Board of Directors

Ken Gutierrez was planning director for the City of Riverside from 2003 to 2011, when he retired. During his almost 30 year tenure with the City of Riverside, Ken was responsible for a number of planning projects, including the award-winning Magnolia/Market Corridor Study and the innovative Downtown Specific Plan.

He led the preparation of a comprehensive update to the Riverside General Plan 2025, a visionary document built on smart growth principles, and was recognized in 2008 by the Southern California Association of Governments with a Compass Blueprint Distinguished Leadership Award. The same year, he was recognized with the Award of Merit for Comprehensive Planning by the California Chapter of the American Planning Association (CCAPA). Under Ken’s guidance, the planning department was recognized in 2009 by the CCAPA with the Award of Merit for Distinguished Leadership by a Planning Firm or Agency.

Ken is a planning consultant, a member of AICP, and a speaker at numerous workshops and conferences. He teaches as part of a University of California, Riverside Extension Certificate Program.

Ms. Launa Wilson is a seasoned nonprofit professional with two decades of documented success in improving organizational governance and fundraising outcomes. She is CEO of Launa Wilson Consulting LLC, providing strategic guidance to nonprofits focused on strengthening governance, fund development, and organizational sustainability. Prior to establishing her consultancy, Ms. Wilson held a variety of positions in the nonprofit sector, including program manager, fundraising professional, and executive director. She has built programs from the ground up, raised millions in charitable dollars, and led systemic changes resulting in stronger, more efficient, and more diverse nonprofits.

In addition to her professional service to the nonprofit sector, Ms. Wilson is an active community servant and advocate, volunteering her expertise as a member for several municipal bodies and nonprofit boards. She currently serves on the Riverside County Behavioral Health Commission and the City of Riverside Planning Commission. She also serves as Chairman of the Board for affordable housing developer Wakeland Housing Development Corporation, and as Vice President for the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California.

She also serves as chairman of the board for affordable housing developer Wakeland Housing Development Corporation, and as vice president for the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California.

Ms. Wilson graduated from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work, and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Q’Vinc Asberry (Q) has lived in Riverside for the past 55 years. Mr. Asberry has a long history serving the housing needs of Riverside County residents, first as a manager of hundreds of units in the Riverside County Housing Authority Section 8 program, where he worked for five years.

He then went on to supervise the Community Development Block Grant Housing Rehabilitation Program for the City of Riverside’s Redevelopment Agency, where he became an expert in all facets of housing rehabilitation and in homeowner-contractor arbitrations.

While there Q also facilitated the relocation of several historic houses and other structures from the former Press-Enterprise property, managed the demolition of several substandard and dilapidated structures and conducted numerous single housing property inspections. He was involved with the management of the restoration of the Mission Inn prior to its being sold to a private developer.

Q left the Redevelopment Agency after 17 years and began working at a local religious organization in Riverside, where he served for 25 years before retiring. He also served as a Board member in that organization.

He and his wife, Irma, have one child, a daughter, and two grandchildren.

Neil Okazaki is the Senior Deputy City Attorney and Constitutional Policing Advisor for the City of Corona. As a litigator, Neil has extensive experience representing clients in state and federal trials and appellate proceedings in diverse areas, including civil rights, employment law, disability law, and personal injury. Neil has tried 18 jury trials and completed 12 binding arbitrations in his nearly 25 years of experience as an attorney, primarily in the Riverside County area.

In addition to his work as a litigator, Neil proudly counsels the City’s police department in the emerging field of constitutional policing. His work helps ensure that policing meets current standards of constitutionality while anticipating future standards for emerging technology and other developments. Neil also extensively advises the City’s fire and human resources department on complex issues of employment law, labor law, and the Firefighters Bill of Rights. Before joining the City of Corona, Neil was an assistant city attorney for the City of Riverside. In that role, he spearheaded the firm’s Public Safety Division, providing advisory and litigation support to police officers, firefighters, and code enforcement officers. A frequent and versatile speaker, Neil has made presentations for the League of California Cities, the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and Legal Professionals, Inc. on civil rights, law enforcement technology, litigation, employment law, and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Neil earned his undergraduate degree from UC Riverside and his law degree from Loyola Law School, where he served as Note and Comment Editor of the Loyola Law Review. He has also served as President of the Riverside County Bar Association, a wish granter for Make-A-Wish Orange County & the Inland Empire, and a member of the UC Riverside Chancellor’s Advisory Committee on Asian-American Affairs.

