Our Leadership Team
Sunny Giron
Sunny is the Executive Director. She leverages her nonprofit background to support the organization and is proud to be part of a team dedicated to advancing social justice and systemic change by strengthening families.
Fátima González-Galindo
Fatima has been involved in the Community Café Collaborative for several years. She is a parent leader in her community. One of her dreams is for everyone to have the same opportunities to succeed in life.
Robin Higa
Robin Higa is the founder of the Community Café approach and an active coach. She has over 30 years of experience in community activism and strengthening families work.
Jacquetta McGowen
Fighting for change! I am a team player with Community Café Collaborative, a Parent Leader with the Road Map Project, a part of PTSA, a Girl Scout Co-Leader, an Individual Provider for home care, and a business owner but most importantly, I am a mother to 3.
Alejandro Romero
Alejandro (el, he, him, his) joined the Community Café Collaborative Team in 2019. He comes from Rochester, Washington, a small-town community. He is dedicated to his family and community and is always willing to help in whatever capacity is needed to complete the work. In June 2022, he graduated with his Master’s in Elementary Education with Teacher Certification in hopes of having his own classroom to help educate and shape the minds of his students in being successful. “One of my dreams for my community is that everyone has the opportunity/tools needed to be successful.”
Carolyn Solitaire
My name is Carolyn Solitaire. I am a lifetime resident of Tacoma and a graduate of the Tacoma School District #10. I have a strong love for life and enjoy helping my community.
My belief is: “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” – Dr. Maya Angelo
Shereese Rhodes
Shereese is a committed parent advocate and leader in her community, having served as a parent ambassador for Head Start/ECEAP, member of the Parent Leadership Team in the Road Map Region, and working with OneAmerica’s grassroots education advocacy program. She believes in modeling the change she wishes to see for future generations through active engagement on issues like addressing the opportunity gap and expanding access to early learning for all.
Gabriela Villagomez Morales
Our Board of Directors
Joel Higa
Treasurer
Joel Higa is the Chief Operating Officer of Skysthelimit.org, a 501(c)(3) digital accelerator that helps young underrepresented adult entrepreneurs accomplish their business dreams. He’s an overly caffeinated crypto-evangelist, home cook, concert goer, and outdoor enthusiast.
Joan Sharp
Chair
Joan is the Principal at Sharminski Associates, Strategic Consulting. Specialized expertise in child and family issues, including child abuse and neglect prevention/family strengthening; outcome based planning; policy analysis & system change; innovative & evidence-based programming; community building; public relations, writing and editing.