Who We Are
Community Action of Ventura County has grown from its humble beginnings in 1965 as a product of volunteers and the Johnson Administration's War on Poverty to become a force for community involvement in helping homeless individuals and families improve their economic well-being.
From the beginning, CAVC has worked to establish community centers and advocate for human rights, criminal justice, housing, health, education and economic development, but it has evolved into much more.
Our goal is to increase self-sufficiency among our county's poorest residents and increase family and community economic stability.
Board of Directors
Bruce Stenslie, Chairperson and Private Sector Representative for Economic Development Collaborative for Ventura County — Bruce Stenslie has served as the President/CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County (EDC-VC) since 2007. The EDC-VC is a public/private partnership, providing business advising, training and capital access services to promote regional economic vitality, business expansion and job growth. Prior to joining EDC-VC, Stenslie served as Deputy Director for the California Workforce Association, Director of Workforce Policy for the Mayor’s Office in Los Angeles, Deputy Director of the Ventura County Human Services Agency, Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County and Executive Director of the Candelaria American Indian Council.
Nancy Pedersen, Vice-Chairperson and Low-Income Sector Representative for Ventura County's 5th Supervisory Districct.
Vincent Stewart, Secretary/Treasurer and Private Sector Representative for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Gabino T. Aguirre, Ph.D., Low-Income Representative for Ventura County’s 3rd Supervisory District — Dr. Aguirre involvement in community issues has spanned three decades and includes being an original founder and board member of El Concilio del Condado de Ventura, current president of Lucha Inc., a California nonprofit corporation that supports grassroots program and initiatives. His educational career includes being an elementary school teacher, school counselor and former principal of Moorpark Community High School. He was a Santa Paula City Council member and former mayor.
Daniel E. Carrillo, Private Sector Representative for Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 721) — Danny has lived in Ventura for more than 40 years, serving the community in many aspects. He has been a Big Brother, coached youth sports, assisted in voter registrations and many political and Get Out The Vote campaigns. He is a union organizer and negotiator for SEIU Local 721. Danny also serves as a Board member for another nonprofit, Coastal Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), and has been past district director for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He is a proud Marine Corps veteran and father of two.
Maria Welborn, Low-Income Representative for Ventura County’s 1st Supervisory District — Retired from the Michigan Department of Social Services, Ms. Welborn moved to the City of Ojai over a year ago. She has been involved in the Ventura County Homeless Count and various other organizations in and around Ojai.
Joe Asebedo, Private Sector Representative for Veterans for Peace.
Bernardo M. Perez, Private Sector Representative for Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. — Bernardo M. Perez is a development project manager with Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. He is also a Trustee of the Ventura County Community College District. He is a former mayor and council member for the city of Moorpark and has served on the boards of various area community-based organizations including the Workforce Investment Board and the Moorpark Foundation for the Arts.
Dr. Betsy Connolly, D.V.M., Public Sector Representative for Ventura County's 2nd Supervisory District — A veterinarian by training, she currently teaches in the Equine Science Department at Pierce College and in the Biology Department at Moorpark College. She received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado State University and her Bachelors of Science in Biology from University of Denver. After graduation, she worked for a short time in research followed by 18 years in private equine practice. She has been involved in the Conejo Valley schools and served in leadership roles in the PTA, District Band Boosters and is currently serving on the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education. She is the parent of two CVSD graduates.
Roseann Mikos, Ph.D; Public Sector Representative for Ventura County's 4th Supervisory District — A lifelong educator, Dr. Mikos earned her Bachelor’s Degree from St. Louis University in Speech Communication and Master’s and Doctorate Degrees in Education from the University of Southern California. She is a City of Moorpark councilmember (since December 2000), a 30-year resident of Moorpark and a member of Holy Cross Parish. Dr. Mikos, a training and grant development consultant, is listed in several publications for business and professional people and is a long-time community activist working to preserve and maintain a high quality of life for the people of Moorpark and Ventura County.
Jeanne Norstrom Adams, Alternate Low-Income Sector Representative for Ventura County's 5th Supervisory District. — As a Librarian for 17 years in Scranton, Penn., and Los Angeles, Calif., Jeanne became active with the civil rights movement, was a NAACP youth advisor, and was active in the Washington, D.C.-based So Others May Eat (S.O.M.E.) organization and related programs. In Oxnard, Jeanne is involved with voter registration, seniors, the disabled and in organizations such as Rehab Point and In Home Support among other advocacy entities. Jeanne has resided in Oxnard for more than 15 years.
Rosemary Pallan-Briceno; Alternate Low-Income Representative for Ventura County's 1st Supervisory District.