Jennifer Tilton is a professor of Race and Ethnic Studies at the University of Redlands, with a Ph.D. in American Culture and Anthropology from the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on understanding the history of racial segregation in the U.S. and its impact on the criminal justice system, local politics, and children’s lives. She helps coordinate The Bridges That Carried Us Over Project: Documenting Black History in the IE and is one of the co-directors of A People’s History of the IE, a community based archiving and mapping project. Tilton’s StoryMaps are displayed at the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California, Black Voice News, and on A People’s History website www.peopleshistoryie.org. She has taught college courses in a local juvenile hall and at a California Rehabilitation Center and facilitates the IE Fair Chance Coalition which advocates to take down barriers for people living with criminal convictions.

CRIISC board member Surekha (Su) Acharya is an associate professor of English at Riverside City College.  Originally from the south Indian city of Hyderabad, she has an M.A. degree in English Literature from Hyderabad’s Osmania University, an M.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Cal State Fullerton, and a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from UC Riverside.

Su is an expert on the global movement of the Indian diaspora as well as an authority on historical attitudes towards Indian-American immigration to the United States. Her doctoral dissertation traced the development of the Indian-American enclave in Artesia, California to its roots in India, East Africa, and the United Kingdom.

A lifelong educator, Su has been active in the Riverside community for the past 30 years. She has served on the boards of the Riverside Public Library, Riverside Metropolitan Museum, and the City of Riverside’s Cultural Heritage Board. She is chair of the International Relations Council committee that oversees the sister city relationship between her hometown, Hyderabad, and Riverside. During the pandemic, Su spearheaded donations of masks, personal protection equipment and oxygen concentrators for hospitals in Hyderabad that were struggling to care for COVID-19 patients. Su is also an advisor to the Southern California based Sahara organization, principally assisting with English language training for recent immigrants.

Su has been a resident of Riverside since 1991.  She was married to Civil Rights Institute co-founder Dr. Lalit Acharya (1951–2022), and has two daughters and two grandchildren.

Chani Beeman was born and raised in Riverside by parents George and Shirley Blatchford. She is the third daughter of five children. She retired from Riverside Community College District where she served as Director of Diversity, Equity and Compliance. She also worked 17 years at Cal State San Bernardino in instructional support technology and then served as the first University Ombudsman. As a long-time community servant, Chani has built a reputation as a sensitive, effective, and deliberate communicator and problem solver in areas involving police accountability and anti-racism. In addition to her involvement with numerous civic organizations including The Group, Latino Network, Riverside Coalition for Police Accountability and NAACP, Chani has served the City of Riverside as a member of the Charter Review Committee, the Chief of Police Citizens Advisory Committee, the Community Police Review Commission, and the Human Relation Commission. She currently serves on the Mayor’s MultiCultural Council and the Mayor’s Bipartisan Forum. Chani raised two sons in Riverside and has 8 grandchildren who are constant reminders of why these efforts are so vital. She resides in downtown Riverside, an active and enthused advocate for her community.

Jane Carney is a retired corporate and business lawyer, having practiced in the Inland Empire for 33 years. She currently is a founding director of the Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California as well as the treasurer of All Saints Episcopal Church, Riverside. Jane previously served for six years as a trustee of the California State University and for 12 years on the governing board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Jane was the first member from the Inland Empire on the board of the James Irvine Foundation. She has been active in a number of local organizations, including the Monday Morning Group of Western Riverside County, the Riverside County Bar Association, and the Riverside Community College District. She is the mother of three adult children and three grandchildren. Competencies: General knowledge of business issues; experience in negotiating disputes and analyzing financial information; experience in board service, community and professional group leadership, and civic activism.

