Erica Browning, YNPNsd Board Member & Marketing Committee Co-Chair

Erica works as a Program Support Specialist with Jewish Family Service of San Diego. She works with a variety of programs under their Director of Community Services, managing finances, data, and contract compliance. She is passionate about using data driven, strengths based strategies to help vulnerable populations access resources and overcome barriers to leading happy and healthy lives.

Graduating from Olivet Nazarene University in Illinois in 2017, Erica earned her B.A. in Political Science and Psychology. While in college, she volunteered with a variety of organizations, including the campus Social Justice Club, the student newspaper as their Features Editor, and a local urban farm. After college, Erica got her start in the non-profit sector in San Diego by working as an AmeriCorps VISTA with the City’s Promise Zone, a federal place-based initiative. Erica working with the YNPN Board has helped to grow her passion and expertise for working with local non-profits and encouraging a community of growth and inclusion. In her free time, Erica is an active yogi, and loves reading, drinking coffee, and traveling.

Tips & Tricks from Rich Soublet

Getting in front of the camera can seem intimidating, but at YNPN we're here to make sure you can put your best foot forward! Our annual Headshot Happy Hour is just around the corner. Our photographer Rich Soublet has kindly shared with us some insights to make sure you are ready to go.

"The best thing you can keep in mind is to know that you are in good hands with someone who has done headshots for over 300 people THIS YEAR ALONE," says Rich.

"I see a lot of faces and I make it my mission to make sure every single one looks the absolute best possible. Remember that you are unique, you are beautiful and interesting, and you are worth it." 

Alyssa Gutner-Davis, YNPNsd Board Vice Chair

As a Program Manager for Cleantech San Diego, Alyssa oversees the Southern California Energy Innovation Network (SCEIN), an incubator program funded by a grant from the California Energy Commission. SCEIN provides clean energy startups with a range of free services in order to accelerate their commercialization.

Alyssa graduated with a B.A. in Community Studies and a B.A. in Art from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She is now serving her fourth year on the YNPN San Diego Board as Vice Chair and last year was a fellow of the San Diego Leadership Alliance's Institute program.

A native San Diegan, Alyssa loves craft beer and cruising around Balboa Park. In her free time, she enjoys visiting art museums, reading, photographing, and getting lost on road trips. You can find her on social media @a_gutnerd (Twitter) and @alyssabefree (IG)!

Kimberly Castillo, YNPNsd Board Chair

Kimberly is the Food Procurement Supervisor for the San Diego Food Bank, working as the primary point person for all food donations to the food bank, including food drives, corporate food donations, and the Food Rescue program.

An alumna of the University of California, San Diego, Kimberly earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Studies. Directly after her studies, Kimberly joined AmeriCorps as a means of serving San Diego's vulnerable populations. After having served a year in working with the local refugee population, Kimberly transitioned to a job that could still help the City Heights region but from more of a food security standpoint. Before her current position, Kimberly used her personal time to advocate for and better understand diverse populations, particularly those considered to be most socially vulnerable; she works to find the strengths in commonly-overlooked populations and urges society to become more welcoming and understanding. In her free time Kimberly enjoys boxing, cooking, and exploring San Diego’s wonderful eateries and drinkeries.

The research is clear: women earn less than men and women of color are particularly impacted by the gender pay gap. According to the Economic Policy Institute, “when evaluated by wages per hour, a typical woman is paid 83 cents for every dollar a man is paid… Relative to white non-Hispanic men, black and Hispanic women workers are paid only 65 cents and 58 cents on the dollar, respectively, compared with 81 cents for white, non-Hispanic women workers and 90 cents for Asian women” (2016).

In February 2019, the YNPN San Diego Board passed a motion to only share job postings that include salaries in our listserv. This policy will take effect on March 5, 2019. We recognize that wage inequality is a multifaceted issue and cannot be addressed through a single policy change. Our hope is that this new policy generates conversations around how to best address the wage gap in San Diego’s nonprofit sector. As always, we will continue to offer workshops and trainings to equip young nonprofit professionals with the tools and resources to advocate for themselves and their colleagues.

Jessica Noel, YNPNsd Board Secretary

Jessica is a youth and community advocate and returned to San Diego, CA after earning her Master of Public Policy from UCLA in 2017. Over the past several years Jessica has served in a variety of analytical roles in the nonprofit sector related to health, education, and economic security. Focused on equity and data-driven impact, her portfolio includes experience in program development, community partnerships, grants, strategic planning, research, advocacy, and evaluation.

Jessica currently serves as a Research Analyst at Southwestern Community College District in the South Bay. In this role, she evaluates current and potential college programs, analyzes and conducts labor market research for career education programs, and works with a team of researchers to plan, design and conduct a comprehensive institutional research program.

In addition to her leadership with YNPN San Diego, Jessica was selected for the 2019 YPC Academy, a program of the San Diego LGBT Center, to develop her leadership skills and advance LGBT equity in the region. In her free time, she spends time with her partner, plays with her anxious rescue dog, and makes jewelry as a creative outlet. Jessica is excited to join the executive committee of the YNPN San Diego Advisory Board after serving as the 2018 Programming Co-Chair.