Community Wellness
To see pictures of of our Community events, please visit the Photo Gallery
J. Carlos Rivera
Chief Cultural Services Officer
Bio
Carlos is an enrolled tribal member with the Sherwood Valley Band of Pomo Indians and is also of Mexican descent. Originally from Northern California, he received his Chemical Dependency Studies and Human Services at the American River College.
Carlos served as a substance abuse treatment provider for 11 years for Indian Health Services in Sacramento, CA. providing services to adult men and women on parole, juvenile offenders and other referrals from the Department of Corrections. Carlos is the former Executive Director at White Bison, Inc. located in Colorado Springs, CO. He continues to make a difference in Native/Indigenous Tribal communities serving as leadership to both companies and is passionate about developing new curriculum to better meet the needs of tribal and urban Native American communities. Carlos has also been an active committee member for the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency State Committee for California, appointed by Governor Jerry Brown.
Kiana Cates
(Diné)
(She/Her)
Communications Coordinator
Bio
Kiana is the Communications Coordinator for the Community Wellness Department and has been working at American Indian Health & Services since 2018. In her role, she leads collaborative efforts related to ongoing and emergent departmental and organizational programs, projects, and events. Kiana is the lead behind the Native Sun Newsletter, AIH&S Facebook Page, and other Community Wellness promotional materials.
Oliver Murray
(Akimel O’odham)
(They/Them)
Youth & Families Advocate
Bio
Beginning in 2021, Oliver Murray seeks to support and engage American Indian & Alaska Native youth, young adults, and their families. In their role as Youth & Families Advocate, they develop and implement programs to encourage positive youth development and inclusion in holistic wellness and cultural activities. Oliver has been involved in Santa Barbara community organizing since 2008 as a youth leader. They are passionate about creating safe spaces for LGBTQ+ teens and young adults, and proudly identify as non-binary.
Simone Nalls
(African American, Cuban, Chickasaw)
(She/Her)
Native Connections Project Coordinator
Bio
Simone has been working at American Indian Health & Services since 2021. She has spent many years working with youth and families providing resources, after school programming and cultural events in Oakland. Simone is the lead behind the Annual Youth Gathering of Native Americans (GONA), and other community-based programming and events.
Sierra Ramirez
(Chicana/Mexicana)
(She/Her)
Community Wellness Support Specialist
Bio
Sierra has been working at American Indian Health & Services since 2017, first as the Front Desk Administrative Assistant and currently in her role for the Community Wellness Department. She co-facilitates and supports community programs and is the lead staff member for program supply distribution and outreach but has her hands in all projects and events.
