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Jane Garcia
Dian Harrison
Debra Oto-kent
Rick Mesa
Barbara Mitchell
Bernita Walker
 Jane Garcia
Chief Executive Officer, La Clinica de La Raza
Oakland, CA
Jane Garcia has been the CEO of La Clinica de la Raza for over 20 years. La
Clinica is one of the largest primary health care centers in the Bay Area
providing 22,000 working poor families with comprehensive medical care that
includes dental, vision, mental health and health education services. Under her
leadership, La Clinica has grown to include over 17 licensed facilities in
Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties. Garcia received her undergraduate
degree from Yale University and as a graduate student she attended UC Berkeley’s
School of Public Health. She serves on the executive committee and is past
president of the California Primary Care Association and is on the boards of
Alameda Health Consortium, the Community Clinic Consortium of Contra Costa and
she chairs the Community Health Center Network. Garcia has received many awards
and recognitions for her work from such organizations as the Contra Costa
Commission on Women, Common Cause, Equal Rights Advocates, the YMCA, the
American Diabetes Association and the Perinatal Network of Alameda/Contra Costa.
 Dian Harrison
President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Golden Gate
San Francisco, CA
Dian Harrison is president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Golden Gate (PPGG) and
in that capacity oversees operations for the organization that includes eight
health service centers, health education and advocacy programs that serve over
65,000 Bay Area residents every year. She was CEO for Planned Parenthood
Association of San Mateo County and successfully guided its merger with Planned
Parenthood Alameda/San Francisco and Planned Parenthood Marin, Sonoma and
Mendocino to create PPGG. Before joining PPGG in 1996 she worked for more than
20 years in the nonprofit sector including positions with the Urban League, Fisk
University, Meharry Medical College and Planned Parenthood Association of
Nashville. Harrison received her undergraduate degree in sociology from
California State University at Los Angeles and her master’s degree in social
work planning and administration from Western Michigan University. She has been
actively involved in the leadership of statewide and national health and social
justice organizations and has received numerous recognitions for her work from
such organizations as Health Initiatives for Youth, Bay Area United Way, Black
Women for Action and the National Women’s Political Caucus.
 Debra Oto-Kent
Executive Director, Health Education Council
West Sacramento, CA
Debra Oto-Kent is executive director of the Health Education Council, which is
dedicated to promoting healthy communities and preventing disease among at-risk
populations. Oto-Kent founded the Council in 1991 after working for more than 13
years in the nonprofit health sector. She received her undergraduate degree in
health science and safety studies from San Diego State University and her
master’s degree in health education and behavioral science from UCLA’s School of
Public Health. Oto-Kent’s primary area of interest and expertise is health
education — with an emphasis on traditionally underserved populations, such as
the socio-economically disadvantaged and diverse ethnic populations — about
which she has written and spoken extensively. She has served on boards and
committees of numerous local and statewide health promotion organizations
including her current service as a founding board member of the Sacramento
Community Clinic Consortium and educational materials reviewer for the
California Healthy Kids Resource Center. Oto-Kent received the Outstanding Women
of Achievement in Healthcare Award from the Downtown Capitol Chapter of Business
and Professional Women and the Sacramento Women’s Council’s Leadership Award.
 Rick Mesa
President and CEO, The Ranch Recovery Centers, Inc.
Desert Hot Springs, CA
Rick Mesa began leading The Ranch Recovery Centers, Inc. in 1984 after working
for 13 years with a number of California mental health and substance abuse
recovery centers including the Betty Ford Center and Camarillo State Hospital.
Since then, The Ranch Recovery Centers, Inc. has grown from being a 22-bed
alcohol and drug recovery treatment center to 93-beds with three separate sites
offering services related to detoxification; assessment and treatment planning;
individual and group counseling; peer-to-peer learning; alcohol and drug
education; 12-step program participation and transition care. A certified
alcohol and drug counselor, intervention specialist and a licensed psychiatric
technician, Mesa’s primary area of interest and expertise is substance abuse
treatment and in that regard he has been involved with a number of national and
local standards and drug policy setting organizations including the National
Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, the California Association
of Alcohol Recovery Homes and formerly, the Ventura County Alcohol and Drug
Coalition and Ventura County Drug Caucus. A former addict himself, Mesa has
dedicated his life to making alcohol and drug treatment services available to
those who need them most but can afford them least.
 Barbara Mitchell
Executive Director, Interim, Inc.
Monterey, CA
Barbara Mitchell is executive director of Interim, Inc. the only social
rehabilitation, mental health treatment services and affordable housing provider
for very low-income adults with serious psychiatric disabilities in Monterey
County. Mitchell joined Interim’s staff in 1979 bringing with her six years of
experience in the fields of mental health and social work. Immediately prior to
her association with Interim, Mitchell was director and psychiatric social
worker for Monterey County Mental Health Service’s Living Skills Center.
Mitchell received her undergraduate degree in anthropology from UC Berkeley and
her master’s degree in social work from San Diego State University. She is
actively involved in the leadership of mental health, homelessness and
rehabilitation policy-setting organizations and is sought after to consult with
public entities and nonprofit organizations regarding affordable housing
development, financing and community acceptance strategies for special needs
populations. Mitchell has received numerous commendations in recognition of her
work from such organizations as the California Association of Social
Rehabilitation Agencies, the Coalition of Homeless Service Providers and the
Monterey County Board of Supervisors.
 Bernita Walker
Executive Director, Project: Peacemakers, Inc.
Los Angeles, CA
Bernita Walker is executive director of Project: Peacemakers, Inc., a nonprofit
organization that provides domestic violence prevention education and support
services for victims of domestic and family violence. Walker co-founded Project:
Peacemakers in 1995 after working for more than 15 years with Jenesse Center, a
domestic violence shelter program. Before that she spent 10 years as a Los
Angeles County Deputy Sheriff. Walker received her bachelor’s degree in public
administration from USC. She is frequently asked to speak on the issue of
domestic violence prevention and has been actively involved in numerous violence
prevention and intervention organizations including the California Coalition on
Battered Women, the California Alliance Against Domestic Violence and the
Association of Batterers Intervention Programs and she serves on both the Los
Angeles City Task Force on Domestic Violence and the Los Angeles County Domestic
Violence Council. In recognition of her community service, Walker has received
awards from many organizations, including from the Los Angeles County
Supervisors, the California Attorney General and the National Association of
Negro Business and Professional Women.
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