tel. 916-808-7235

mqlee@cityofsacramento.org

Monika Lee is an experienced communications and public affairs professional. Her work spans policy and legislative advocacy to community outreach to narrative change work. She is dedicated to transforming systems and policies to ensure everyone has what they need to thrive. She has experience in full-scale communications work, from public education campaigns to targeted legislative work, all with a desire to bridge policymakers and elected officials to the communities they serve and are accountable to. Originally from San Diego, she enjoys hiking and baking. In her spare time she is involved locally through Global Shapers Sacramento and plays soccer.

tel. 916-808-5240

klewandowski@cityofsacramento.org

Kayla Lewandowski, a Northern California native, has proudly called Sacramento her home for over five years. She grew up in Paradise California, where she spent most of her days with her father and Grandfather working at their family businesses.

Kayla's professional journey is marked by a diverse background in the tech industry and corporate law, offering her a comprehensive skill set. Graduating with honors in Political Science from California State University, Chico in 2018, she brings both academic excellence and real-world experience to her endeavors.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Kayla is deeply committed to her community. Excitedly joining forces with the District 3 team, she looks forward to channeling her passion and expertise to contribute positively to the community she holds dear.

tel. 916-808-5532

emadridmoreno@cityofsacramento.org

As a native of Bakersfield and a student at Sacramento State University, Eduardo has dedicated both his personal and professional life to empowering underrepresented communities.

From leading weekly park clean-ups in underserved neighborhoods to serving in the Young Assembly Member Program , Community Organizing for the Dolores Huerta Foundation, and other work experience, Eduardo does his best to ensure underrepresented communities have everything they need to engage in the decision-making processes and get what resources and investments they need to thrive.

Eduardo began to pursue a life of public service because he noticed the inequities in funding and resources in the community. Eduardo is dedicated to serving District 3 and bringing resources back into our community.

tel. 916-808-7003

mccastillo@cityofsacramento.org

Monica is a first-year community college student and former summer intern for Vice Mayor Talamantes. A South Natomas resident, Monica is well acquainted with District 3's community, history, and values, and is excited to begin another year of serving the district she has called home for ten years! 

Having attended a law-based high school, Monica was immersed in curriculum heavily focused on U.S. history, economics, and law for majority of her schooling. There, she gained a foundational knowledge and interest in local government, particularly to invite and encourage more citizens to take an active role in their communities and democratic processes.

Currently, Monica is earning her EMT certification, and later plans on studying health science at California State University, Sacramento. In the medical field, she gets to combine her two favorite sciences; natural and social, to serve members of her community as holistically as she can.

tel. 916-808-7003

mblackard@cityofsacramento.org

Marie Blackard is a fourth-year, pre-law student at the University of California, Davis completing a bachelor’s degree in Political Science – Public Service. She is also a double minor in Environmental Policy Analysis & Planning and Linguistics. As she approaches her graduation ceremony in June, she looks forward to gaining more work experience before applying to law school in the next few years.

Currently, she serves as the Marketing Director for the Davis Pre-Law Society and as a Volunteer with the Imani Legal Clinic. These roles have furthered her passion for the legal field, especially public interest and environmental work, and have shown her how law can be used to help underserved communities.

During her time as an intern with the Office of Vice Mayor Talamantes, she hopes to make lasting connections with members of the communities in District 3 and Sacramento as a whole. She has spent the past four years of her life in this region of California and aims to give back as much as she can.

Outside of her internship and school activities, she enjoys taking long walks, listening to music, and napping with her cat, Mango.

tel. 916-808-7003

sgingras@cityofsacramento.org

As a native of Bakersfield and current student at the University of California, Davis, Sith has been interested in Public Policy since he watched his first local city council meeting.

Sith has previous experience as an administrative assistant intern for a commercial appraisal company in Bakersfield, where he gained hands-on experience observing how local governance impacts the private sector. After completing his internship, he was offered an online media marketing position for a local restaurant, where he helped establish a social media presence.

After graduating from high school, Sith continued his education at Bakersfield College, studying Business Administration and Economics. In 2025, he graduated from the school with honors, earning an associate's degree in both areas of study.

In his personal time, Sith operates as the Assistant Vice President of Recruitment for the UC Davis Interfraternity Council, introducing individuals to the school's vibrant Greek Life. His primary focus in this role has been on increasing the recruitment of Transfer students.

