Who We Are

Ken Seaton-Msemaji has served as founder, president, and Chief Executive Officer of the United Domestic Workers of America (UDW). UDW is the first known successful domestic workers union in the United States, and only the third enduring union in American Labor History to be founded, built and directed by African-Americans or Latinos. He holds over 45 years of community service beginning in the 1960's during the civil rights movement and credits his organizational successes to the early support and close relationship between Cesar Chavez and the UDW. The legacy of Cesar Chavez was always in the forefront of the UDW’s activities and today provides union representation opportunities to over 200,000 California home care workers.

Ann M. Smith She is an attorney in San Diego whose years of service to the United Farm Workers (UFW) in the 1970s and ‘80s, together with her continued commitment to working people in the practice of law since then, make her well-qualified to help the Clubs fulfill their mission. When Governor Brown signed the Agricultural Labor Relations Act into law in 1975, Smith came to California to help the UFW put this law into action to improve the wages and working conditions for California’s farmworkers. After graduating cum laude from the Monterey College of Law in 1985, Smith passed the bar the same year and has been practicing law with the same firm ever since. In keeping with her UFW roots, for the past 30 years, Smith has specialized in employment litigation on behalf of employees.

Sam M. Duran served as the founding Chief Executive Officer of Urban Corps of San Diego County. Through Sam's guidance, he developed the Urban Corps into a multi-million dollar organization that has empowered the lives of more than 5,000 at-risk youth. Now retired, Sam still dedicates himself to serving thousands of area youth through leadership and development programs. The Urban Corps has always been a partner to the Chavez Service Clubs, originally as the Club’s fiscal sponsor. Both organizations have worked very closely together in a number of community service projects.

Cecilia Estrada has recognized the lack of resources and incredible abilities of children attending poor, inner city elementary schools in San Diego. A highly esteemed former teacher and retired principal, Cecilia has always valued a strong parent participation in their children’s education. Under her guiding hand, Sheila provides tremendous insight regarding curriculum development and the practical use of k-12 service-learning models. As a principal or a teacher, Cecilia’s legacy in teaching continues. She continues in her quest of organizing parents through her work with the Price Philanthropies.

Bernie Rhinerson has a passion for public education and public service. He currently serves as an elected Trustee on the San Diego Community College District and is the former Chief of Staff at the San Diego Unified School District. He is also a Board Member of the Association of Community College Trustees, the national organization representing community college governing boards. During his 30+ year career as a marketing communications professional, Bernie represented numerous local government and corporate clients with marketing and public affairs programs. He has been active in the community having served on numerous boards including service as the former Chair of the San Diego County Water Authority and Past President of the San Diego State Alumni Association.

Beth Kransberger is a lawyer by training and has spent more than twenty years in higher education and legal education as a college vice president, law school dean, consultant and educational activist. Her civic and public policy work focuses on issues of race, gender and access to education. She currently serves in the President’s Office at National University, where she works collaboratively with local schools to increase the number of historically underrepresented groups entering the teaching profession. She is a national speaker on issues of race, gender, LGBTQIA topics, race conscious remedies, educational equity and access to education. Locally, Beth is a member of the San Diego Equal Opportunity Commission, a board member of Teach for America San Diego and a member of the San Diego Continuing Education Foundation Advisory Board.

Carlos Cota is an International Representative and Trustee for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) with over 25 years of community organizing related to both the Labor and Entertainment Communities. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors for the San Diego Convention Center Corporation. Following his time working in the field as a Stagehand he served 13 years as Business Manager for IATSE Local 122 where his focus was expanding employment and educational opportunities in every community throughout the local jurisdiction. He was also responsible for establishing the organizations Training & Education Trust Fund. And has served as an Executive Board Member for the IATSE District 2, covering California, Arizona, Nevada, and Hawaii, Executive Board Member for the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO. And 8 years as an Advisory Board Member for the College, Career, & Technical Education (CCTE) program for the San Diego Unified School District.

Dr. Carmen García has a long attachment to San Diego schools through her experience as an administrator with in the San Diego Unifed School District. She was born in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, México and grew up in Escondido where she took advantage of its K-12 schools. Subsequently, she attended the University of San Diego where she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Spanish. With motivation to teach, she received a Master’s Degree in Education and a teaching credential and went on to receive her Doctorate from the University of Southern California. Dr. García’s twenty-three-year career has allowed her to observe the educational sphere from the perspective of a Teacher, Researcher, Assistant to Superintendent and Superintendent. She is indebted to her public school education and aims to continue to pay it forward in order to make a difference in the lives of ALL students so, they too, can reach their highest potential.

Nhu Tran has been involved in two things throughout her life: community and philanthropy. Nhu manages the largest giving network fo the Sempra Energy family of companies, the Inspiring Future Leaders initiative, collaborating with over 300 non-profits, foundations, school districts and industry professionals to promote STEM career pathways for K-12 schools. Her leadership and passion promote a growth mindset for diversity and inclusion, connecting the community to resources and advancing girls and women to pursue their passion and purpose. She is the chair of the San Diego Grantmakers STEAM Funders collaborative and serves on the Executive Leadership Team for the San Diego STEM Ecosystem and the San Diego MESA Industry Alliance. Nhu graduated from San Diego State University with degrees in Sociology and Business Management and has a Project Management certification from the University of San Diego.