the BRIDGES program, the Hate Crime Prevention Program Coordinator who responds to reported hate crimes and hate incidents in the county, authored the agency‘s Hate Crime Report and provided Hate Crime Prevention education training. Don served on the Board of the California Association of Human Relations Organization (CAHRO) and was a former chair of GLSEN’s Orange County Chapter and a former Human Relations Commissioner for the city of Santa Ana. He earned a Sociology Degree from Cal State Fullerton, is a Certified Mediator, and speaks Lao and Thai.

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Gagandeep Kaur Mann-Saechao

Director of Youth & Education Programs

Gagandeep has been in the non-profit sector for over 10 years. She has a passion for social justice work and mobilizing young leaders to become allies and advocates for change. Her work as a Program Director for New Vision Partners and eventually Executive Director for the Interfaith Youth Alliance, has included, but not limited to, The Interfaith Youth Council of Orange County: a year-round program that brings together teens of all backgrounds to facilitate bonds with youth who represent faith and cultural traditions unlike their own, the Annual Faith Forum and Festival, and Interfaith Youth Leadership Initiatives at USC, Chapman University, and CSU Long Beach. In her time with the Orange County Interfaith Network she has worked with students from Chapman University, Fullerton College, and OC Human Relations’ BRIDGES program, to create much needed Community Forum Series delving into issues pertaining with Orange County in their “The More You Know, The Less You Fear” campaign. In May of 2014, she was the Sikh Representative, in Shinnyo-en Foundation’s Floating Lantern Ceremony and Conference in Hawaii. In July of 2015, she participated in His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to Garden Grove, taking part in the ‘Celebration of Compassion’. Other Affiliations include the Sikh Coalition, The Ujjaldidar Singh Memorial Foundation, Khalsa Care Foundation, and The Interfaith Council of Garden Grove, Stanton, and Westminster. Gagandeep has a background in Psychology and Community and Regional Development from UC Davis.

2

Ginrich Moua

(s/he/they/them), Administrative Liaison & DEI Training Specialist

Ginrich was born in Fresno, CA from Hmong-parents who refuged to the United States during the Vietnam War. Shortly after he was born, he moved to and grew up in Sacramento, CA then, as a college-freshman, moved to Long Beach, CA to complete his B.A. and M.A. in Political Science at California State University, Long Beach. During their experience as an undergraduate and graduate student they had opportunities to work with and learn about many diverse racial, socio-economic, gender, and sexuality groups. This inspired them to want to make a difference for all individuals and groups that are affected by social issues, injustices, and inequalities. As someone who identifies as part of the Queer and gender-fluid communities, advocating for all marginalized groups is an important, core value that motivates their work and everyday lifestyle. At Groundswell, they are able to dedicate everything they learned from their life-experiences and education to promote the well-being of; carefully listen to; and build effective and safe dialogues between the diverse communities of Orange County.

11

Ignacio (Iggy) Gutierrez

(he/him), Senior Restorative Justice Specialist

Ignacio is an Orange County native, born and raised. He graduated from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies. In his undergrad, he earned his certificate in Mediation and Dispute Resolution through CSULB’s Communication Studies Department. After completing and earning his certificate, he volunteered with Groundswell during his last undergrad semester where he mediated small claims court cases at the West Justice Center and the North Justice Center. His experience with mediation inspired him to further pursue an education in Dispute Resolution where he is currently obtaining his M.A. in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace-building at California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH). In his M.A., he became aware of the field that is Restorative Justice and immediately felt it was his calling and purpose in life to work within the field. Already holding strong beliefs in showing compassion and empathy to those who have caused harm, and believing that their mistakes don’t define them, he has made it his purpose to help those individuals in need of guidance with their journey towards transformation and growth. Through this work, he hopes to build healthy communities, repair harm, and restore relationships for all.

6

Jesus Palapa

Senior Human Relations Specialist

Jesus graduated from UC Irvine with a B.A in Sociology and Economics with a Minor in Criminology, Law, and Society. Originally from Los Angeles, he has since immersed himself in the OC life along with his Jack Russel, Scooby. Having grown up with a big family and community support, Jesus has continued to aid in empowering families and their growth. He has worked with non-profits across Southern Californian in education, research, and family advocacy roles. His passion is learning and uses his experiences to continue supporting marginalized communities.

17

Joyce Sanchez

Senior Conflict Resolution Specialist

Joyce has been working for Groundswell since June 2009. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services from California State University, Fullerton in 2008. Currently, Joyce works as a mediator with our Alternative Dispute Resolution Program providing mediation services to the community and at court. Previously she was the hate crime prevention specialist responding to victims of hate crime and hate incidents. She has also worked in the Police Community Reconciliation Program doing Police Community Dialogues to build better working relationships between police officers and residents.

