Christopher Aguilar joins the MECCA team as a Project Coordinator and Mental Health Advocate for StanD – a play to help break the stigma of mental illness which he also serves as the playwright.  Christopher is thrilled to bring his play into the MECCA communities because Orange County is his hometown.  Christopher holds a BA in Communications and Sociology from Richmond, The American International University and an MA in Music Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama; both universities in London, England.  He is also an AEA and SAG-AFTRA actor having appeared on such shows as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, La Cage Aux Folles, Seinfeld, Star Trek: Voyager, Shameless and Mike & Molly.  Christopher has been presenting StanD throughout Southern California since 2017 and teaches a class on community outreach called Act to Inspire.

Alvi Khandakar is the Substance Use Disorder Outreach Coordinator for the Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA). Prior to joining MECCA, Alvi served as a Case Navigator and Training Coordinator for the Orange County Department of Public Health where he specialized in leading a team of health and data analysts to make an impact on community health around Orange County. Prior to his work at the county, Alvi spent a number of years working at UCI Medical and Partners as a scribe and administrative assistant, where he was able to work on improving patient care, health insurance liaison, and data management. Alvi has a deeply seated passion and commitment to empowering, serving, and advocating for underserved communities. His personal and professional experiences around the healthcare field led him to hold a BS in Public Health Sciences specialized in Health Policy and Management from the University of California, Irvine. In his free time, Alvi enjoys spending time with his friends, taking his car to a race track, exercising, and photography/videography.

Donna has worked in the mental & behavioral health field for the majority of her adult years, providing direct intervention utilizing ABA (applied behavioral analysis) & RDI (relationship development intervention) strategies for clients with mental, developmental, and intellectual disorders, and gaining credentials as an ABAT (applied behavioral analysis technician), BCAT (board certified autism technician), & RBT (registered behavior technician). She is currently in grad school working toward a Master of Liberal Studies with a concentration in Global Studies from Fort Hays State University. Donna holds a Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in Human Services (Sociology) in addition to two undergrad certificates in Cultural Anthropology & Globalization and Global Leadership. She strives to continue her career in human services by focusing on advocacy, policy implementation, and pressing global issues such as human rights, inequality, racial formations, and operations in nonprofit organizations to sustain and develop our underserved communities.

Abdul Osman is the Communications Technology Coordinator for the Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA). He holds a bachelor’s in Informatics from UC Irvine with a focus in Human-Computer Interaction and Frontend Development. Before joining MECCA, Abdul interned for The Innovation Lab of Newport Beach and contributed to the codebase of healthcare related web applications. Additionally, Abdul served as a director for UCI’s mentorship program where he developed curriculum on college readiness and social justice for first-generation, low-socioeconomic students. His passion for technology, service and community building, and media led him to MECCA and its mission to serve Orange County’s multicultural underserved communities. Outside of work, you can find Abdul cooking new recipes or capturing memories through photography adventures.

Mayra Roman is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. She has 14 ½ years of experience working in the social service field, most of which has been providing in-home therapy services and parenting education. More recently, Mayra worked as a supervisor and Program Director for The Infant Home Visitation Program at the Priority Center in Orange County. She also did extensive work in the faith-based community providing support and education to families.  Mayra has dedicated her life to help the underserved communities find the support they need in order to thrive.

Matt Haines is the Communications Manager for the Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA). Before joining the team at MECCA, Matt served as a Communications Specialist for the Orange County Board of Supervisors, District 1, where he specialized in social media, digital communications, community relations and outreach, and a broad range of writing. The years he spent in government inspired Matt to continue to pursue a career of service, leading him to join MECCA and its mission to serve the diverse communities of Orange County. Matt is a passionate communicator who holds a BA in Communication Studies from California State University Long Beach and a MA in Professional Communications from California State University Fullerton. For fun, Matt likes to spend his free time outdoors, primarily hiking and camping.

Yara Ayache is the Finance Manager for the Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA). Prior to joining MECCA, Yara served as the Director of Operations for the Syrian Community Network in San Diego where she ran and developed programs that empowered Syrian refugee women by providing them with the skills necessary to overcome the barriers to employment. Previously, Yara served as a First Year AmeriCorps Member with City Year Los Angeles where she tutored and mentored 10th grade students who were at-risk of dropping out. Yara’s passion and commitment to empowering others began in the Middle East where she grew up and received an education centered around service, which then led her to completing her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from New York University (NYU) before stepping into her career in non-profits.

Iman holds a bachelor’s in Public Health and a minor in Public Administration from California State University, Fullerton. She also holds a master’s in Business Administration from University of the People. Iman was a Training Assistant Intern and Training Consultant at the Child Guidance Center and a Mental Health Worker at the Children’s Bureau. She is a teacher assistant at Al-Ansar Saturday School. She attends several mental health and wellness trainings provided in the community. She enjoys volunteering her time at West Coast Islamic Society. Iman is committed and passionate about enhancing and improving the quality of life for underserved multicultural communities.

