Our Team

True North Organizing Network is a community-led, grassroots organizing effort supported by a team of Community Organizers, Navigators, and administrators.

  • Terry has worked in Native American and rural communities for over 25 years, helping tribes and rural governments to build relationships that facilitate, plan, manage, and finance community strengthening projects. He worked for four years in the Planning Department of the Hoopa Tribe, before becoming the Tribal Administrator and later Councilman for over six years at the Karuk Tribe. Terry has been a consultant to tribal representatives serving on the President’s National Ocean Council and has worked on a wide range of development projects including downtown rural redevelopment and enhancement of the state highway system; $15 million in preauthorized financial packaging for tribal water, sewer, and infrastructure development; and numerous state and regional community development projects. He has a B.A. from Lewis and Clark College.

  • Julia Lerma has been the Director of Organizing for True North Organizing Network since 2016. She trains and develops curriculum for organizing staff. Julia began her career as a professional organizer in 1989 in California, and has also organized in Texas and New Mexico as an Education Coordinator. She joined PICO Network in January 2000 and has served as Executive Director in Berkeley and Fresno, California. She is bilingual and bicultural.

  • I’m originally from San Diego and have lived along the California coast since 2010. I studied at Cal State Northridge, earning a B.A. in Business Law with a minor in Economics, and later continued my education at Cal Poly Humboldt.

    I bring a diverse background in banking, marketing, and the tech industry, and joined True North in 2019. In my role, I help drive the organization’s finance and operations, ensuring everything behind the scenes runs smoothly while contributing to organizational strategy for growing teams and programs.

    Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, exploring new places, and trying new activities. Although I’m not the best at it, I also enjoy growing my own fruits and vegetables in my free time.

  • Kevin has been organizing with the PICO National Network for over 20 years, developing hundreds of leaders in communities to unearth and address shared community concerns and social justice issues by building powerful local organizations. He joined True North in September 2019.

    Previously, he was Executive Director of the San Diego Organizing Project since 2008, responsible for staff development, fundraising, strategic planning, issue development, and training local leaders to increase their civic engagement and voter participation. He has led campaigns to respond to issues such as health care, housing, community safety, and public school reform.

    Among other campaigns, he was the lead organizer in San Jose that led to the first ever children's insurance program that covered all children and was a model for the national program. He co-negotiated the largest private community benefits agreement, Ball Park Village, that led to over $40 Million in investments in affordable housing, environmental upgrades, and good jobs.

    Prior to joining PICO, Kevin worked overseas for over 10 years in West Africa and Southeast Asia doing very similar work. He has a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame.

  • Ingrid works in the Eel River Valley promoting stronger community protections for youth and their families around immigration rights and equitable school access. She is also on the LatinoNet Board, a non-profit that improves quality of life for Spanish-speakers, and is active in the North Coast Promotores. Ingrid graduated from Humboldt State University in 2019 and since then has worked to support the Latino/x community of Humboldt County. She loves watching scary movies, painting, and going to the beach with her dogs Lucy and Jeff.

  • Amy has been working for True North since 2018 in Del Norte & Tribal Lands. Prior to organizing, she was working on her master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peace-Building (which she completed in 2020) and working as a stay-at-home parent. Her current work focuses on creating sustainable pathways for youth to become leaders in their community; building up parent/adult leaders in the local schools, and working towards education transformation at a systemic level.

    Amy loves to read and write in order to create other worlds and explore new possibilities. She also loves to hike and be out with the Redwoods whenever she can. You might also see her hanging out around cozy fireplaces and coffee shops which provide the perfect setting for good conversations and reflection time.

    In a world where access to power is so inequitable, Amy’s purpose is clear: Fight to create a community where everyone, not just a privileged few, knows that they deserve to take up space, that they deserve to be heard, and that they deserve to have what they need to thrive. 