Darrell Frye is a dedicated public servant with over four years of experience in the California State Assembly, where he focuses on a wide range of critical issues such as Housing, Human Services/Poverty, Mental Health, and Non-Profit issues. His time in the Assembly has given him a deeper understanding of how policy can impact communities and has strengthened his commitment to advocating for positive change. In addition to his role in the Assembly, Darrell is honored to serve as President of the Black Young Democrats of the Inland Empire. In this capacity, he works to encourage political engagement and cultivate leadership among young people, ages 13-35, in the Inland Empire. Darrell is deeply committed to empowering the next generation of leaders and ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to make an impact in their communities. Before joining the Assembly, Darrell served as Program Manager at the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC), where he worked to eliminate the effects of poverty through providing key resources including rental assistance, rapid-rehousing support, and oversaw an 8 bedroom transitional housing facility for Mothers with children. A proud graduate of Morehouse College with a degree in Business Administration/Marketing, Darrell combines his education and real-world experience to help others. Outside of his professional life, Darrell enjoys DJ’ing, a hobby that allows him to connect with others and express his creativity and love of music. He remains committed to advocating for marginalized communities and supporting efforts to create lasting change.

Luz Gallegos is the Executive Director of TODEC Legal Center, which offers legal and
civic services for immigrants and migrant workers in Southern California. As a native of
the Inland Empire, Gallegos has been a lifelong advocate for social justice, community
organizing, and civic engagement. She has led numerous community programs and
campaigns, including those focused on immigrant rights, and has mentored young
people to pursue education while staying connected to their cultural roots. Gallegos is
committed to continuing her family’s legacy of community service and leadership
through her work at TODEC Legal Center.

Pastor Sharon Green serves as the pastor of Higher Praise Tabernacle Church in the City of Hesperia, CA., under the leadership of Bishop Joe L. Ealy, Southern California Jurisdiction One. She is the founder and executive director of Victor Valley Family Resource Center, a multimillion dollar 501c3 nonprofit organization providing emergency, transitional, and shared permanent supportive housing for unhoused residents. She is working to prevent and end homelessness by providing rental and utility assistance, groceries, and other resources to the most under-served areas in the High Desert Region of San Bernardino County. She is the elected chair of San Bernardino Continuum of Care, the co-chair of the High Desert Regional Steering Committee, and a board member of the San Bernardino County Inter-Agency Council on Homelessness. 

She worked alongside the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other nonprofit agencies on VVFRC vs.City of Hesperia, which successfully challenged discriminatory housing ordinances that targeted people of color, eliminating these ordinances in Hesperia, Victorville, and other cities in the Inland Empire. As of October 2023, these ordinances are now prohibited statewide in California.  Pastor Green’s lawsuit influenced the United States Department of Justice’s landmark agreement with the City of Hesperia, the police department, and the San Bernardino County sheriff’s department to end the discriminatory rental housing program. She is married, with six children and eleven grandchildren. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in business management. On November 8, 2023, in recognition of her community work, she was honored with an honorary doctorate in humanities and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree. Her life is governed by Matthew 25:36, “I was naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.”

Ronald O. Loveridge has 33 years of public service – as a Riverside council member from 1979-1994 and as mayor from 1994 to 2012. He is a highly regarded local, regional, state and national leader. At the national level, he was involved with the National League of Cities, making policy calls and decisions on behalf of some 19,000 cities and towns across the nation. He served as president of the National League of Cities in 2010. 

At the state level, Loveridge was for many years a leader in the League of California Cities, serving as President in 2004.  He also served for eight years on the California Air Resources Board and as chair and fifteen year member of the California Assembly Fellow Board.

At the regional level, Loveridge served for over twenty years on the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the regional council for Southern California Association of Governments, and the executive committee for Western Riverside Council of Governments. 

At the local level, Loveridge is currently president of the Friends of California Citrus Park. He serves in leadership positions with Riverside Raincross Group, Monday Morning Group, Inland Economic Growth Opportunities (IEGO), and Riverside International Relations Council. He also is vice president of the Ontario International Airport Authority

Professionally, Loveridge is a long time political science professor at University of California (1965-). He continues to teach full time. At UCR, he is a senior adviser to the Inland Center for Sustainable Development and co-chair of the Solar Valley Consortium. He also is a fellow in the National Academy of Public Administration. 

