Meet Our Leadership Team
Keri Akemi-Hernandez (She/Her/Ella/They/Them/Ellos)
Mixed Ancestry:
Mohawk, Seneca, Apache,
French, Irish and Black
Executive Director & Founder
Bear Root Resource Center
Our Board Circle
Sandra Smith (She/Her/Ella)
Sandra Smith (She/Her/Ella)
Sandra Smith (She/Her/Ella)
Afro-Latina, Puerto Rican, Blackfoot & Lumbee
Board Circle President,
Bear Root Resource Center
Keona Leano (She/Her/Hers)
Sandra Smith (She/Her/Ella)
Sandra Smith (She/Her/Ella)
Navajo (Diné) & Samoan
Board Circle Treasurer,
Bear Root Resource Center
Our Cultural Advisory Committee Circle
Cheryl Davila, (She/Her/Ella)
Denise Piñon, MD/MPH/DipABLM (She/Her/Ella)
Leona Gonsalves, (She/Her/Ella)
American African,
Cherokee & Blackfoot
Cultural Advisor,
Bear Root Resource Center
Leona Gonsalves, (She/Her/Ella)
Denise Piñon, MD/MPH/DipABLM (She/Her/Ella)
Leona Gonsalves, (She/Her/Ella)
Okinawan, Illocano, and Taíno
Cultural Advisor,
Bear Root Resource Center
Tek Tekh Gabaldon, (She/Her/Ella)
Denise Piñon, MD/MPH/DipABLM (She/Her/Ella)
Denise Piñon, MD/MPH/DipABLM (She/Her/Ella)
Mishewal Wappo
& Navajo (Diné)
Cultural Advisor,
Bear Root Resource Center
Denise Piñon, MD/MPH/DipABLM (She/Her/Ella)
Denise Piñon, MD/MPH/DipABLM (She/Her/Ella)
Denise Piñon, MD/MPH/DipABLM (She/Her/Ella)
Mestiza de Michoacán, México
Chicanx &
re-Indigenizing
Asesora Cultural de Bear Root Resource Center
Jessica De Leon (She/Her/Ella)
Luis Alcázar, Ph.D. Candidate (Imá/Él/He/Him/His)
Luis Alcázar, Ph.D. Candidate (Imá/Él/He/Him/His)
Latina & Chicanx
Asesora Cultural de Bear Root Resource Center
Luis Alcázar, Ph.D. Candidate (Imá/Él/He/Him/His)
Luis Alcázar, Ph.D. Candidate (Imá/Él/He/Him/His)
Luis Alcázar, Ph.D. Candidate (Imá/Él/He/Him/His)
P'urhépecha
Community Member &
Xicano
Asesor Cultural de Bear Root Resource Center
Abran Lopez, (He/Him/His)
Luis Alcázar, Ph.D. Candidate (Imá/Él/He/Him/His)
Abran Lopez, (He/Him/His)
Amah Mutsun Ohlone & Founding member of (AMLT) Native Stewardship Corps
Cultural Advisor,
Bear Root Resource Center