Meet the Board
Tama "MamaT" Brisbane
President
TAMA L. BRISBANE is the City of Stockton’s Inaugural Poet Laureate. Now in her third term of service, she has presented over 200 times, including the inauguration of Michael Tubbs, the city’s first Black Mayor. She is also the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the nationally-recognized literary and performing arts nonprofit organization With Our Words, Inc. “Mama T” is also: a Susan B. Anthony Award for Creative Arts, a University of the Pacific Woman of Distinction. a Black Women Organized for Political Action Honoree, a Stockton Arts Commission Comet Award Winner, a California Vision 2020 Ambassador, a member of the 2020 Delta Leadership Academy and a founding member of the Brave New Voices Network. Her tireless work on behalf of Stockton and Central Valley youth, in particular young voices from the margins and communities of color, has been recognized by both houses of the California Legislature as well as both houses of the United States Congress.
Dr. Ayesha Hunter
Vice President
DR. HUNTER is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Counseling Psychologist. She has been an employee of San Joaquin County for over 21 years now. Dr. Hunter specializes in treating individuals with trauma histories, depression anxiety, and psychotic disorders for over 15 years. Her work history includes working for Public Health, where she served the Teen Parent population. Thereafter, Dr. Hunter worked as a Social Worker for Adult Protective Services, where she investigated elder abuse. And now, she serves as a Clinical Supervisor & Mental Health Clinician for Behavioral Health Services of San Joaquin County. Dr. Hunter provides psychotherapy for the lower socioeconomic class of individuals who are currently on welfare. She has been devoted to helping the underprivileged and the less fortunate for roughly two decades. Dr. Hunter is a proud member of the prestigious sorority- Gamma Phi Delta, where she is dedicated to promote education and community services to the youth, the needy, and the general public. Dr. Hunter is currently happily married and has three beautiful children. She is an active member in church, Victory In Praise (VIP). And is trained as an Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP).
Toni McNeil
Secretary
Toni McNeil is the Lead Restorative Justice Organizer with Faith in the Valley in San Joaquin County. She is a native of Stockton, Ca. and has worked in organizing, advocacy, leadership development, management, and supervisory positions for over 27years. She is exceptionally gifted in the area of Public Speaking, Training & Facilitation, as well as Leadership Development. She works with various Clergy, Congregations, and Community members on issues such as Housing/Homelessness, Food Insecurities, and the Live Free campaign- which consists of Principled Policing, Restorative Justice, and Gun Violence Reduction. Toni has a strong passion for healing and empowerment within communities of color by engaging people civically through storytelling, researching, lobbying, direct actions, and voter engagement. All of this is done with the understanding that our Voice matters because our Vote matters.
Camille Medina
Treasurer
Bio coming soon...
Robbie Gonzalez-Dow
Advisor
Robbie Gonzalez-Dow is the Executive Director for the California Breastfeeding Coalition and leads the coalitions statewide efforts to create an equitable landscape of breastfeeding and lactation support. She is a registered dietitian and seasoned public health advocate with many years transforming systems and institutions through grassroots organizing, education, advocacy, and policy work. Robbie is a fellow of the Women’s Foundation of California, Women’s Policy Institute. She received her Bachelor of Science from California State University, Fresno and her Master’s in Public Health from UC Berkeley.
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Vanessa Simmons
Advisor
Vanessa Simmons is a published and professional photographer who has dedicated her recent work to her current photography project, NormalizeBreastfeeding.org. She was inspired by her own breastfeeding struggles, lack of support, and her desire to capture diverse variations of normal breastfeeding. Vanessa initiated the first International Day to Normalize Breastfeeding in an effort to raise awareness worldwide about how normal it is to breastfeed and pump on demand until the mother and child are ready to stop. She seeks to strengthen breastfeeding communities in the areas where local groups have been established worldwide. She encourages members of the local groups to meet up in person and connect with local resources. She is native to San Diego where she currently resides with her husband and three children.