By Yvette Brooks, Mayor, City of Capitola
As mayor, one of my goals for the year is to focus on equity in Capitola.
At the City level especially, it is important that we attempt to create policy with an equity lens. It will take years to unravel the unjust behavior of people before us. But as a leader in our community it is my responsibility to move us forward.
In this article, you will meet several community leaders of color who have taken the initiative of moving our City forward in response to racism. They have made history in Capitola and are paving the way for others to do the same.
These change-makers have dedicated their lives to our community and it is important that we recognize them for their dedication and commitment.
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Keisha Browder
CEO, United Way of Santa Cruz County
Keisha Browder is the Chief Executive Officer with United Way of Santa Cruz County. Their office is located on Capitola Road, Capitola — she is the first African American and person of color to serve as CEO in the United Way’s 80-year history in Santa Cruz County. She leads multiple county-wide initiatives addressing issues ranging from academic success to youth violence prevention and criminal justice reform.
Keisha also leads the robust tracking of well-being with the Santa Cruz County Community Assessment Project, the nation’s longest-serving collection, assessment, and utilization of community data that includes the voice of the residents. Keisha co-authored “Leveraging Data for Meaningful Improvements: How Credible Data Enables Partnership Alignment to Achieve Well-Being at the Population Level” (Community Quality of Life Indicators Best Cases VIII, Springer).
She has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, serving in executive leadership roles throughout the nation, raising nearly $60 million for community transformation in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and now returning home to California.
Keisha serves on several boards including the United Way Worldwide Equity Advisory Council, Santa Cruz County Health Improvement Partnership, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital Community Advisory, Digital NEST Advisory, Santa Cruz Nonprofit Connection, Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast, and Monarch Services.
Keisha is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women — Silicon Valley Chapter, and Soroptimist International — Watsonville Chapter. Keisha is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders.
Enrique Dolmo
New Brighton Middle School Campus Supervisor
Enrique is the Campus Supervisor and Athletic Director at New Brighton Middle School in Capitola. Enrique spent most of his childhood in San Jose. As an adult, he decided to make a career change from banking to education because of his love for coaching and children.
Enrique Dolmo (right) with family
As a partner to wife Ashley Dolmo, a teacher for 14 years, and a father, Enrique focused his career path so it allowed him to be more involved in his children’s education. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Enrique recognized children needed to be active during the lockdown and worked with the School District to offer intramural flag football conditioning and golf.
As our County moves into a safer tier during this pandemic, Enrique is focused on safely bringing back sports to children in our community.
Superintendent Scott Turnbull had this to say about Enrigue:
“Enrique Dolmo has served seven years as New Brighton Middle School’s Campus Supervisor. During ‘normal’ times, he is always present on campus to support students. Enrique also keeps track of lockers and serves as a coach and Athletic Director. He loves his job and working with everyone at NBMS. He enjoys building relationships with students and being a joyful presence on campus.
“A middle school thrives on having a lively school spirit, and this is where Enrique excels. For example, if you go into the NBMS Performing Arts Center during lunchtime on a Friday, you’ll get to see Enrique making his best DJ impression spinning tunes for students’ listening and dancing pleasure. During the Capitola Art & Wine Festival, you’ll see Enrique in the NBMS Parking Lot for long days directing parking and earning funds that all go to support NBMS Athletics. He is currently supervising a small cohort of students on campus to help them with distance learning challenges.
“Enrique is also now making an effort to safely bring back opportunities for NBMS’s student-athletes, focusing on golf and flag football conditioning. He does anything asked of him and always seeks to make attending NBMS a positive experience for students.”
Esabella “Bella” Bonner
Community Leader and Visionary
Esabella Bonner is a longtime Santa Cruz resident and community leader working to help bridge our local community. Bella is the visionary behind the Black Lives Matters march, a first to ever take place in the History of Capitola.
Bella also co-founded Blended Bridge, a local collective that aims to help connect the community through education, community engagement and service in an attempt to “Bridge our Differences.”
“When I originally decided to target Capitola for a Black Lives Matter march I was extremely nervous and reluctant,” Bella said. “However, these feelings only magnified the exact reasons why a march through Capitola was necessary.
“There are various pockets around Santa Cruz County that feel less and less safe or inviting for Black and POC residents with Capitola oftentimes coming up as a frontrunner on that list. In the weeks leading up to the event, there was some hesitation and resistance from residents and business owners who didn’t understand how and why Capitola needed to join the conversation.
“However, with that resistance and uncertainty also came an opportunity for education, community, and solidarity — something that made Capitola Village shine brighter on the evening of July 1st.
“Overall, the event allotted the opportunity for Black and POC residents to share their stories and urge their neighbors to join in solidarity, education and action for Black lives.”
Joy Flynn
Community Activist, Respiratory Business Specialist
Joy is facilitating courageous conversations with the City of Capitola and its residents in the first ever Community Anti Racist Series Forum.
In addition, Joy led the first peaceful action in the City of Santa Cruz after the public execution of George Floyd, which received national attention. Joy is a social justice leader and has spoken at multiple events such as Juneteenth, the Capitola BLM march and the BLM mural painting in the City of Santa Cruz. In addition, she is a panelist for the neighborhood courts restorative justice program.
Joy is working on the community engagement piece of the ad hoc committee for policing and social justice reform with the city of Watsonville. Joy is an advisor on the Black Health matters committee, board member for Second Harvest Food Bank and a friend of the Walnut Ave Women’s Center (their auxiliary board). Most recently Joy will begin working with the County’s Criminal Justice Council. Joy is a committed leader in our community and afar.
“Joy Flynn is a dedicated community leader in our community,” said Thomas Pedersen, founder of the Speak for Change podcast and CEO of Everyone’s Music School. “I connected with Joy when many people in the community suggested that I interview her for my podcast Speak For Change. We quickly realized we shared a lot in common with our upbringing and vision for the future of Santa Cruz County.
“Joy continues to amaze me with her leadership, activism and her tireless work in The Santa Cruz County Black Coalition for Justice and Racial Equity. I am honored to be friends and colleagues with Joy. “
Fahma Abdulle
Seventh Grader at New Brighton Middle School
Fahma is a wonderful all-around student and is one of the best performers on New Brighton Middle School’s Accelerated Reader Program.
Carlo Albano spoke about the impact his fourth grade student is making:
“Recently, I saw her by her home at the Emerald Bay Apartments. We talked about how things are going and I asked her what she thought about Distance Learning. She said that it could really be a good thing to have this time of focus on using technology and creating work projects online with tools that will be helpful in the future. As long as we do go back to school when this is all done.
“This reply helps to illustrate Fahma and her absolute inner compass of honesty, hard work, and excellence. She has shown herself to be a bright and supportive friend to her peers, and is thorough and confident in her own individual learning and work.
“Fahma regularly has a smile and loves to laugh as much as she genuinely loves to learn and apply knowledge. Truly, she is a special person, and I only wish her the best on her inspiring growth and future aspirations.
“Also, her mother and father are heart-warmingly generous and proud and love to share delicious East Aftrican food.”
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These five social justice activists have left their mark in Capitola, unifying people of color, and their allies as well as being role models for students like Fahma. It is my honor to recognize all of them for their continued work in Capitola as they make history like we have never seen before.
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If you have any questions please feel free to email me at brooksforcitycouncil@gmail.com.