The Community Coalition is designed to foster research collaborations between community partner organizations and SDSU & SDSU IV representatives. The sustainment of a Community Coalition is intended to ensure that a wide range of voices are included in decision-making related to Center priorities — including current and future research, research-to-practice, and research-to-policy efforts. The Community Coalition is made up of representatives from San Diego and Imperial Counties in each of the following sectors: Public Health, Healthcare, Education, Community/Social Services, and Media.
Herminia Ramirez is a Chief Regional Community Coordinator supporting the North Coastal Region in the Department of Homeless Solutions and Equitable Communities (HSEC) within the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA). Ms. Ramirez joined HHSA in 2022, bringing over a decade of experience working with Federally Qualified Health Centers and on advancing community-based efforts. She has proudly served the North San Diego County community her entire career and holds a Master’s in Public Health. In her work, Ms. Ramirez has successfully led community engagement efforts, which land on the continuum of direct service delivery, research, health promotion, advocacy, and policy programs. During the height of the pandemic, she led COVID-19 response efforts that included organizing outreach, education, and vaccination efforts for our most vulnerable communities in the North Coastal region of San Diego.
Over the years, Ms. Ramirez developed a career focus to work to serve migrant, farmworker and underserved communities as well as to l lead efforts to train and mobilize Community Health Workers. In her current role as Chief Regional Community Coordinator, she is still supporting these communities and working to support HSEC’s focus to achieve better coordination of existing and new County homeless and equitable community efforts, serving as a central point of collaboration for outside partners to ensure equity among all San Diegans and reduce homelessness in the region.
Ms. Ramirez has served in the following leadership positions: Community Advisory Board Member for Communities Fighting COVID!, Board Member for Community Health Improvement Partners, Co-Chair of the San Diego County Promotores Coalition, and Vice-Chair of the Farmworker CARE Coalition, and Stewardship Committee Member of the San Diego Food Vision 2030’s steering committee.
Andrea Bowers is a dedicated public health leader with more than 30 years of public service. She currently serves as the Deputy Director of Community Health for the Imperial County Public Health Department (ICPHD), where she oversees Health Promotion, Communicable Disease Prevention, EMS/Emergency Preparedness, Health Equity, and Community Health Improvement initiatives. Previously, she served as the department’s Accreditation Coordinator and Special Projects Coordinator, leading the department’s PHAB accreditation activities, improvement efforts, and policy development across multiple divisions.
Andrea played a critical role in ICPHD’s COVID-19 response, serving as a Public Information Officer and helping guide risk communication, media engagement, and community outreach during one of the most challenging periods in the department’s history. Her work contributed to strengthening public messaging, enhancing coordination with partner agencies, and improving access to timely health information.
Throughout her career, Andrea has focused on strengthening systems, expanding community partnerships, and advancing quality improvement initiatives that support efficient, effective, and equitable public health services. Her professional interests include public administration, leadership development, community engagement, strategic planning, and building organizational capacity through policy and performance improvement.
Andrea holds a Master of Public Administration and is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Public Administration degree at California Baptist University, where her academic work explores leadership theory, public sector management, and equitable approaches to community health improvement.
Faiza Warsame
Program Coordinator, United Women of East Africa Support Team
County: San Diego
Ms. Warsame has been with UWEAST for 7 years. UWEAST is a non-profit organization that provides services and programs for the East African Community in San Diego. She loves working with the community and helping them to voice their opinion and make a difference.
With over 15 years of experience in community health, advocacy, and program management, Jose Alfonso Tinoco is a dedicated and compassionate leader committed to supporting underserved and underrepresented communities while promoting inclusive, trauma-informed care. Currently serving as the Director of Youth and Family Services at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, Jose specializes in creating holistic, affirming services for youth and their families. They bring extensive expertise in HIV prevention, youth engagement, and sexual health education, with a focus on reducing stigma and improving access to care. Throughout their career, Jose has held pivotal roles at organizations such as Family Health Centers of San Diego and San Ysidro Health, where they successfully led HIV programs, mentored staff, and collaborated with community partners to enhance healthcare access and achieve positive health outcomes for participants. Jose is deeply committed to empowering individuals through education, mentorship, and advocacy. In recognition of their impactful work with youth and individuals living with HIV, they received a Certificate of Recognition from the United States House of Representatives in 2024.
Jose Tinoco, MA.Ed
Director of Youth and Family Services, The San Diego LGBT Community Center
County: San Diego
Helen Palomino, LCSW, is a social worker, community leader, and cancer health advocate with deep roots in Imperial County, California. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert (CRCD), where she has guided the organization through its reopening and strategic rebuilding, strengthening patient-centered programs and community partnerships. With a background in clinical social work and community-based research, Helen has contributed to funded research examining health equity, access to care, and policy impacts for Hispanic/Latino cancer patients. Her work bridges academic research and real-world community needs, emphasizing authentic partnerships between researchers, patients, and community-based organizations. Helen is recognized for her collaborative leadership, commitment to underserved populations, and dedication to ensuring that cancer patients and families receive compassionate, culturally responsive support. Her work is grounded in the belief that sustainable systems of care are built through trust, transparency, and community engagement.