Rhiannon Doscher leads the development of culturally responsive programs, all MECCA program initiatives, and the dedicated program team as the Director of Programs. Rhiannon thrives on human connection and is passionate about learning, sharing, and collectively growing from human experiences. She possesses a natural ability to connect with people from all different walks of life, especially those who make up the diverse community of Orange County.

Rhiannon is no stranger to serving community, her work in the helping profession began over 15 years ago when she embarked on her journey into the nonprofit world by working with at risk youth. Rhiannon knew at a young age that this was the work she was made for. After spending 10 years learning, growing, and enhancing her skill set at three different Orange County Boys & Girls Clubs, she made a transition into serving our neighbors in need experiencing hunger and homelessness. It was at Pathways of Hope that Rhiannon found her passion: finding the funding and resources necessary to serve the most vulnerable and marginalized community members.

Rhiannon’s nonprofit expertise and personal experiences serve as the foundation for the passion and commitment that she brings to work each day. Her experience has given Rhiannon deep appreciation and knowledge for how nonprofits operate and seek to improve the quality of life for our community; one person at a time.

Cindy graduated from CSU Long Beach with her Master’s in Public Health. While in school, she previously interned with OC MECCA and helped with various programs and attended outreach events. In the past, she has interned at Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Vietnamese American Cancer Foundation, both non-profit organizations that aim to help individuals and families dealing with cancer and to improve their quality of life. Due to her grandfather’s lung and cancer diagnoses in the past, Cindy’s passion is to help those in underserved communities get the help and education needed in order to reduce health disparities. Her hobbies include making arts and crafts, trying new coffee/tea shops, and traveling.

Dr. Gallardo is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Aliento, The Center for Latina/o Communities at Pepperdine University.  He is a licensed clinical psychologist and maintains an independent/consultation practice at the Neurobehavioral Clinical and Counseling Center where he conducts therapy, forensic/legal psychological, and neuropsychological screening assessments, and consults with organizations and universities on developing culturally responsive systems. He teaches courses on multicultural and social justice, advocacy, and professional practice issues.

Dr. Gallardo’s areas of scholarship and research interests include understanding the psychotherapy process when working with ethnocultural communities, particularly Latinx communities and in understanding the processes by which individuals develop cultural awareness and humility.  Dr. Gallardo has published refereed journal articles, books, and book chapters in the areas of multicultural psychology, Latinx psychology, ethics and evidence-based practices, cultural humility, and racial colorblindness.  He is currently a Series Editor for Cognella Academic Press’ Advances in Culture, Race, and Ethnicity book series.  Dr. Gallardo also regularly discusses issues relevant to understanding how we can develop stronger relationships with one another on his Cultural Humility podcast.

Dr. Gallardo is currently Director of Research and Evaluation for the Multiethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA), a non-profit organization dedicated to serving monolingual Arab, Farsi, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Spanish speaking communities.  Dr. Gallardo served a 6-year Governor appointed licensed member of the California Board of Psychology.  Dr. Gallardo is currently serving a 5-year appointment on the Clergy Misconduct Oversight Board for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  Dr. Gallardo is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association.

Shelly graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Psychology. While in school she interned at the Lakeview Senior Center supporting the community by referring and linking them to community resources. In addition to her work with older adults, Shelly also worked with families and their children who experience developmental disabilities, holding a position at Autism, Prevention, and Resources (AIR) in Laguna Hills. During her time working with families, Shelly was trained in providing family training, report writing, and individualizing behavioral plans. Through her experience, Shelly’s passion for serving underserved communities and reducing the stigma of mental health became clear, which lead her to begin working with MECCA as a program coordinator.

Yesenia Velez Ochoa is the Executive Director for the Multi-Ethnic Collaborative of Community Agencies (MECCA).  Prior to joining MECCA, Yesenia served as the executive director for Oak View Renewal Partnership where she led key community initiatives focusing on long-term community impact and sustainability through collaborative efforts.  Other positions have included Director of Community Development for Orange County United Way and Program Officer for the Merage Foundation for the American Dream where she developed programs engaging non-profits, public and private agencies for the economic empowerment of minority groups.   She is currently the immediate past chair for the Orange County Community Housing Corporation’s Board of Directors where she has volunteered 15 years. Throughout her career Yesenia has served on various committees and advisory boards dedicated to creating access and awareness of services for the underserved such as the St. Joseph Health Community Benefits and the Community for Innovation, Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Opportunities (CIELO).  Yesenia graduated from Claremont Graduate University with Master’s in Education and California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor’s in Human Services.