President

​

The Rev. Nelson H. Rabell González was born in Puerto Rico (1972). He is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (2002). He has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (1996). He worked as a Manufacturing Process Engineer at Motorola in Puerto Rico (1996-1998). He also holds a Master in Divinity (2002), and a Sacred Theology Master in Bible and Lutheran Studies (2007) from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (now United Lutheran Seminary). He is currently in the process of obtaining a Doctor in Ministry Degree from Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He currently serves the immigrant community of Stockton and Lodi, in California, as the Mission Developer and Pastor for Misión Latina Luterana of Greater Stockton, an ELCA new mission start. After the death of George Floy and Brianna Taylor, Rev. Rabell co-founded A New Lodi, and anti racist 501 C3 non for profit organization, which mission is to amplify the voices of marginalized communities in the city of Lodi, CA. He is married to Dr. Fabiola Ramos, who is both a dentist and an epidemiologist. They have two children; Hiram (22), and Sofía (20). Their dog’s name is Lucas, a rescue dog.

Vice President

​Bianca Dueñas was born and raised in Lodi. She grew up significantly aware of her family’s roots as immigrant farm workers in this region and it has shaped the trajectory of her life. After graduating from Lodi High School, she attended Stanford University and UC Davis School of Law. Her focus and passion has always been immigrant and farm worker justice. She is now an immigration attorney at a nonprofit organization, where she provides no cost legal services to farm worker and low-income families. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. 

Treasurer

​

The Rev. Deacon Tom Hampson serves at The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Lodi, California. He also chairs the Immigration Commission for the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin (www.sjraise.org). Prior to his retirement in 2014, he worked for Church World Service, an international humanitarian agency, for 31 years (www.cwsglobal.org ). Raised in Modesto, California, he earned a BA and MA in Theology from the University of Notre Dame (’71/’73) and an MAEd in Counseling Psychology from Washington University (1982). He’s the co-author of two books, Make a World of Difference: Creative Activities for Global Learning (1989) and Tales of the Heart: Affective Approaches to Global Education (1990) both published by Friendship Press. He is married and has three sons and one grandson.

Nancy Aidé Gonzalez St. Clair is a educator, activist, and writer in Lodi, California. She is working on the doctoral educational leadership program at the University of the Pacific. She has been a public educator for 21 years. She currently works as a teacher at an elementary school in the Lodi Unified School District. She has been involved in her school site council, leadership team, Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) coach, and Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) team. Nancy González St. Clair's interests in education include multicultural, culturally responsive teaching, and social justice education.

Secretary and Pride Festival Coordinator

​

An Executive Founding Board Member and Secretary of A New Lodi, Kat Ellis, specializes in LGBTQIA+ issues and women's rights. As a queer feminist herself, she strives to bring healing and justice to her community. She is the Festival Coordinator for Lodi Pride Festival and passionately works towards education of intersectionality. Kat is also a local elementary school teacher, pet parent, partner, wine enthusiast, and multi-media artist. 

Diane Avery-Kaufman was born and raised in Lodi. She attended Lodi area schools. Diane has two daughters who were both raised in Lodi.

She has worked in Special Ed/Behavior Therapy for over 30 years and has a passion for social justice.

Christopher S. Anderson Ed.D. is the Graphic Design instructor at the Merlo Institute of Environmental Technology in Stockton and a leader for the local, state and national teachers’ unions. He has lived in the Central Valley for over two decades and is one of the founding board members of A New Lodi. He has been carrying the torch for social and environmental justice for his entire adult life and a good part of his childhood. He and his wife consider themselves Urban Homesteaders who are avid gardeners and vegans who grow much of the food they eat. He considers himself to be an “Imperfect Taoist” and follows the teachings of the Tao Te Ching to the best of his ability. He steadfastly believes that all people deserve justice and respect and has been speaking out against injustice for five decades. He challenges others to speak up too as silence signals consent. In the end, the most important roles he plays are husband, father and grandfather.

Pastor Curtis Lamont Smith IV, a Stockton native, is the Senior Pastor and founder of Destiny Christian Center. As a co-vocational pastor, he also works as the Regional Director of Faith in the Valley, a faith based community organizing network. Curtis’s motto, “Justice is not Political, it’s Biblical,” has inspired him into an understanding that the fight for justice is not additional to the call of God; however, is his call to ministry. Pastor Curtis holds a Masters’ Degree in Christian Leadership. His Capstone was a preliminary study to his thesis “Power of Partnerships of Faith Based organizations with Local Governing Agencies to bring solutions to inequities in the Black communities through Church Unification in the Urban Cities Curtis' bride of sixteen years, Kristen Lucas Smith, also co-Pastors DCC, and works as a Professor/Advisor for SUM, a fully accredited seminary that they oversee in Stockton, CA. They have a three-year-old “Miracle” son, Curtis Joshua Smith V. Pastor Smith is the proud son of Curtis E. Smith III & Marsha Mouton and Grandson of Curtis & Addie Smith and Marshall & Maxine Mouton. In 2006, the height of record-breaking homicides in Stockton, he worked with local clergy implementing “Night Walks” in the hot spot neighborhoods in Stockton. This also led to partnering with local ministries to restore the park and playground in the Bianchi neighborhood. He has served as President of the Board of Directors and is a founding leader of Lifelines to Healing, working with formerly incarcerated, current and former gang members and victims and perpetrators of violent crimes. He continuously pursues building a bridge between community and public servants. Curtis has worked with his staff on racial, restorative, economic and environmental justice campaigns. Memberships/Associations: Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.* NAACP Stockton Branch*Visionary Leader (Stockton Cohort of School of Urban Missions Bible College and Theological Seminary)*LIVE FREE (Restorative Justice network)* Co-host of Community Gathering for Peace with Stockton Chief of Police & Office of Violence Prevention* Board member -San Joaquin Justice Coalition* Founder of Bass, Bibles & Basketball Youth Ministry* Board of Directors for Unbound Stockton Charter School. Past Affiliations:*Love Stockton (Community Development & Improvement)*National grass roots campaign for Racial Equality and Dis-proportionality in the Child Welfare System*People and Congregations Together, (P.A.C.T.)