Leading From Within

FRIDAY FEATURE:

Congratulations to Brenda Villa, LFW alum, recognized as the 2026 Mid County Leader of the Year award at the 11th Annual Latino Legacy Awards presented by Future Leaders of America.

Brenda shared,"Leading From Within was a life-changing experience. It fostered not only my professional growth but also meaningful personal growth. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the strong sense of community I found within my cohort. The relationships, support, and shared learning experiences continue to inspire me. The leader I am today is a direct result of opportunities like the Emerging Leaders Program through Leading From Within, which challenged me to grow, reflect, and lead with greater purpose and authenticity."

GROWING EDGE LEADERS | an invitation to elevate your executive leadership

WE'RE STARTING NEW GEL GROUPS!

GEL is designed for senior leaders who are committed to staying on their “growing edge” — the places where leadership calls you to stretch, evolve, and deepen your impact.

Each cohort brings together a diverse group of approximately 12 cross-sector leaders who meet monthly for a full-day facilitated experience focused on:
• collaborative problem-solving
• leadership growth
• peer support and accountability
• navigating opportunities and challenges with greater clarity and purpose

Participants also receive one-on-one executive coaching to support both professional effectiveness and personal wellbeing.

What could become possible with a trusted circle of peers and dedicated coaching all focused on helping you lead — and thrive?

Learn more at one of our information sessions: https://leading-from-within.org/events/growing-edge-leaders-info-sessions-please-2026/

FRIDAY FEATURE:

Our Leading for Community Impact (LCI) Program held their Changemakers' Celebration in Los Olivos on May 6. We are thrilled to welcome our 7th cohort of LCI into our alumni network. Shout out to our fabulous facilitators, Christa Roth and Danielle Ortega!

Congratulations Changemakers:

Kelsey Barela
Micah Mission Lompoc

Guadalupe Cortes
Foodbank SBC

Victor Cortes
Lompoc Teen Center

June Eastham
People's Self-Help Housing

Araceli Fernandez
One Community Action Santa Maria

Adrian Galvan
County of Santa Barbara

Esmeralda Garcia
Cultural & Creative Arts Center of Santa Maria Valley

Desiree Hernandez
County of Santa Barbara

Arleen Herrera
County of Santa Barbara

Gabriela Morales
The Nature Conservancy

Juan Pacheco Marcial
One Community Action Santa Maria

Ashley Paz-Rodriguez
County of Santa Barbara

Bianca Ruvalcaba
Family Service Agency

Jazmin Sanchez
SEE International

Quetzal Sanchez
Future Leaders of America

Selene Sandoval
Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People

Christina Vasquez
Good Samaritan Shelter

Our Emerging Leaders program application is officially open! Learn more by attending one of our information sessions.

ELP Is a 10-month (one full day each month) program that assembles a select cohort of emerging social sector leaders from SB County and neighboring communities, and guides them through a rigorous, relevant and applied curriculum. Thanks to our generous supporters, we will launch our 12th cohort in September.

Help spread the word - share with a colleague or friend.
RSVP link for info sessions: https://leading-from-within.org/events/emerging-leaders-info-sessions-2026/

FRIDAY FEATURE:
Leading From Within alumni spotlight

Congratulations to Dianne Diva, Katherine Harvey Fellows 2010-11, Managing Director - Arlington Financial Advisors, for being named one of Pacific Business Times Top 50 Women in Business!
Look for her on page 33A:
https://www.pacbiztimes.com/top-women-in-business-4/

FRIDAY FEATURE:

This week we extend our congratulations to Arianna Castellanos, SEE International - VP of Programs, Emerging Leaders (ELP) 2019, for being selected as one of Pacific Business Times Top 50 Women in Business!
https://www.pacbiztimes.com/2026/03/27/top-women-2026-central-coast-native-learned-to-think-globally/

Arianna shared, "My Leading from Within experience was pivotal. It expanded my perspective from a place of uncertainty to one of belonging, advocacy, and a deeper appreciation for the humanity and kindness in those around me. Participating in ELP came at a defining moment, as we began to navigate a new decade, a global pandemic, and for me, major professional transitions, all while gaining a stronger understanding of myself as a leader. I’m truly excited to continue this journey as part of the Women of Color Leadership Circle and to be amongst such inspiring women."

Thank you to Nonprofit Resource Network for the opportunity to partner on this important Executive Director Roundtable conversation—and to Cynder Sinclair for joining us.

Cynder Sinclair: Nonprofit Execs Meet to Share Nuggets and Challenges The morning air crackled with innovative solutions to mutual concerns as local nonprofit leaders shared their organization’s tribulations, successes and

NPRN & Leading From Within invite you to join us for a co-hosted Executive Director Roundtable!

Leading High-Performing Nonprofit Teams
Tuesday, April 7
10 AM - 12 PM
Leading From Within Convening Space

Nonprofit leaders today manage teams that span multiple generations, each with different expectations, communication styles, and motivations. Add hybrid and remote work into the mix, and maintaining a strong, high-performing team can feel more complex than ever.

In this workshop, we’ll explore practical strategies to help leaders navigate generational dynamics, manage flexible work environments, and build stronger cultures of accountability and performance.

Facilitated by Katya Armistead, our Co-Executive Director, who has over 30 years of leadership experience in higher education and community engagement. To support open and confidential peer conversation, this event is reserved exclusively for nonprofit Executive Directors. We are thrilled to be partnering with NPRN for this event. If you’re not an NPRN member yet, sign up today—it’s free and quick. Membership gives you access to job postings, events, capacity-building workshops, and free opportunities like this one.

Space is limited. Register today: https://nprnsb.org/leading-high-performing-nonprofit-teams/