We are excited to welcome five new staff members and look forward to collaborating with them to advance wellness and health equity in California. We also are thrilled to celebrate the promotions of two valued colleagues taking on new roles at Cal Wellness.
Announcing New Cal Wellness Hires and Staff Promotions
Alexa Alarcón, Executive Assistant and Communications Coordinator
Alarcón is committed to leveraging communications to amplify community voices and shed light on economic and social disparities through compelling digital storytelling. Prior to joining Cal Wellness, she worked at Pacoima Beautiful, an environmental justice nonprofit in the San Fernando Valley, where she served as communications manager. She has also worked with Los Angeles Football Club, Angel City Football Club, and the LA City Employees’ Retirement System. Alarcón holds a bachelor of science degree in sports management with a concentration in media studies from New York University. She is part of the Cal Wellness public affairs team and is based in our Los Angeles office.
Ceci Sanchez, Administrative Assistant
Sanchez brings more than ten years of administrative experience, having worked for various nonprofits including Art With Impact, YWCA, and the American Red Cross. Most recently, she supported the CalFresh Nutrition Education Program team, serving low-income families across Los Angeles County. Sanchez is a certified yoga instructor and regularly volunteers at schools to introduce young children to yoga and mindfulness practices to promote their physical and mental well-being. Sanchez is based at Cal Wellness’ Los Angeles office.
Flor Flores, Human Resources Coordinator
Flores has more than five years of experience in human resources, operations and employee engagement. Prior to joining Cal Wellness, she worked at Proyecto Pastoral, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit with a mission to empower the Boyle Heights community. There, she served as senior human resources and operations coordinator, helping to establish an HR team and ensuring smooth daily HR operations, from recruitment and onboarding to benefits and leave administration. She is also a teaching artist at Self-Help Graphics. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in global studies from the University of California, Riverside, and is certified by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-CP). Flores is based at Cal Wellness’ Los Angeles office.
Gail Yen, Program Officer
Yen brings experience in policy research, development and implementation, coalition building, community organizing and strategic communications. A child of immigrant parents and a former foster youth, Yen is committed to systems change by working hand-in-hand with community-based organizations and people most impacted by inequity. Previously, she served as the California Policy Director at Root & Rebound, the Senior Policy and Research Analyst at California Competes, the Health Policy Associate at Children Now, and a fellow for Assemblymember Rich Gordon. Yen is based at Cal Wellness’ Oakland office.
Theresa Esparrago Lieu, Senior Learning Officer
Lieu brings over 10 years of experience in designing learning agendas and informing strategy refinement, execution, and reflection. Prior to joining Cal Wellness, she worked at College Futures Foundation, where she served as strategic learning officer and established a strategic learning infrastructure. She also has a background in consulting, learning, and philanthropy, having worked at Informing Change and ConnectED: The National Center for College and Career. Lieu is passionate about cultivating a culture of continuous learning, driving organizational improvement through data, and promoting collaboration across teams. She holds a master’s degree in sociology of education from the New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and a bachelor of arts degree in sociology with a minor in Asian American studies from the University of California, Berkeley. Lieu is based at Cal Wellness’ Oakland office.
Brooke Atherton El-Amine, Manager of the Executive
Office
Atherton El-Amine previously served as executive assistant to the CEO and before that, assistant to the executive vice president at Cal Wellness. Prior to joining Cal Wellness in 2021, she worked as a senior-level assistant and as a project and program manager, primarily in higher education and community development. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in urban studies with a concentration in community organizations from Stanford University and is currently completing her master’s degree in educational administration and policy studies from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. Atherton El-Amine is based at Cal Wellness’ Oakland office.
Stephanie Gomez, Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships Officer
Gomez previously served as public policy officer at Cal Wellness, where she helped build our government relations capacity and strengthen our policy-focused work. Before joining Cal Wellness in 2017, Gomez was a program associate at the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, a program coordinator for Families In Schools in Los Angeles, and a policy consultant for the California State Treasurer’s Office. She earned her master’s degree in public policy from the University of Southern California and her bachelor’s degree in sociology from UCLA. Gomez is based at Cal Wellness’ Los Angeles office.