Helen Palomino, LCSW
CEO, Cancer Resource Center of the Desert
Fernanda Vega (she/her/ella) is from Westmorland in Imperial County and is a Community Organizer with the Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition. Fernanda, with a Sociology background, is deeply committed to advocating for public health and environmental & social justice movements. Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition was founded in 2020 during the global COVID-19 pandemic to advocate for community empowerment, social and environmental justice, and public health. Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition aims to uplift the voices of the historically marginalized communities in Imperial Valley. Throughout her time as an organizer, she has engaged and advocated for the frontline communities that are getting ready to house lithium developments. She continues to learn about her communities and new ways to organize all while building trust and relationships. Outside of work, Fernanda likes to rewatch her favorite shows and attempt to catch up to the WWE universe.
Shayna Davenport is a Project Specialist for the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) Teacher Effectiveness and Preparation (TEP) team. SDCOE provides programs that address pre-service preparation, advanced teacher credentials and authorizations, and professional learning for educators. Shayna’s goals as an experienced educator of 17 years, are to continue to provide a safe space for all students and upcoming educators to learn, to ensure that there is equitable access to earn a degree that matters, and to continue her work within the community to better understand the diverse backgrounds and demographics that encompass our surrounding areas. Shayna holds a Master’s degree in Public Health and continuously advocates to create equitable opportunities for learning that foster growth and promise for the next generation.
Ms. Wren is a Consulting, Credentialed School Nurse who works with the Imperial County Office of Education (ICOE) to promote school health and safety. ICOE actively promotes student and family health through its organizational priorities, which align with Ms. Wren’s professional philosophies and goals. She is passionate about addressing Social Determinants of Health and access to care in schools and actively participates in research and projects to address health disparities. Lauren is aware of the importance of addressing these disparities in the school setting to ensure students are healthy and ready to learn.
Ms. Wren has garnered profound experience in school and employee health, comprehensive health programs, as well as K-12 emergency preparedness and crisis communications. She has received several awards for excellence in non-traditional nursing and leadership. Lauren is a Nationally Certified School Nurse recognized by the NBCSN for excellence and expertise in School Health and holds a Public Health Nurse Certificate. She received a Master’s in Science with a concentration in Nursing Leadership in Healthcare Systems from San Diego State University in 2020.
Fernanda Ortega is a healthcare administration professional with extensive experience in health services, regulatory oversight, and public service within Imperial County. She currently serves as a Program Supervisor for the Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley, where she oversees program operations, manages regulatory initiatives, and ensures adherence to state and federal regulations. In this role, she leads cross-functional teams, develops and implements programs and projects, and conducts risk assessments to strengthen operational efficiency and regulatory alignment.
During her tenure at Imperial County Behavioral Health Services, Ms. Ortega developed a career focus on advancing compliance, operational effectiveness, and community outreach. In her roles as Health Services Assistant and Community Service Worker, she managed the day-to-day implementation of behavioral health services, built partnerships with public and private organizations, and guided community groups in adopting regulatory requirements. She also organized health outreach events and implemented grant funded programs to expand services. Through these experiences, Ms. Ortega cultivated a deep understanding of how regulatory oversight, health services, and community engagement can work together to improve health outcomes and service delivery.
Ms. Ortega is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from National University. She currently holds a Baccalaureate Degree in Public Administration from San Diego State University-Calexico, where she was an active student ambassador. Fernanda is an active community leader, she is a participant of Rotary Club Calexico and previously served with Rotary Club Mexicali Industrial for six years as a youth representative, including an elected leadership role. During her tenure, she coordinated youth leadership programs, organized international service projects, and fostered cross-border collaboration to address community needs in both Mexicali, Mexico and Imperial County.
Earl M. Felisme is currently a Researcher/Advocate for the Community council granting program.
Audrey Beck is an Associate Professor of Sociology at San Diego State University. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and her Ph.D. in sociology with specializations in demography and stratification from Duke University. Following graduation, she was a postdoctoral fellow in the Office of Population Research and Center for Research on Child Wellbeing at Princeton University. While there, her primary focus was the impact of union formation and dissolution on child health, parenting, and child school readiness. Much of her work uses a variety of demographic methods to understand race, ethnic, and nativity disparities in health. Some recent research projects include: a) the impact of neighborhood economic conditions and crime on birth outcomes, b) race-ethic disparities in mental health outcomes among incarcerated girls, and c) the collection of comprehensive data on police killings. She also is involved in a series of community-based projects around issues of human trafficking and child labor in contexts such as San Diego, Ghana, and Kenya.
Valerie Hash is the Advocacy and Engagement Officer for Casa Familiar in San Ysidro, CA. In her role, she oversees community programs, including but not limited to Financial Opportunity Center programs, research collaborations with SDSU, Arts & Culture, Environmental Justice efforts, and outreach and advocacy through the Promotora program. Before her time at Casa Familiar, Valerie was Director of Economic Development for the MAAC Project. Valerie is a graduate from The University of San Diego with a master’s degree in the Art of Leadership and Nonprofit Management. Valerie has been a nonprofit professional for more than 15 years and specializes in community engagement, workforce development, public speaking, volunteer engagement, donor stewardship, and program design. Valerie is also a San Diego educator and a former San Diego Unified School District English teacher and visiting teacher. She attended Southwestern College, where she competed in Speech and Debate and headed the Future Educators Association. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis in written expression from San Diego State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She obtained her Teaching Credential from SDSU with an emphasis in ELL and cross-curricular collaboration. During her time at SDSU, Valerie competed with the SDSU Forensics Speech and Debate team, was an assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, where she helped fundraise and steward major donors. She currently volunteers with StarPAL Kiwanis, Council on Economic Education, San Diego County Sheriff’s Youth Probation, her children’s sports teams and schools, and serves on various community organization committees.