Board of Directors

President

Heather is a compassionate advocate devoted to transforming the lives of the unsheltered community. Drawing strength from her own experiences with homelessness, Heather co-founded Sonoma County Acts of Kindness to establish meaningful connections, meet immediate needs, and inspire others to volunteer alongside her. Through her exceptional outreach skills, Heather instills hope and resilience in those she encounters. Her transformative efforts transcend traditional charity, embodying a sincere desire to empower and uplift individuals facing adversity.

Secretary

Jason has been part of the Santa Rosa community since 2016. He began volunteering with Acts of Kindness in the summer of 2020, as the COVID pandemic laid bare the massive disparities in an unjust system. To this day, he has been inspired by the resilience and strength of his unsheltered neighbors and volunteer cohorts. Beyond Acts of Kindness, Jason also volunteers on a local farm that grows free, fresh produce for the community.

Treasurer

Miles has been involved with Sonoma County Acts of Kindness since 2019 and is proud to do this good work with and within his community. He also sits on the board of the Sonoma County Beekeepers Association and is the co-founder of Mask Sonoma, a local mutual aid hub continuing to serve the community through three catastrophic wildfires and a pandemic. Whether advocating for the wellbeing of our unsheltered neighbors or pollinators in general, Miles believes that ultimately this work boils down to simply doing the right thing.

In 2020, Karla drove past a literal mile of tents on the Joe Rodota Trail and was filled with rage and horror at the ways our county and our social services networks had failed to protect our most vulnerable people. She searched for a group that was doing real, warm, boots on the ground work to address our county’s humanitarian crisis, and she began volunteering soon after. Karla’s experience of 10 years of on-and-off homelessness as a young single mother helped her understand what the poorest among us face on a daily basis. She’s glad to be able to offer supplies, support, a listening ear, and a wicked sense of humor to help our unsheltered neighbors know that they’re worthy of time, love, and respect. Thank goodness for Sonoma County Acts of Kindness.

Amanda began volunteering for Sonoma County Acts of Kindness in 2021 by helping organize donations and making meals. After meeting a few unsheltered people through direct outreach, she was hooked.

In the beginning, Amanda saw and addressed the great need of food, care, and supplies for the beloved pets of unsheltered people she was meeting on her supplies and food delivery runs. She reached out and secured partnerships with local pet supply stores and shelters, and the donations came flowing in.

Amanda is now a board member and helps organize donations and with food preparation, supporting before, during, and after events, and occasional direct outreach with other volunteers.