16

Marco Antonio Ortega

(he/él)
Director, Dispute Resolution Program

Marco began volunteering with Groundswell in 2014 and became a staff member in 2016. Marco is an accomplished peacebuilder with experience in both conflict prevention and intervention, providing community building, trainings, circles, mediations, and consultations for schools, businesses, courts, and community members. As a practitioner of restorative justice and facilitative mediation, he has helped people navigate a variety of harms in both Spanish and English ranging from small interpersonal conflicts to thefts, harassments, and assaults. Marco is incredibly passionate about serving his community, constantly seeking to help people see people as people and showing folx the power of collaboration, connection, and solidarity. Marco knows that better things are possible, and he enjoys working with others in the quest for meaningful progress.

13

Nicole Hernandez

Development & Communications Associate

Nicole joined the Groundswell team in November 2021. She graduated the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising with a degree in Merchandise Marketing, and transferred to BIOLA University to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing Management from their School of Business. After interning with St. John Knits, and the Event Society, she was able to gain the knowledge to work as an Event Planner, with a focus on weddings, while also helping her local church. Previously, she assisted her parents in an administrative role at their business in Santa Ana, where they help the Hispanic community with taxes, and some immigration work, such as compiling DACA cases and translating documents. As a Bolivian-American woman, she has grown passionate in her efforts to best serve the Latino community, and is excited for the work that Groundswell is doing for the youth, and the impact she can have.

19

Peko Gomis

Senior Conflict Resolution Specialist

Peko was born and raised in Senegal, West Africa. Peko graduated from University Caen, Normandy, France, with a BA in Languages with a concentration in English and Spanish. Peko attended the Basic Mediation training in April 1998 at Groundswell and volunteered hundreds of hours before joining the staff in December 2001. While working with Groundswell, Peko has mediated over one thousand cases in court and community settings in a period of ten years. For more than five years, he has been a co-trainer of our Basic Mediation Program, which is a 40-hour training that teaches new mediators how to mediate conflicts in the community and in court. Peko is fluent in Spanish, French, Mandjacque, Wolof, Diola, Mandingue, and Creole.

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Rosabell Janec

(she/her), Senior Restorative Justice Specialist

Rosabell is a Senior Restorative Justice Specialist at Groundswell, where she works to build inclusive, affirming spaces rooted in accountability, healing, and community empowerment. She is passionate about creating environments where people feel seen, respected, and valued. She earned her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from San Francisco State University and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Chicano/a Studies at California State University, Northridge.

9

Sami Frame

Assistant Director of Youth & Education Programs

Sami graduated from Chapman University with a BA with a double major in Integrated Educational Studies and Peace Studies with concentrations in Disability Studies, Human Rights, and Social Movements. Originally from Oklahoma, she found her spirit for justice through loved ones’ experiences with disability and the school-to-prison pipeline. Sami was involved with OCHR during undergrad as an intern for the restorative justice team and later facilitated restorative justice circles with incarcerated youth in Riverside County with a team from Chapman Law. Her experiences in school and as a practitioner of restorative justice have intensified her passion for working with youth and educators to transform schools into communities of care, equitable spaces, and liberatory classrooms for students of all identities.

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Seema Shah

(she/her), Chief Impact Officer

On staff with Groundswell since 2001, Seema’s work started in our Youth and Education programs as a camp coordinator, BRIDGES specialist and eventually helped develop and launch our Restorative Schools program model. She then led the expansion of our training work where her work focused on curriculum and program development centered on partnering with organizations and communities to build inclusivity and equity. Seema now serves as the Chief Impact Officer, with the hope of continuing to expand our vision for a world where belonging is co-created and realized by all.

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Xol Aceytuno

(they/them)
Senior Restorative Justice Specialist

Xol is a dedicated community educator and organizer with over eight years of experience in the education and nonprofit spaces. Xol has worked inside and outside of the classroom to support youth and transform educational spaces to center liberation, care and community. They graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Multicultural Leadership, where they built a foundation for community organizing and youth leadership. Now, they are attending California State University, Long Beach to obtain a Master’s in Equity, Education and Social Justice. Xol’s passion for fighting for justice, liberation and community is what drives them to do the work they do every day.

26

Ajean (Chloe) Lee

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping to hear about different perspectives on issues and topics, and learn and acquire the skills needed to lead actions for social justice. My hobbies are dancing, singing, baking, and reading.

