Meet our staff!
Justina J. Sotelo, MAT
she/they - Executive Director
justina@stonewallchico.org
Justina Sotelo is a nonprofit leader, community organizer, and educator committed to advancing equity and access. With a Master of Arts in Teaching and more than ten years of experience as a community organizer and advocate, they now proudly serve as the Executive Director of Stonewall Alliance Chico.
As a BIPOC changemaker, Justina sees identity and resistance as inextricably linked. Following in the legacy of BIPOC queer and trans organizers who have always been at the forefront of resistance, Justina leads with a commitment to ensuring that liberation is inseparable from inclusion.
Justina’s deepest passion lies in collaboration — working alongside community members, local organizations, and businesses to build spaces where LGBTQ+ people not only find support but also thrive with pride, joy, and possibility. Through this approach, Stonewall has reimagined services, strengthened regional and statewide partnerships, and deepened its impact with programs rooted in cultural competency and collective care.
Marisa Diaz
she/they - Community Outreach Coordinator,
Queer Autters Group Facilitator
marisa@stonewallchico.org
Marisa is from here in California, and has lived in Butte County for the past 7 years where she’s had the privilege of building strong relationships in our community and advocating for marginalized groups within it. Marisa has lots of experience working in customer service and office positions, and she serves as the Director of Outreach for Red Bluff Alums for Justice- a nonprofit she co-founded which advocates for the equity and empowerment of BIPOC students at Red Bluff High. They believe their experience will provide them insight into the needs of each individual they encounter, and help them be a great Center Coordinator. She is looking forward to growing into our team and creating her place within the Stonewall Community. We're so glad to have them with us!
Lucy (Alyssa) Larson
She/her - Social Media Coordinator
alyssa@stonewallchico.org
Lucy has been working at Stonewall Chico since 2016. She’s held many roles including Center Coordinator, Events Coordinator, and now Social Media Coordinator. For most of her time at Stonewall, Lucy has gone by Alyssa - but she’s recently taken on her nickname fulltime. Lucy loves Chico and considers it her hometown, though she now lives in San Francisco and works remotely.
Lucy’s degree is in Organizational Communications and she comes from a diverse background of nonprofit and activism work, event and theatrical production, and community organizing. She is happy to say she continues to work in all of these fields, in various positions. She is passionate about facilitating change and joy through collective experience, and about giving voice to those who are often silenced.
Blue Martinez
He/him - TGNC (Trans & Gender Non-Conforming) Program Coordinator
blue@stonewallchico.org
Blue is originally from Southern California, but moved to Chico 5 years ago to attend California State University Chico. At Chico State he worked at Chico State's Gender and Sexuality Equity Coalition and participated in a multicultural fraternity where he served as President. He is excited for his new role at Stonewall as Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Program Coordinator, and hopes to expand Stonewall Chico's gender-affirming care programs and especially to increase resources for Trans and Gender Non-conforming People Of Color.
During his free time, Blue is a Pokemon trainer and loves collecting Pokemon.
Shelby Hebert
she/her - Advocacy & Education Coordinator
shelby@stonewallchico.org
A settler in unceded Mechoopda territory since 2017, shelby plays and works in the watersheds of the North State. She's animated, by mostly passion and also anxiety, to work for social justice in all its forms--racial justice, food justice, environmental justice, disability justice, and so on. Through a number of jobs over the years, shelby has played and learned with thousands of students through recycling, compost, and environmental education across the county. In other places, she's worked with students on home repair and construction projects to get and keep people in affordable housing. You can see she has a hard time making up her mind about what she wants to be when she grows up.
She loves that she gets to represent Stonewall across the North State and host conversations about gender and sexuality because she is eager to make the world a more hospitable place for queer and trans people, especially youth and teens. shelby believes in live music, mutual aid, rest, art, trees, bicycles, dancing, hugs, books, gardens, play, and oxford commas. You might find her at Stonewall, KZFR, Honky Tonk night, the library, choir practice, or the park; and she'll probably ask you, "Who's that [tree, bird, plant, flower]?!", tell you what she knows about them, and/or ask you what books and podcasts you've been into lately.
Meet our Board Members!
Jeff Merrell
Board Chair
jeff@stonewallchico.org
Jeff has lived in Chico since 1995 after spending his formative years on the East Coast. He is a Program Manager in the IT Department at Enloe Health. Jeff has 3 kids, 2 of which are part of the LGBTQ+ community. He was motivated to join the Board by the actions of the current federal administration toward LGBTQ+ people, especially those who are Trans. Jeff is a Navy veteran and is especially passionate about issues related to LGBTQ+ veterans. Jeff enjoys running in his spare time so you may seem him solving the world’s problems on a local trail.
Julian Lacombe
He/They - Treasure
julian@stonewallchico.org
Julian (He/They) grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills and moved to Chico (his second hometown) in the summer of 2020. He has been involved with Stonewall in various capacities since 2021 and currently facilitates three social and support groups in addition to serving on the board. Outside of Stonewall, you might find him involved in the local art scene, running Dungeons and Dragons games for youth at the CARD Community Center, or leading creative events and groups at the Penny Ranch Art Studio. Julian is passionate about building community and creating inclusive spaces where people feel free to express themselves and forge connections.
Manny Luna
He/They - Board Member
manuel@stonewallchico.org
Manny (He/Him/They/Them) originally from Visalia, CA, moved to Chico, CA in 2023 after living overall California. He is passionate about creating inclusive spaces for everyone to feel welcomed in. Manny comes with years of experience as a public health
advocate and working with communities across California to promote health and wellness for sustainable positive health changes. Currently, he spends majority of his time building and supporting culturally inclusive spaces within Indian Country and LGBTQA2+ communities. He has a strong background in non-profit management, community advocacy, and facilitation. He is committed and highly motivated to serve on the Stonewall Board of Directors and looks forward in practicing cultural humility in all that they do.