Sith has always been interested in giving back to the community around him. One of his biggest accomplishments was completing his Eagle Scout Project to provide support for an underfunded Junior High Band. He looks forward to any opportunity that allows him to provide help and support to those who need it most

Marbella was born in Mexico City and migrated to Sacramento when she was five. She has lived in the Northgate Gardenland community for almost four decades and raised two children and is a grandmother of two. Five years ago, Marbella retired from UC Davis Medical School as Manager for the Office of Student and Resident Diversity and decided she wanted to make a concerted effort towards improving our community. Since then, Marbella was elected President of the Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood Association (GNNA) and appointed in 2021 as The Measure U Commissioner for District 3. Her goal as President and as Commissioner is to reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the people who live in it.

As a leader, Marbella believes we must have a holistic vision for the advancement of equity and inclusion that foster an environment where diverse perspectives can be heard, and creativity celebrated. Honored to have her advocacy for our community!

Robbie Robbins was born and raised in District 3 in the neighborhood of Gardenland. A youth football coach for over a decade for the Grant Pacers has hosted free football clinics at Gardenland Park that led him into founding the Grassroots effort GardenLand Proud that has the mission of improving the area of Gardenland.

With the help of Robbie and Gardenland Proud he was able to save Gardenland Park from being sold to investors and saved the park. Working with the Sacramento Kings, Gardenland Park basketball courts were remodeled and has hosted many free basketball camps and free movie nights since then.

While working with the Sacramento Tree Foundation Robbie also hosted Tree plantings and tree mulching days at the park. With Robbie's hard work keeping the park clean from graffiti and trash on his time off the Sacramento Parks and Recreation Commission invented the Parks & Community Enrichment Commission Volunteer Award making him the inaugural winner.

Robbie was also Given the D3 N Factor Award for Community Leader of the year. Since then Robbie has worked with the Sacramento Republic to host soccer clinics at Ninos park twice a year and helped to get the first ever Bobby Jackson Basketball clinic that was free for the kids of the area.

Robbie has the biggest heart, loves our community, helped with the beautiful Northgate mural, and is a dad of two attending Smythe Academy.

Over the past decade, Dr. Nkiruka Catherine Ohaegbu has collaborated extensively with leaders from a variety of industries in the business, nonprofit, state, and federal government sectors. She established Adaptive Strategies Consulting, providing expertise in public policy, advocacy, and strategic planning.

Prior to this, she worked for PG&E in public affairs, government relations, and enterprise project governance roles.

In these positions, she promoted sustainable development and clean energy while enhancing and maintaining public affairs partnerships, programs, and government relations outreach strategies for a range of initiatives. Prior to joining PG&E, she served as a Business Loan Specialist at the US Small Business Administration, working with businesses recovering from economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She previously was a gubernatorial appointee at Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, serving as Assistant Director of Planning and Policy, managing the development and implementation of special projects. She also served in several positions in the Office of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. including special assistant to the Governor and First Lady.

Dr. Ohaegbu currently sits on the boards of the YMCA of Superior California, PBS KVIE, and the Sacramento State Alumni Association.

Dr. Ohaegbu holds a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University, an MBA from California State University Sacramento, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Georgia State University.

She was a 2017 Fair Housing and Social Inclusion Fellow certified by the University of California, Davis. She is a Senior Fellow of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, a member of the 2021 class of Leadership Sacramento, and Leadership California CIT alumnus.

Dr. Ohaegbu was awarded Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award, Diversity MBA’s Top 100 Under 50 Emerging Leaders, Sac Cultural Hub’s Exceptional Women of Color Excellence Award, Sacramento Bee’s Top 25 Black Change Makers, the National Black MBA Association – SF/Bay Area Chapter’s Emerging Leaders Award, and 2023 MetroEdge Young Professional of the Year by the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.

Don Gibson has been a resident of the Willowcreek neighborhood since 2013 and is passionate about trying to make our communities more sustainable places to live, work, and play.

In graduate school, Don helped develop surveys and reports that identified the causes of housing insecurity and drafted policies to reduce housing cost burdens. He has also worked to help build infill housing and mixed-use developments in our communities. In addition, Don served on the Davis Housing Element Committee, where they proposed land use reforms to reduce car dependency and promote walkable neighborhoods.

Professionally, Don works as an agricultural scientist and received his Ph.D. in Plant Genetics from UC Davis in 2019 and his bachelor's also from UC Davis in 2010. You might also see him around town at Sacramento Republic FC games in his alter ego, Rave Bear, cheering on our soccer team.

Volma Volcy is dedicated and committed to making a real difference in Sacramento. As a father, husband, and someone who juggles the hats of a community organizer, labor leader, small business owner, and non-profit executive, Volma is deeply invested in building a better, more equitable Sacramento for his kids and every child in the community. His journey is fueled by a desire not just to dream of a fairer society but to roll up his sleeves and work towards it every day.

