The Center for Community Advocacy Announces New Executive Director

The Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) is proud to announce and welcome Daniel Gonzalez as its new Executive Director.

Salinas, CA, November 29, 2018 — The Center for Community Advocacy (CCA) is proud to announce and welcome Daniel Gonzalez as its new Executive Director. Gonzalez joins CCA after serving as Deputy Executive Director with YWCA Monterey County in Salinas.

As CCA Executive Director, Gonzalez will provide leadership for all aspects of the 28-year-old organization dedicated to healthy living conditions and a healthier community in the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys. His tenure with CCA begins on Nov. 26, 2018, succeeding Sabino Lopez, who has served as Interim Executive Director since July 1, 2017.

“I am sincerely honored to have been selected as the new Executive Director for the Center for Community Advocacy,” Gonzalez said. “I come with a renewed spirit to work and continue the objective of empowering our community. I look forward to working with staff, board and community partners to further CCA's mission.”

As an experienced bilingual, bicultural nonprofit leader, Gonzalez spent the past five years in leadership roles with YWCA Monterey County, including as Director of Legal Services. He holds two Juris Doctorate degrees — one from Monterey College of Law and the other from Universidad del Valle de Atemajac School of Law, Guadalajara Mexico.

“Daniel has demonstrated a deep commitment to our community, particularly farmworkers and others who are struggling with housing and health issues,” said Lydia Villarreal, CCA Founder. “He brings a wealth of experience in administration, grant-writing and leadership expertise. We extend a warm welcome to Daniel.”

“The staff and I welcome Daniel to CCA,” said Lopez. “We are excited and look forward to working with him and sharing our experiences to help advance and continue our CCA mission to develop leadership and empower our farmworker community in the Salinas and Pajaro Valleys.”

About CCA
CCA provides education, orientation and legal support to farmworkers and other low-income working families who want to establish neighborhood committees that work to improve housing and health conditions. CCA trains these committees to negotiate with landlords to resolve issues such as unsafe housing conditions, housing discrimination and security deposits. CCA also trains these committees to provide preventative health information and interventions in their neighborhoods.

CCA-trained committees also receive instruction that teaches farmworkers how to establish alliances with local public officials and local civic leaders. These alliances help farmworkers achieve local policies that help their efforts to improve farmworker health and housing conditions.

The Center for Community Advocacy (CCA)
22 West Gabilan St.
Salinas, CA 93901
cca-viva.org
Tel. (831) 753-2324
Fax (831) 753-0141

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://cca-viva.org/

Monterey Museum of Art Appoints Stuart A. Chase Executive Director

The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart A. Chase as its Executive Director. Chase officially assumed the role on April 24, 2017.

Monterey, CA, July 19, 2017 - The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart A. Chase as its Executive Director. Chase officially assumed the role on April 24, 2017.

"The Board of Trustees is thrilled to welcome Stuart to the Monterey Museum of Art,” said Kim Negri, MMA Board President. “With over 30 years of museum experience, Stuart is an accomplished, creative, community-minded leader and has the vision and knowledge to carry MMA into the future.”

As President and CEO of HistoryMiami Museum from 2013-2017, Chase led development of programs and exhibitions for expanded facilities to serve the public, including 135% growth of additional museum space.

As Executive Director of the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, from 2005 to 2011, Chase focused on community partnerships by engaging area cultural organizations, and led a $10.3 million capital campaign for physical improvements to the art museum.

“I will be focused on engaging audiences with the visual arts of California and in particular the Monterey Peninsula. The Monterey Museum of Art holds a fine reputation in the museum field,” says Chase. “I am delighted to lead MMA into the next phase of growth, and showcase this unique American art community. The Peninsula is a beautiful region, with a strong local identity — a heritage of creative people located far enough from urban centers, but close enough to nature for lively intellectual exchange.”

Originally from Palmer, Massachusetts, Chase graduated with a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. His first position in the arts was as Assistant Director at Museum of the Southwest in Midland, Texas.

A lover of the outdoors, Chase and his wife Julie are excited to land in an area of such natural beauty.

“I love the outdoors and the natural world and this area is stunningly beautiful,” Chase says. “I'm a nature buff. I love gardening, kayaking and skiing. We also love the ocean and beaches. And I actually prefer the cooler weather.”

Chase and his wife found a home in New Monterey, which allows them to walk to the Rec Trail, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and downtown to explore the community.

“It has a very comfortable community feel to it,” he says. “I can easily see why the Monterey area became an art colony.”

As for the “next phase of growth” for MMA, Chase said he wants to build the Museum's programs and exhibits and “reinvigorate the exhibition cycle.” But first he wants to take the pulse of the community.

“I'm a curious learner,” he says. “I want to know what the community wants and what it wants to happen with the Museum. I just want to be as open and accessible as possible."

At the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, New York, he managed a $10 million capital improvement campaign of the historic museum building, and led acquisitions of major American regional regional artworks.

Additionally, Chase has served with the Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, New York; and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and was CEO of 1Berkshire.

In addition to his bachelor's degree, Chase participated and completed master's degree coursework in Arts Administration at Long Island University in Brookville, New York. He was a Bohlen Scholar at Attingham Summer School in England, and attended the Summer Institute in Management of Non-Profit Institutions at New York University.

About the Monterey Museum of Art
The Monterey Museum of Art expands a passion for the visual arts and inspires appreciation of California Art — past, present, and future. The Museum recently hosted the exhibit “Edward Weston: Portrait of the Young Man as an Artist” as the opening venue, and debuted “Who Shot Monterey Pop! Photographs from the 1967 Music Festival” on June 2, 2017.

The Monterey Museum of Art connects art and community, with an emphasis on participatory experiences built around the Museum’s strong collection of California and regional art. Exhibitions and programs of the highest quality are designed to engage and inspire visitors.

The Museum was established in 1959, to uphold the artistic legacy of the region by collecting, preserving and presenting art of California and the Central Coast. Originally a chapter of the American Federation of the Arts, MMA remains the only nationally accredited museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara.

Visit montereyart.org for additional information on the Museum's exhibitions, programming and events.

Media Inquiries: pr@montereyart.org or 831.372.5477 x101

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereyart.org/