Our Team

Eli Bargas, Special Projects
Ohlone/Yoeme/Apache/Cheyenne/Chicano

Eli Bargas started with Seventh Generation Fund as an intern in 2015 and has filled various roles for the organization before finding himself in his current position coordinating the events, materials and outreach that make up SGF’s Special Projects.

Outside of work, Eli is a multidisciplinary artist who is always looking to further his skillsets.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Kimberly Brown, Fiscal Manager
Choctaw

Kimberly Brown is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation Tribe of Oklahoma, born and raised in Humboldt County, CA. She has been honored to have worked in the Tribal Communities for the past 11 years and will continue to do so.

Kimberly is a proud mother and a grandmother. Her drive to learn and educate others on the importance of self-care lends to being a compassionate community member. In her spare time, she loves to go hiking, riding bikes, and kayaking.

Kim is excited in her journey at the Seventh Generation Fund and being able to continue working in our Tribal Communities.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Rosa Campos, Affiliate Coordinator
Purepecha

Rosa Campos is descended from the Purepecha community established in Michoacan, Mexico with roots in East Los Angeles. Her journey led her to Humboldt County, where they pursued a degree in economics.

They have a deep interest in environmental economics, like exploring the intricate balance between economic systems and the environment. It is a field that they are passionate about, as it holds the key to sustainable, harmonious living.

Beyond their professional pursuits, they enjoy quality time with family and friends. They enjoy hiking, going to the gym, and take delight in expressing themselves through clothing and style.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Tyler Chalmers, Fiscal Assistant
Choctaw Nation

Tyler Chalmers, Choctaw Nation, is a truly versatile member of the community. He enjoys working with the community because it gives him the opportunity to learn and understand new individuals, as well as gives him the opportunity to learn new skill sets. In his free time he enjoys photography, music, web design, and going on hikes with his three Pomeranian puppies; Axol, Ava, and Arrow. Tyler also enjoys spending time with friends and family, and going out and about, exploring new things.

Heather Freitas, Advancement Director
Lusitanian descent

Heather Freitas began as an intern with Seventh Generation Fund in 2006 while attending Humboldt State University. Her interests in sacred site protection, environmental rights, and languages prompted her involvement with the organization and a year later she joined the staff. After achieving her Bachelors with a degree in Sociology, her role continued and progressed to the Advancement Director.

Third-generation born in the “Americas”, Heather’s paternal family comes from the Açores. She grew up in the foothills to the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Calaveras County, California. The lasting historical impact and its enduring presence throughout the County’s landscape made an impression on Heather at an early age. In addition to environmental justice endeavors; she believes in the advancement of human rights and the right for self-determination.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Louis Gordon, Program Director
Xicano/Purépecha

Louis Gordon (Xicano/Purépecha) has been involved with the Seventh Generation Fund since 2011 and serves as Program Director. He is responsible for working directly with community groups to develop and submit proposals, and facilitates trainings on nonprofit board development, proposal writing, budgeting and strategic planning. A lifetime student of Indigenous histories and social movements, he is dedicated to working at the nexus of philanthropy and the modern Native movement for the empowerment of Indigenous Peoples. Louis currently serves as a Board Member for the Environmental Grantmakers Association and is also a musician, backpacker, hunter and outdoor enthusiast.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

charles houston, Strategic Relations Coordinator
Karuk-wa-araara

charles is Karuk from Ti’i. Carrying a diverse background in grassroots organizing/activism and non-profit work for over twenty years, he has worked in solidarity with Peoples With Culture in the Oakland Bay Area and California on issues of labor, youth education, racism, white supremacy, classism and patriarchy.

He is a proud father and quite happy to be back in the nonprofit world after “doing time” in the for-profit sector. charles’ hobbies and joys include long drives with no particular map or particular destination, mushroom hunting for food and teaching the earnest, futbol, being close to water, tacos, as well as writing and thinking about varying philosophies and ancient wisdoms to help construct anti-materialist worldviews. charles is very honored to be a part of the Seventh Generation Fund family and to work in conjunction with so many Indigenous relatives.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Lekishon Kanyinke, Program Assistant
Maasai/Ogiek

Lekishon Kanyinke is part of the Ogiek and Masai peoples of southern Kenya. He has grown up living and interacting with communities within Kenya and wider East Africa, learning and appreciating the uniqueness of each culture. His sister and he were given a rare opportunity to witness such diversity from a young age due to the nature of his parents’ work, influencing his interest and pursuit on community work. Lekishon looks forward to working with the Seventh Generation Fund, advancing his own and other communities in Africa, and continuing the work and legacy of his parents.

Sylvia Lazerick, Advancement Assistant

Sylvia has been active in environmental education and community work for many decades. She is part of our Advancement Team bringing years of experience in marketing and administration. Her early life was spent in New England helping people in inner-city communities, and at 21 headed westward,
meeting and learning from Indigenous Peoples along the way. Her formal education included studying at colleges in Massachusetts and California, finalizing her degree at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Through work and travel, she has continued learning about various communities of the world. She is dedicated to serving Indigenous causes and building sustainable communities.