Larry D. Coleman II is an analytical and mission-driven professional with extensive experience in policy analysis, program management, and operational leadership. A U.S. Air Force veteran and current reservist, he has led diverse teams, advanced organizational accountability, and implemented safety and compliance programs across military, transportation, and public service sectors. His career includes roles as a locomotive engineer and project manager with Amtrak, where he optimized operations, enhanced training programs, and improved service efficiency.

A proud Natomas resident, Larry is happily married with two children and is an active member of the community. He coaches little league baseball and flag football, and for the past 14 years, he and his family have organized and distributed backpacks filled with essentials for the unhoused. Adept at stakeholder engagement, data-driven decision-making, and strategic problem-solving, Larry is committed to fostering transparency, equity, and long-term institutional impact both professionally and personally.

Ashlee Patel is a dedicated education professional with over 23 years of experience in early childhood education, special education, and curriculum development. A graduate of Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education focusing on Inclusion, Ashlee began her career in West Harlem, New York City before relocating to Sacramento in 2009. While in Sacramento, she has successfully developed inclusive programs across local charter schools while obtaining a Master’s Degree in Education & Social Emotional Learning, alongside a credential in Special Education.

Currently serving as the Coordinator of Special Education at Westlake Charter School, Ashlee is committed to creating inclusive learning environments. Her extensive involvement includes past service on the Westlake Charter School Board and active participation in multiple committees, such as the Capitol Optimist Club. She was honored as the Best Buddies 2023 Champion of the Year and is a proud member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and PI Lambda Theta Honor Society. Residing in North Natomas with her husband and two sons, Ashlee continues to advocate for individuals with disabilities.

Joe Contreras is a lifelong resident of Gardenland with more than 50 years of connection to the neighborhood. He is a co-founder of the Gardenland Northgate Neighborhood Association (GNNA) and has long been dedicated to advocating for the community’s growth, safety, and quality of life.

With over eight years of experience as a City Planner, Joe has contributed to projects that have shaped Northgate, including the Northgate Improvement Plan of 2003 and the Northgate Mobility Plan of 2023. His work has supported improvements such as new stop lights to enhance safety, the addition of a public mural, and the construction of a sound wall along Northgate to reduce noise and improve the area’s appearance.

Joe has also championed recreational spaces for local families, helping advance enhancements at Gardenland Park, including the installation of the park’s water feature that continues to be enjoyed by children each summer.

Throughout his life, Joe has remained committed to preserving Gardenland’s character while working toward thoughtful improvements that benefit the community.

Aimee Wells is a Sacramento resident of 25 years and a dedicated advocate for animal welfare. She currently serves as the Dean of Students at Westlake Charter School in Natomas, where she lives with her two dogs.

Aimee’s commitment to animal welfare grew through her family’s volunteer work with Front Street Animal Shelter, where her children first became involved as part of their high school community service. Since then, she has remained actively engaged in supporting animals through volunteering and fostering. To date, she has fostered 32 puppies and dogs since the COVID pandemic.

She believes in collaborative partnerships among residents, nonprofit organizations, and City leadership to reduce animal cruelty, strengthen protections, and expand access to sheltering and care resources. Her key priorities include increasing access to spay and neuter services, promoting adoption programs, and advancing public education to encourage responsible pet ownership.

As an Animal Wellbeing Commissioner for District 3, Aimee is committed to bringing a balanced and thoughtful approach grounded in compassion, accountability, and community engagement. She looks forward to supporting policies that reflect Sacramento’s values while addressing the diverse needs of both residents and animals.

Reyes Rios is a passionate and driven youth leader with a strong record of public service and a commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices. As Chair of the Sacramento Youth Commission, Reyes leads collaborative efforts to advise city leaders on youth engagement strategies and policy development. He played a key role in shaping the Strategic Investment Plan for the $50 million Sacramento Children’s Fund and evaluating non-profit grant applications. Through his outreach work with the $1 billion Aggie Square Project, Reyes has facilitated youth-centered discussions on community access and innovation. With strong communication skills and a natural aptitude for leadership, Reyes excels at building connections across diverse groups and driving meaningful impact. His professional experience also includes mentoring youth through volunteer coaching. Reyes aspires to continue his work in civic engagement where he can amplify community voices and lead change on a broader scale.

Evana Godfrey Bernardo serves as the District 3 Youth Commissioner for Sacramento. Known for her adaptability, reliability, and attentive listening skills, she excels at connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Currently a sophomore at Leroy Greene Academy, Evana is committed to advocating for youth voices and enhancing Sacramento's communities. Her goal is to foster meaningful interactions and learn from others to create a positive impact. Outside of her role, she enjoys caring for her pet cat, diving into a good book, and spending quality time with loved ones.