Damien O’Farrell joined Parkview Legacy Foundation to lead operations after five years as CEO of Path of Life Ministries, the largest non-profit homeless shelter and housing provider in Riverside County. There, he was instrumental in the development of organizational systems, staff development, community integration, and led the organization to double in size and service area. In addition to his role with Path of Life Ministries, Damien has also served as the director of community development at Today’s Urban Renewal Network (TURN), where he now serves as a board member. Damien is a certified facilitator and strategic planner with the Institute of Cultural Affairs, has served on the Riverside Neighborhood Partnership Board, and is a past member of the Charter Review Commission for the City of Riverside. He is the founding vice-president and a past president of The Pick Group (a Young Professionals Organization); a member of the original creation and steering committees for Seizing Our Destiny, Give BIG Riverside, Our Riverside, Our Neighborhoods (known as 26 in 26); and serves as the board chair for the International Social Benefit Business, CommonChange.com. As a lifetime resident of Riverside, he is husband to Jennifer (executive director, Healthy Valley Foundation), and father to Marleigh (RUSD student).

Carol K. Park is the author of Memoir of a Cashier: Korean Americans, Racism, and Riots (2017) and co-author of Korean Americans: A Concise History (2019, Korea University Press). Park holds an MFA in Creative Writing and a MA in Ethnic Studies. Currently she is an Ethnic Studies doctoral candidate at UC Riverside. Park is also a filmmaker and produced and wrote two short documentaries including “Footsteps of Korean Americans” (2018). Park is also a research assistant and administrator at the Young Oak Kim Center for Korean American Studies at UCR. Park’s work at the center includes: a Korean American Oral Histories record, the successful designation of Pachappa Camp – the first Koreatown USA – as Riverside’s first Point of Cultural Interest, and more. Most recently, Park was part of a team of academics and staff at the YOK Center who received a three-year, $850,000 Mellon Foundation Humanities in Place Grant in December 2022.

Angel Rodriguez directs legislative advocacy and communications strategies at the San Bernardino Community College District, which includes Crafton Hills College, San Bernardino Valley College, and KVCR TV/FM – the primary NPR and PBS affiliate station for Inland Southern California. In 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed him to serve on the California Student Aid Commission, the nation’s largest state-run financial aid agency, administering $2.7 billion in grants for California students. Previously, Angel was associate director of state and regional government and community relations at the University of California, Riverside, from 2014 to 2016. In 2012, he served as strategic communications specialist for a college attainment initiative by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, National League of Cities, and City of Riverside Mayor’s Office. Angel held multiple positions at the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce from 2008 to 2012, managing business-education partnerships, community development, and workforce development advocacy. Angel earned a bachelor’s degree in public service and political science and a master’s degree in higher education administration and policy from the University of California, Riverside.

Ariel Savage is the Director of Development & External Affairs at TruEvolution, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting for health equity and racial justice to advance the quality of life and human dignity of LGBTQ+ people. She has spearheaded efforts to secure funding for key TruEvolution developments, including the 1-acre housing campus, Project Legacy, and the Inland Empire LGBTQ+ Center. Additionally, Ariel oversees the organization’s philanthropic and community sponsorship initiatives. Ariel is a proud alumna of Stanford University and John W. North High School. She serves on the California LGBTQ+ Unity Council, advising the California Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus. Ariel is recognized as a skilled public speaker and nonprofit strategist. Proudly born and raised in Riverside, CA, Ariel is deeply committed to serving the often-overlooked communities of Inland Southern California.

Dr. Juanita Watkins is a principal for San Bernardino City Unified School District. With a background in counseling, advocacy, mentorship, and administration in various educational settings, Juanita is passionate about promoting self-actualization and resiliency for lifelong learning success. She is committed to creating positive, equitable outcomes for all and has been involved in transformational practices. She leads with love and is a source of hope for her community.

Lalit Acharya directed and managed the City of Riverside mayor’s efforts on international initiatives, economic development, and sustainability.

Lalit had a Bachelor of Science in Genetics from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, a Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a doctorate in Communication from the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California. He was also a 2004 Leadership Riverside graduate.

Rose Mayes is a community activist who has over 30 years of experience in business management, civil rights, and fair housing. She is involved in the community as a professional and community volunteer. Her work extends from grassroots community-based organizations, to public administrators, to local State and Federal elected officials.

Rose serves as executive director of the Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc., a position she has held since 1993. She is committed to promoting fair housing opportunities for all regardless of race, national origin, religion, sex, familial status or disability. Ms. Mayes is an influential community leader who has served on numerous boards and commissions at the local and regional levels. In 2015 she was named Woman of the Year for the 61st Assembly District.