26

Jacob Martinez

(he/him)
Why H.R.A.P?

26

Melissa Velado

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I'm hoping to further broaden my education on social justice. I play soccer, I do nails, I like to help others, I love music in Spanish.

26

Pingrui (Jason) Yu

(he/him)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP because I attended YLI over the summer and after another fun week-long orientation, I wanted to meet more people and learn more about different groups and OC history. I enjoy playing chess and working out, and I am glad to meet you all!

8

Adonai Yared

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping that I can learn more about how to use my voice for subjects that matter to me! I love to dance! I like to cook!

1

Sailee Charlu

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping to gain leadership skills and tools to harness my passions, interests and talents to take action in my community on social issues in a method that youth can make an impact on! I'm hoping to connect with like minded individuals and put our power together to make a change. I really love to read historical mysteries, classical piano, watching musicals, watercolor painting and public speaking. I enjoy combining my interests and passions to give back to my community through service and activism. Fun facts about me are that I am very sarcastic and I love the outdoors, especially hiking and bouldering!

7

Vy (Ny) Nguyen

(they/she)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to connect with those who are willing to learn and share their knowledge alongside me. I wanted to have a place where I can speak freely with no judgement. A few fun facts about me are that I love Doraemon, drawing, and performing music! Also, I really enjoy interviews.

15

Iyla Soumbasakis

(they/them)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to learn how to effectively communicate with others, create a safe space, meet/build with others who care about social justice, and become a more active member in my community. In my free time I love to birdwatch, songwrite, and crochet!

21

Lynn Nguyen

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

In HRAP, I am hoping to be more educated in issues in our world and figure out ways to improve or reduce these kinds of issues. As well as meeting new people and understanding their experiences, I would love to build my own personal characters from this program. I started getting into the hobby recently, but I enjoy ceramics and creating things with clay; it's fascinating how I can create anything through my creativity from clay! I think a fun fact about me is I love talking to new people and my energy expands when I am open to different energies.

24

Rachel Nguyentu

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to expand my knowledge on restorative justice and connect with like-minded individuals who also value inclusivity. HRAP was a fantastic chance to develop my collaboration and advocacy skills. Some fun facts about me is that I am addicted to thrifting, dyeing my hair, and embroidering!

23

Paige Hines

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping to grow as a student, leader, and person. It's important to me to learn the skills necessary to be a leader for our community to advocate for those who need it the most. Social issues really interest me, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to spread the message of equality and respect with Groundswell. I'm very excited for HRAP and look forward to learning and making a community impact!I love to write! I attend an arts school where I'm in the creative writing conservatory. My favorite forms of writing are either screenplays or short stories. I also love to garden, hike and explore nature. Social issues truly interest me, and I am currently an intern for Multiracial Americans of Southern California as well. I look forward to making a difference with Groundswell!

22

Nikhil Sharma

(he/him)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping to learn more about the various different types of social injustices, and what role I can play in making the world a more just place. Playing video games, playing card games/ board games hanging out with friends and family, & watching tv shows/movies

20

Maddison Nguyen

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to continue building my advocacy and leadership skills after being part of Bridges last year. I wanted to deepen my understanding of social justice and work alongside others passionate about creating a more inclusive community. HRAP fosters the perfect space to learn, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact. A few fun facts about me are that I love baking, exploring new cafes, and spending time with friends!

18

Layla Alimadadian

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to gain more knowledge about the world! I love to play volleyball and I am starting a law internship soon!

19

Kenneth Emlinger

(he/him)
Why H.R.A.P?

I would like to improve my leadership skills, improve my social skills, and gain some confidence in myself. That way, I can feel more comfortable with myself, and with others, and with sharing my thoughts and opinions! Some of my hobbies are writing, playing piano, singing, supporting others, and going on evening walks! I also love video games! Especially story based ones!

17

Keira Kong

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP because I would like to brush up on my leadership and advocacy skills, learn how to better communicate with and understand people, and be able to enjoy a judgement-free space. Some fun facts about me are that I like drawing, going to the beach, and sea otters. And I love HRAP!

16

Jaydon Nguyen

(he/him)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping to meet a diverse group of people and develop leadership and social justice skills to better my school and community. My hobbies and interests include thrifting, eating, houseplants, going to the gym, watching movies, and talking to friends.

14

Issie Bolton

(they/them)
Why H.R.A.P?

I’m hoping to understand world wide problems that not everyone knows about, being able to expand my own interest and understanding in social issues would be a great key to utilize in the future (especially because law and psychology depend on human interaction/nature). I love building model kits, drawing, gaming, building things out of wood (I built large musical sets for about 2 years)!

