Leadership Team

Ortensia Lopez, Chair

Ortensia Lopez is a nationally recognized leader and innovator with over 40 years of experience building partnerships and coalitions that inspire, empower, and elevate low-income communities as solution-based partners. She has served in executive nonprofit leadership for more than four decades, consistently acting as a catalyst for change in disenfranchised communities. Ms. Lopez brings extensive expertise in energy efficiency, including the past six years focused on statewide electrification programs for low-income Californians. As the second of 11 children born to Mexican immigrants and the first in her family to graduate college, her educational journey—earning a B.A. in Psychology and Chicano Studies and a Master’s in Urban/Social Planning from USC—shaped her lifelong commitment to equity and systemic change. Throughout her career, she has designed and led groundbreaking programs addressing economic, environmental, housing, education, employment, and health inequities in San Mateo County. Widely respected as an advocate and policy influencer, Ms. Lopez continues to serve in leadership roles across several organizations

Charles Rabamad, Vice-chair

Charles Rabamad is a disaster recovery expert with over 30 years of experience in emergency management, specializing in disaster response, recovery, and mitigation across California. During his 25-year tenure at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), Mr. Rabamad played a critical role in every state and federally declared disaster since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Appointed four times by Governor Jerry Brown to lead high-level recovery efforts, he was instrumental in more than 283 disaster declarations between 2003 and 2019. As the designated State Public Assistance Officer for 162 events—including 10 presidentially declared major disasters—he led complex recovery operations involving fire management, housing solutions, debris removal, infrastructure, and environmental and historic preservation. His deep expertise also includes project monitoring, management, and navigating both federal and state procurement processes. Mr. Rabamad has testified before the California Legislature and other governmental bodies on behalf of Cal OES and the Department of Water Resources.

Rahn Carmichael, Secretary/Treasurer

Rahn Carmichael brings over 40 years of dedicated public service. He began his career as a Community Service Officer in Vallejo, CA, where he discovered that the most effective way to support civil rights was through direct service to communities in need—an insight that led him to become a police officer with the City of Richmond. During his law enforcement career, Mr. Carmichael championed a transformative approach to police training, helping bridge the gap between public safety and community trust. As a Richmond Police Watch Commander, he oversaw emergency response operations during critical incidents, public holidays, and major community events.

Imani Woody, Ph.D.

Dr. Imani Woody is the Founding Director and CEO of Mary’s House for Older Adults, Inc. (MHFOA), Washington, DC’s first affordable, communal living space for older LGBTQ+/SGL individuals. Through MHFOA, she leads advocacy, education, and housing efforts that address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders, including health disparities, social isolation, retirement security, and access to livable communities. She also cultivates relationships with local and national policymakers and consumer advocates to influence systemic change. As Principal of IWF Consulting, Dr. Woody provides expertise on aging and health equity, with a focus on Black and people of color and LGBTQ+/SGL communities. She is a recognized authority on Diversity and Inclusion program development, training service providers and government agencies on culturally competent aging services. Dr. Woody’s prior leadership roles at AARP and the National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc. further solidify her reputation as a thought leader on elder abuse, discrimination, and the socioeconomic disparities impacting older adults—particularly Black, LGBTQ+, and female populations. A skilled community organizer and advocate, she has successfully designed and implemented targeted programs and educational initiatives to address the needs of underserved populations. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Service Leadership with a specialization in Nonprofit Management from Capella University and a Master of Human Services (MHS) from Lincoln University.

Anyse R. Smith, Esq.

Anyse R. Smith is a dynamic legal professional based in the Coachella Valley and Of Counsel at Anderholt Evans LLP since 2022. She specializes in civil litigation with a focus on real property, contracts, construction, and business disputes, along with expertise in real estate transactions, probate, and estate planning. Previously, Ms. Smith worked with the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), providing outreach and case management for individuals and families experiencing houselessness. Her work with CVAG and the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission has made her a subject matter expert on homelessness, hunger, emergency services, recovery programs, and community outreach. Ms. Smith holds a J.D. from California Desert Trial Academy (Valedictorian), a Master’s in International Law, International Relations, and Diplomacy from Paris Sorbonne Université in Abu Dhabi, and a B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs.

Robert apodaca

Robert Apodaca has dedicated over five decades to advancing equity and opportunity across nonprofit, civic, and private sectors. He has served on numerous city, county, state, and national advisory boards and commissions, and has consistently focused his work on uplifting low-income and ethnically diverse communities. Mr. Apodaca co-founded Casa Joaquin Murrieta—a culturally rooted university housing program—while at UC Berkeley in 1970, and later led several nonprofit organizations, including the Educational Guidance Center and the New Mexico Community Foundation. He also helped lead employment training programs for ex-offenders, former heroin users, and women on welfare as Deputy Director of Peralta Service Corporation. As a 17-year board member and investment committee chair at The Greenlining Institute, Mr. Apodaca helped grow its endowment from $2 million to $20 million by reforming investment strategies. He is currently the co-founder, board member, and Executive Director of The Two Hundred for Homeownership, an organization dedicated to combating poverty through expanded homeownership and regulatory reform. He also serves on the boards of California Community Builders and the Casita Coalition. Originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico—where his family has roots dating back to 1701—Mr. Apodaca currently resides in Oakland and Burbank, California.

Hector A. Fernandez

Hector A. Fernandez is an experienced policy and program development professional with a focus on housing, community development, and organizational capacity building. With over a decade in the nonprofit sector, he has developed programs supporting farmworker housing and health, and has actively researched and advocated for rural, affordable housing solutions. Mr. Fernandez brings hands-on expertise in strategic planning, community assessment, funding strategies, and grassroots rural leadership development. He has served on statewide boards including Housing California, the California Coalition for Rural Housing, and the California Reinvestment Coalition. A graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and CSU Fresno, he currently works as a legislative advocate at Fernandez Cervantes Government Affairs.