  • Primary work-sites: Eureka High School, Zoe Barnum High School, Coastal Humboldt

    Evan Morden is a community organizer with a deep commitment to social justice and helping communities create positive change. Now based in Eureka, CA, Evan collaborates with local leaders and community members to address critical issues such as houselessness and education equity. He is passionate about listening to people’s stories, empowering them to take action, and advocating for policies that support equity and opportunity for everyone in the community. Evan holds an M.A. in Public Sociology and a B.A. in Criminology and Justice Studies from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

    Outside of organizing, Evan enjoys playing the fiddle, swing dancing, and exploring the natural beauty of his hometown, Arcata, California. He also loves hiking, camping, and cooking, often sharing meals with friends and family.

    Phone: 707-273-6991
    Email: evanm@truenorthorganizing.org

  • After an entire lifetime of moving back and forth across the nation, Denise feels blessed to finally land in Del Norte and Tribal Land. Although she had called herself a community leader since the conception of True North, she didn’t step into the Community Navigator Lead role until retiring from Del Norte Unified Schools in June 2022. It has been a defining decision in her life; to finally be able to support the community in shifting from linear thinking to one of interconnectedness. Every day, she works to ensure all neighbors, from cradle to the grave, are happy, healthy and thriving with dignity and compassion at the center of everything she does. She believes True North lifts their vision to something greater than themselves and she wants to share that with the world. Denise says that If you really want to get to know her come to a Happiness Sprinkling! That’s where her heart-light shines.

  • Andromeda’s focus is Public Education within Del Norte and Adjacent Tribal Lands where she works with community members to achieve quality education, equitable educational opportunities and transform policing practices within the school districts. Andromeda also values work that aims to dismantle systems of oppression and reimagining how to improve existing structures and systems to create an equitable thriving community.

    Andromeda was born and raised in Del Norte County to an immigrant father of Jiquilpan, Jalisco and indigenous mother of the Tolowa Dee-ni’ Nation. She is the oldest of 3 siblings and a mother of 2, who resides and created a home in Curry County.

    Her childhood trauma experiences and work towards healing generational trauma have been the driving force behind her work and how she got involved in community organizing. She has a passion to empower herself and her community through leadership development to discover their own paths of healing and strength so they can face the challenges of injustice through racism, violence, discrimination, economic inequality and educational inequity.

    Outside of movement building, Andromeda enjoys spending quality time with her loved ones through recreational activities that includes time outdoors on the Smith and Chetco rivers, beaches and in the beautiful redwoods that she calls home. She is immersed in learning, practicing and sharing her Tolowa cultural traditions such as ceremonial regalia making and traditional foods gathering/preservation. Her greatest achievement is continuing self healing to break generational trauma so her two children can truly thrive as whole, loved, confident, passionate, and emotionally/physically healthy humans.

  • I’m originally from Humboldt County where I grew up in Fortuna, Ca that instilled strong community values in me. I hold a degree in Childcare Development and have spent 35 years as a business owner and project management roles across various sectors. I’m passionate about creating efficient systems that empower teams and foster collaboration.

    My personal values align closely with True North’s mission of empowering communities and fostering social justice. I’m passionate about inclusivity and sustainability, and I believe in the importance of grassroots organizing to drive meaningful change. I was inspired to join True North because of its commitment to community empowerment and social equity. The organization’s focus on uplifting marginalized voices resonates deeply with me, and I wanted to be part of a team that actively works towards these goals.

    I bring over 40 years of experience in operations management, where I’ve developed skills in project coordination, team leadership, and process improvement. My background in managing cross-functional teams equips me to support True North’s mission effectively by ensuring smooth operational workflows and facilitating communication among team members.

    Outside of work, I enjoy gardening, antiques and traveling, visiting different Tribal Nations, and spending time with friends and family. I also volunteer at local elementary schools, which allows me to stay connected with the community. I enjoy facilitating parenting classes, Suicide Prevention, Fatherhood and Motherhood is Sacred and Addressing Anger and Violence in Native American Families. I enjoy working with the community and families throughout Humboldt County. I also enjoy learning more about my own tribe at the Choctaw Nation in Durant Oklahoma.