Inspired by Mother Earth, she loves music, spending time in nature, listening to the wind and spirits.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Rebecca Lewis, Fiscal Assistant – Controller Support

Rebecca Lewis has over seven cumulative years of experience in finance as a bookkeeper. She has also worked in some administrative assistance roles. She is excited to be a part of Seventh Generation Fund where she can witness the processes that assist programs of Indigenous protections and cultural preservation.

Rebecca has been a lifelong Californian and a Humboldt County resident for over twenty years. She came to Humboldt from the San Joaquin Valley where she was born and raised in a culturally diverse area. She has two grown children also in Humboldt. She has many hobbies and interests including knitting, crocheting, sewing, cooking and gardening. She loves to be outside in nature as much as possible to stay grounded and in touch with the living world.

Teresa McGinnis, Chief of Staff
Yurok

Teresa McGinnis is an enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe, descendent of the Wiyot & Tolowa Nation, born and raised in Humboldt County, CA. Teresa has worked since the age of 16 learning different job positions while gaining multiple skills in the workforce. She is honored to have worked in the Tribal Communities since the age of 18, this helped her grow and succeed and become closer with her people.

Teresa is proud to be a parent of five and married to her best friend. She has an active role with her children’s schools, sports, and in the Native Community. In her spare time, Teresa creates art, jewelry, and crochets, which has led her to obtain her business license for her own online jewelry business. Further, she decided to attend NYIP for her photography certification in Professional Photography.

Teresa enjoys spending time with her family, eating and giving back to the community especially volunteering, hosting events and planning them. Teresa appreciates being a part of the Seventh Generation Fund and being able to help the Native Community.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Paula O’Rourke-Dickey, Executive Administrative Assistant
Yurok

Paula is an enrolled member of the Yurok tribe in Northern California. She comes from the Village of Morek along the Klamath River. Paula was born and raised in southern California, and at the age of 19 she relocated to Humboldt County to give her children the opportunity to connect with their cultural heritage. Paula enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren making memories. As a family, they especially enjoy their ceremonial dances.

Eileen Ragain, Administrative Assistant
Yurok

Eileen Ragain is a member of the Yurok Tribe and a lifelong resident of Humboldt County. She is the mother of three. In her professional background, she has been a Security Officer, Certified Nursing Assistant and a receptionist for various places throughout Humboldt. Her path has brought her to the Seventh Generation Fund and she is honored to be given the opportunity to become part of such a phenomenal team. Eileen looks forward to gaining wisdom, knowledge, cultural enrichment, and practices that shape and inform the vitality of future generations. Thank you.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Michael Raigoza, Program Officer for Cultural Projects
Nomlaki

Michael is California native as an enrolled member of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians who was born in Auburn, California and has lived all over the state. Spending time in Auburn, Grass Valley, San Diego, Huntington Beach, and Chico he is now happy to call Humboldt County home. Michael prides himself on having roots in Northern California and wants to help the native communities to thrive here and all over the world.

Michael graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies with emphasis in Renewable Energy and Conservation Ecology. He has worked for his tribe as a grant writer and is now excited to be grantmaking for other Indigenous communities with the Seventh Generation Fund.

In his spare time you can find Michael doing anything outdoors or active. Whether it’s walking his two dogs (Tycho and Wima), hiking, fishing, backpacking, snowboarding, or any sport with a ball.

Mima Salas, Program Coordinator for Thriving Women
Diné/Xicana/Gabrieliño Kizh

Mima Salas is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation on her mother’s side and descends from the San Gabrieliño Kizh Band of Mission Indians on her father’s side. Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona she is now living in the Humboldt area working on the Thriving Women Program as the Program Coordinator and studying Environmental Studies at Cal Poly Humboldt. She is dedicated to community building centered on protecting and uplifting the roles of Indigenous women and Two-Spirit peoples, empowering youth voices, and storytelling as a way of healing. She has experience working alongside Native communities in Arizona while serving as a member of Morning Star Leaders Youth Council. She’s a proud older sister and hopes to pave new pathways for them and the rest of her family.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Johnny Salazar, Director of Operations
Indigenous

Johnny Salazar was born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles and moved to Humboldt County in 2010 to pursue his degree in Social Work. He was able to join the Seventh Generation Fund team in 2014 as a Data Entry Intern.

Johnny’s passion for social justice is rooted in his uncle’s involvement as a revolutionary guerrilla fighter in the Salvadorian Civil War fighting for the betterment of the common people. Johnny hopes to continue the legacy of his uncle by engaging and assisting relatives across Turtle Island who fight for self-determination, environmental justice, and decolonization.

In his free time, Johnny likes to spend time with his dog Lady hiking, backpacking, and going to the beach. Other hobbies include: playing chess and doing mechanical work.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)

Alice Woodworth, Controller 

Ms. Woodworth serves as the Controller for Seventh Generation Fund and is responsible for recording and reporting all grant expenses, as well as providing technical assistance to SGF affiliates and projects as appropriate. She has a BA, Special Major New College, from San Jose State University.

Alice has 40 years of experience as a bookkeeper and manager of information services for businesses and nonprofit organizations, and has served as a development director, campaign treasurer, and library acquisitions manager. She is a grandmother, a fiber artist, an herb gardener.

Photo Credit: Hulleah Tsinhnahjinnie (Seminole/Muscogee/Dine’)