Ben Bridges has been fascinated with gardening for over forty years. It brings him so much joy, peace, and happiness.

Connie is retired with her husband Bob on their lovely property in Freshwater. She enjoys gardening, fabric arts, traveling and training their young dogs. Connie’s professional career was varied. Most recently, Connie worked as Director of the Employment and Training Division for the County of Humboldt. She managed several work-readiness programs and 32 staff helping Humboldt residents with job training and employment. During her tenure, Connie designed and led several multi-agency programs that garnered praise from the State Workforce and Employment Development Departments for their collaborative innovation and outcomes.

Hannah Winans has lived in Humboldt County for over 20 years. She is the Broker/Owner of Trillium Realty Group in McKinleyville and has specialized in residential real estate for over 25 years. Hannah is passionate about serving our community. She is proud to be actively involved in several local nonprofits and believes in the people and potential of Humboldt County. We Are Up is especially special to her because everyone should have a home where they are not only comfortable and sheltered but also a place that inspires them to thrive and live life to its full potential. She wholeheartedly believes in the people and vision of We Are Up. Hannah lives in McKinleyville with her husband Rich.

Heather Vina has lived in Humboldt County all of her life. She is the Agent/Owner of Heather Vina State Farm in McKinleyville as well as a children’s book author. Heather has volunteered in some way most of her life, starting when she was very young. She believes in supporting her local community. Currently she and her golden retriever Augie the Therapy Doggie are a therapy team providing support to students at local schools, seniors as well as individuals with intellectual disabilities. Heather’s office is located near the site of the We Are Up property and she is excited to have the organization as a neighbor and believes it will be an asset to the community. She looks forward to working with them and the community for many years to come. Heather resides in McKinleyville with her husband Mike and their golden retriever Augie.

Jayne McGuire is a professor at Cal Poly Humboldt, in Northern California, where she teaches in the Recreation Administration, Special Education, Adapted Physical Education,and College Faculty Preparation programs. Jayne is passionate about inclusion in the classroom and in the community. During her career, she has as served as a special educator, a therapeutic recreation specialist, an executive director of an accessible adventure organization, and a Special Olympics coach and researcher. Dr. McGuire has published articles, book chapters, and co-authored a textbook. She has also presented nationally and internationally on topics related to inclusion, universal design for learning, active learning, teacher training, sports coaching and self-determination. She is also a two-time Fulbright Scholar who worked with the University of West Indies, St. Augustine in 2017, and the University of West Indies, Mona 2022-2023.

Laura Larson has spent her adult life addressing the need for inclusive and integrated supports for people with a variety of disabilities. Without a safe place of your own to call “home”, it is difficult to achieve the dream of a “good life.”

Laura served as the Executive Director of the Area Two Board on Developmental Disabilities from 1984-2006 working on developing needed supports in Northern California. Later she became the Executive Director of Far Northern Regional Center from 1996-2019. During this time she established the nonprofit housing foundation Resources for Rural Community Development, Inc (DBA Access Home) with a mission to provide safe and affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities.

Robin Keehn retired from her position of Executive Director Region 2, State Council on Developmental Disabilities (Diverse Abilities) after 27 years doing advocacy, program development, systems monitoring and public education in the nine northeastern counties of California.

She received her Special Education Credential back in 1974 and worked in Missouri, the Philippines and at Sonoma Sate Hospital, developing educational programs and providing instruction to student with a wide a variety of special needs and abilities. Robin lives in Chico, California where she actively stands up for diversity and volunteers with a variety of community organizations.

Ryk graduated from HSU with a degree in engineering and life intention that is always searching for the most equitable way to live in this modern world. He brings many skills to the Farm and Ag Volunteer team, was the lead person responsible for finding, planting and caring for the apple orchard and keeping things cared for in general. We Are Up gives him hope that a community can exist in an ever-polarizing world. We Are Up can mean so many things. To Ryk it means I Am Up . . .to help, learn, and be a part of a tribe of selfless people all asking themselves “what can I do to help?”

Sandra Greenleaf is recently retired from an interior design business of 15 year. Her business included consulting, hands on decorating, designing spaces and coordinating between clients and contractors. Many of her projects included both residential new building, remodeling and commercial spaces such as Pacific Seafood and Cypress Grove Chevre offices, the Yurok Tribal Court, Eureka Chambers, Cal Poly Student’s Lounge, Dining Hall and Food Court, Northern Humboldt School Districts high school’s libraries, and the College of the Redwoods Creative Art’s Center. She has volunteered throughout most of her life.

Sierra Braggs is dedicated to building a world in which many worlds are possible. She is passionate about community inclusion for all people with housing first as the foundation from which healthy families can grow and thrive. Sierra was introduced to Autism Spectrum Disorder by her brother-in-law, and has experience working at every level of the service system over the past 20 years, in large part due to his lack of access to adequate services and support during their time together in the state of Georgia for seven years. Sierra has spent the past 10 years coaching Redwood Coast Regional Center service providers to provide person centered community based services to people with developmental disabilities. During her time at RCRC she advocated strongly for the development of affordable and accessible housing for people with developmental disabilities and supported the development of six inclusive housing projects in Lake and Mendocino Counties, with three more in process in Humboldt County, including We Are Up. She has recently begun to learn about neurodivergent affirming practices. Sierra is presently embarking on a new journey with her husband to start a behavioral health agency serving transition age youth and young adults in Humboldt County to lead independent lives of their own choosing. She is currently the President of the Friends of Redwood Coast Montessori board and looking forward to working with the We Are Up board to manifest its beautiful vision.