  • I grew up in Eureka California where I saw the effects of addiction and poverty in my community and family, which led to a passion for tackling inequality and making the world a more equal place. This led me to pursue a degree in Political Science as a first generation college student, and it was during this time I saw the importance of community work and the kind of difference it could make. 

    I care deeply about houselessness, addiction, environmental justice, and all the other ways inequality affects the lives of everyday people. I also deeply believe that we all have the power to make a difference. 

    I'm now working on the Eel River Youth Mentorship Program, helping to build leadership while addressing the unique needs of BIPOC youth in the Eel River Valley. I am also working with Eureka City Schools helping to create an English Learners Advisory Council so the guardians of English Learners can have more input into their child’s education. 

    In my free time I love to work on art projects, cook, and watch movies. I also enjoy exploring nature and sharing time with my loved ones.

  • Originally from San Francisco's vibrant Mission District, I've always been fueled by a passion for education. Growing up, I learned how members of my family had faced obstacles in pursuing their educational dreams, which ignited and fueled my own drive. After struggling in High School and Community College, I found my way and was able to transfer to UC Davis. There, I navigated through the University of California system, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Political Science. I then pursued a master's degree in Public Sociology at Cal Poly Humboldt, where I delved into research and honed my analytical skills.

    I care deeply about equitable access to education and tearing down systems that hold back folks like me—women, and those with brown skin. I firmly believe in unlocking the power within each of us to drive real change.

    True North stole my heart with its unwavering dedication to social justice and its unique approach to empowering individuals from within. The idea of building power from the ground up really struck a chord with me. My goals in this position are to uplift and unite communities, especially by boosting educational opportunities in Humboldt County. I'm passionate about empowering people to shape solutions so that they truly resonate with their needs.

    With over five years of experience working directly with children, I bring a blend of care, adaptability, and creativity to the table. My time spent nurturing young minds has instilled in me a deep understanding of the importance of education and community support. In addition to this, my research experience includes running focus groups, crafting surveys, and analyzing data as part of my master's program at Humboldt.

    When I'm not busy organizing, you can find me knee-deep in art projects, buried in a good book, or exploring nature with my trusty sidekick, Niki, an 11-year old Pitty mix. I balance this by often indulging in guilty pleasure TV to turn off my brain.

  • Vanessa Ortiz serves as Program Coordinator for the Trillium Teen Center where she designs and supports initiatives that amplify youth voice, social connection and community wellbeing. Her work blends trauma-informed facilitation, literacy advocacy and program development to create environments where young people can lead with confidence and authenticity.

    Drawing from a multidisciplinary background in healing arts, systems design and organizational leadership, Vanessa brings both analytical precision and a deep understanding of human development to her role. “Leadership begins with how we hold space. Calm enough to listen, steady enough to protect and brave enough to let others grow,” she says, reflecting her belief that sanctuary is built through presence not control. She is dedicated to bridging the gaps between education, mental health and creative expression, ensuring that every program Trillium offers strengthens not only youth outcomes but community resilience as a whole.

    Guided by the belief that storytelling is a civic skill, Vanessa views youth engagement as both a right and a responsibility. Her work invites young people to see themselves as narrators of change, cultivating literacy of mind, heart and culture as the foundation for a thriving Del Norte County and Tribal Land.

  • Amber Gensaw is a proud member of the Yurok Tribe who grew up on the Yurok Reservation. Throughout her life, she has been deeply woven into her community in many meaningful ways. Amber finds great comfort in helping others, which is why she enjoys her work so much. This role came into her life at a time when she was seeking positive change, and she embraced it wholeheartedly. Amber hopes to see her community grow closer, both with one another and with the resources available to them. In her personal time, she loves cooking big meals for her family or community events, sharing her warmth and care through food.

