Staff
Manager of CHW & HLC Programs
Diana Avalos-Leos began her career in education in 1991 at Ocean Beach School District as a bilingual staff assistant, working her way up to Program Manager for Bilingual and Migrant Education Programs while earning a Bachelors of Liberal Arts. Over the years, Ms. Avalos-Leos has served on several boards including Washington State Hispanic Youth Plan, and currently is VP of Youth for SW Washington League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council, and Vancouver Police Department Chief Diversity Board Member. She is also the founder of Clark County Latino Youth Conference. Diana has received several awards for her work in the community including the Washington State Migrant Education Program Award in 1995, for her passion and commitment to the education of migrant children and outstanding efforts in advocating for migrant families, and the YWCA Val Joshua Racial Justice Award for her commitment to advocate for the elimination of racism and promoting peace, justice and dignity for all people.
Community Health Workers & Educational Advocate
Brandi has been part of the Vancouver, Washington community for more than two decades. As a natural community advocate, Brandi brings her passion for community service to her various roles. She’s co-lead of the Healthy Living Collaborative’s Rose Village Community Health Worker (CHW) team, a member of the HLC Policy Committee and an education community health advocate at McLoughlin Middle School. She serves as volunteer resource coordinator for a program serving teens in the Rose Village neighborhood. She also co-founded a grassroots organization that brings attention to local issues and injustices through rallies and other actions. Brandi is most proud of her oldest son, who recently graduated high school, and her other two children for becoming kind, hardworking and resilient young adults who’ve overcome challenges including homelessness and food insecurity.
Community Health Workers & Educational Advocate
Dominique is a natural community advocate and longtime member of the Vancouver, Washington community who works to impact change and elevate community voice. She currently serves as co-lead for the Healthy Living Collaborative (HLC) Rose Village Community Health Worker (CHW) team. She’s also an education community health advocate at McLoughlin Middle School, helping identify and reduce barriers to attendance. Dominique is a founding member for the Community Health Advocates and Peer Support Network of Southwest Washington (CHAPS). She also serves on the HLC Policy Committee and the Behavioral Health Advisory Board for the Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health (SWACH). Dominique earned her bachelor’s in social work from Eastern Washington University. She enjoys spending time with her family, being in nature and practicing photography.
Administrative Coordinator
Brette joined the Southwest Washington Accountable Community of Health and Healthy Living Collaborative teams in September of 2017. She brings with her significant experience in operations and team coordination, with a desire to help teams become more efficient. She arrived in the Pacific Northwest in 2006, after growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, and attending college in Chicago (at the University of Chicago). Brette has been active in the local Non-profit community, serving on the Board for the Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards since 2010, and volunteering with various animal rescue groups including Macaw Landing Foundation, Underdog Railroad Rescue, Odd Man Inn Farm Sanctuary, and West Columbia Gorge Humane Society.
Leadership
Healthy Living Collaborative is led by two committees: the HLC Committee and Policy Committee.
Policy Committee – The Policy Committee provides leadership on current and proposed policy and system change strategies.
- Kate Budd, Chair – Council for the Homeless
- Tamara Shoup, Vice-Chair – Vancouver Public Schools
- Annie Herbert – Kaiser Permanente
- Brandi Williams – SWACH
- Carol Benefiel – ESD 112
- Dominique Horn – SWACH
- Dr. Greg Saunders – Legacy Health
- Karyn Kameroff – Native American Community Member
- Liz Cattin – PeaceHealth
- Olivia Aumiller – Youth and Family Link
- Randall Brewster – Community Member
- Victoria Clevenger – Warner Pacific University
HLC Committee – The HLC Committee advises on HLC’s overall direction and supports alignment with HLC vision, mission and long-term goals.
- Cara Kangas – 211 Info
- Ilona Kerby – Lower Columbia Community Action Program
- Mitzy Leeper – Feirie
- Carmen Huizar – LULAC
- Michael O’Neil – CPAA
Community Health Workers and Peers
In 2014, HLC launched a neighborhood-based project to remove barriers to health and well-being. At the heart of this project are teams of Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Community Health Advocates (CHAs).
HLC recruited natural community helpers and trained them become CHAs/CHWs. Today, these teams bring their lived experiences, relationships and cultural background to HLC decision-making, policy and governance.
Learn more about the CHA/CHW teams at the links below.