13

Hailey Khetiya


Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to better understand restorative justice, learn how to become a better advocate in my community, and meet new people! I love the inclusive and safe community that has been fostered. In my free time, I love to bake, thrift, and go to dance workshops.

12

Cindy Zhou

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP with a desire to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment in the community by promoting understanding and respect among diverse groups. Some fun facts about me are that I love Tiramisu mille cake, sleepy all the time, but alway stay really late to study.

11

Bella Ho

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to meet new friends, create a safe space, and learn more about social justice and community. In my free time I like playing games with my friends, editing, and making art!

10

Alyesha Shah

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP to be surrounded by a community making a change while broadening my perspective on critical issues. I love to coach volleyball, swim in the ocean, and spend quality time with my family.

6

Vy Phu

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping to gain opportunities to further my education. I love reading novels and manga! A fun fact about me is I was born in Vietnam.

5

Victoria De La Cruz

(she/her/they)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined the Human Relations Ambassadors Program (HRAP) to level up my skills in human relations, diversity, inclusion, and social justice. As an ambassador, I get to represent Groundswell in my community, events, and gain awesome skills that truly make a difference. It's such an amazing opportunity to be a leader and push for positive change. I have a passion for solving Sudoku puzzles and engaging in mathematical challenges for fun. Additionally, I enjoy watching Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

3

TV (Thien-Vi) Ngo

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined HRAP driven by a passion to understand my community better and discover meaningful ways to advocate for equity for all, but also allowing me to hear my peers' stories and unique perspectives. Engaging in heartfelt discussions about pressing issues and necessary topics has broadened my worldview and strengthened my commitment to fostering change. Something about me is that I love doing anything art-related and I’m a MAJOR cat enthusiast!

4

Sophia Dang

(she/her)
Why H.R.A.P?

I hope to better my understanding of current events that constantly continue to negatively and positively impact our world and communities! I also hope to meet new people who share the same interests and love for learning. I like to sing and dance hip hop and I’ve been doing both for about 3-4 years! I have three fish that are about 10 months old! I have a twin brother and live with him, my mom, my dad, and my grandma in Huntington Beach!

2

Seven Zenor

(he/him)
Why H.R.A.P?

I joined the Human Relations Ambassadors Program (HRAP) to expand my knowledge and learn new things about social justice, inclusivity, and leadership, and how to become a better advocate and leader for social justice in my community. HRAP also gave me the opportunity to connect with many friends and mentors in a safe and open space, and connect with myself better. Fun Facts about, I draw and write, I build Gundam models, and my favorite cuisine is yakiniku (Japanese BBQ) .

9

Aarav Putrevu

(he/him)
Why H.R.A.P?

I am hoping to learn more about leadership, public speaking and relations. I love to cook and bake, I am a student in the culinary arts and hospitality conservatory.

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Nupur B.

(she/they)
Senior Restorative Justice Specialist

Nupur is an educator and artist from the LA area. She has worked with youth and families since she was a youth herself and has a background in healing work, restorative justice, and community organizing

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Vanessa Coover

(she/her)
Senior Restorative Justice Specialist

Vanessa has over 10 years of experience in education with a focus on relationship and community building. Vanessa has a background in working with different stakeholders to ensure equity in education on school campuses and in restorative practices and youth development. Vanessa attended California State University, Long Beach for her undergrad and multiple subject teaching credential. She is back attending California State University, Long Beach for her Master’s in Equity, Education and Social Justice with a graduation date of May 2025. Vanessa’s compassion and youthfulness has allowed her to thrive in building relationships and connecting with students, leading her to pursue restorative justice work. Her different experiences have strengthened her passion for social justice and continue to work with youth to strengthen their ability to stand in their power and dismantle systems of oppression. She currently resides in Long Beach with her cuddly Pitbull, Arnold.

Helia Daigeau

Helia Daigeau

(she/her)
Senior Human Relations Specialist – Hate Prevention

Joined the Groundswell team in June of 2023 and has experience in grassroots community organizing, strategic systems change, and community building. She first became involved with Groundswell’s work in 2021 as a member of the Hate Prevention Network representing The Dayle McIntosh Center. As a Black, queer, and mentally/emotionally disabled woman, Helia has always been called to fight for the rights and full inclusion of all with the understanding that liberation is collective and that our struggles are intimately connected. Helia now lives in Long Beach, CA and is raising her child there with her partner and they all enjoy being members of their local and surrounding communities. Helia has a Bachelor’s in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s in Business Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Leadership.