  • Reverend Dana Gill, an Ordained Elder in the California-Nevada Conference of The United Methodist Church, is deeply committed to social justice. She is appointed to two local churches in Del Norte and Tribal Lands, as well as to True North as an Environmental Justice and Economic Resilience Organizer. Her academic journey includes a BA in English from UC Santa Barbara, an MA in Ministry from Drew Theological School, and a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological School. Her graduate program was a platform for her to delve into her passion for social justice and grassroots organizing, a passion she continues to live out in her ministry.  She was first appointed to the area in 2017, where she immediately got involved with True North as a Community Leader, focusing mainly on Housing Issues. Outside of her ministry, she enjoys spending time with her 5-year-old, gardening with her chickens, hiking, and running.

  • Born and raised in Del Norte County, Larissa is deeply rooted in the beauty of California’s rugged north coast. Her journey, from navigating an autoimmune condition as a teen to finding healing through holistic wellness, sparked a lifelong commitment to self-advocacy, equity, and community care.

    With a background in speech therapy, international education, and health & wellness, Larissa brings a people-centered approach to everything she does. Her entrepreneurial path has taught her how to build with intention, crafting spaces and ideas that inspire connection and purpose. At True North, she helps elevate the voices of those driving change, sharing their impact in ways that connect, inspire, and build momentum for a more just future.

    On her spare time, you’ll find Larissa out and about exploring the area and capturing photos of nature, traveling, experimenting in the kitchen, or diving deeper into wellness practices—all guided by her personal mission: ‘let’s heal the world.’

  • Driven by a commitment to disability rights and healthcare access, Sequoia-Dawn serves as a catalyst for community-led change at True North. Her work fosters relational power by centering the voices of families, ensuring they have the platform to advocate for a thriving and equitable future. By prioritizing connection and shared leadership, she cultivates a network where everyone belongs. Off the clock, Sequoia-Dawn is a mother of two who stays grounded by immersing herself in nature and the arts.

  • Retired Navy. Rewired for Justice. 

    Homegrown Roots

    Born in SoCal, raised in the pines,

    Cave Junction carved my early lines.

    Crescent City called in ‘95 –

    A coastal town where dreams hope to survive.

    Before the boots, before the fleets,

    I stocked the shelves and cleaned the suites.

    The Call to Serve

    Then came the Navy, steel, sea, and sky,

    Where jets were fixed and time flew by.

    Twenty-two years of grit and grind,

    Three combat tours that shaped my mind.

    I checked the bolts, I worked the line,

    Made sure those birds were cleared to fly.

    Retired with pride, October’s grace –

    A seasoned soul with a steady pace. 

    Back to the People

    I came back home, but not to rest,

    Still felt the fire beat in my chest.

    From tribal courts to classroom halls,

    I fight to break down systemic walls.

    Now I organize - I lift, I fight,

    For schools that serve our kids just right. 

    With neighbors near, We build what’s true:

    A just, bold world – for more than the selected few.

    Heart & Hobbies

    You may find me with pen or chord,

    Scribbling lines or strumming, bored.

    I write the pain, I sing the joy,

    I sand down wood like it’s a toy.

    Poetry and song, my second wind,

    The first trails and river – my oldest friend.

    And when I’m not mid-meeting zone, 

    I’m laughing loud with those I’ve known

    Words I Live By

    “A smooth sea never made a seasoned sailor,”

    A truth that’s anchored deep within. 

    Through storm or calm, we hold the line,

    Still charting paths where justice shines.

    The waves may rise, the winds may blow –

    But with roots and love, we will still grow.

  • My name is Claret Salas. I am a leader and a member of the outreach team at True North. My calling is to serve, support, and walk alongside our community.

    I believe deeply in the power that emerges when someone is truly heard, encouraged, and supported in pursuing their dreams.


    I am inspired every day by the strength of our people—the way we rise, overcome challenges, and discover the power we’ve carried within us all along.


    My strengths are perseverance, steady and committed work, kindness, and an unwavering determination to never give up. I am guided by the belief that, together, we can transform our lives and our communities.