Featured Columnists

FEATURED COLUMNIST Activists Making History in Capitola

By Yvette Brooks, Mayor, City of Capitola

As mayor, one of my goals for the year is to focus on equity in Capitola.

At the City level especially, it is important that we attempt to create policy with an equity lens. It will take years to unravel the unjust behavior of people before us. But as a leader in our community it is my responsibility to move us forward.

In this article, you will meet several community leaders of color who have taken the initiative of moving our City forward in response to racism. They have made history in Capitola and are paving the way for others to do the same.

These change-makers have dedicated their lives to our community and it is important that we recognize them for their dedication and commitment. ••• Keisha Browder

CEO, United Way of Santa Cruz County

Keisha Browder

Keisha Browder is the Chief Executive Officer with United Way of Santa Cruz County. Their office is located on Capitola Road, Capitola — she is the first African American and person of color to serve as CEO in the United Way’s 80-year history in Santa Cruz County. She leads multiple county-wide initiatives addressing issues ranging from academic success to youth violence prevention and criminal justice reform.

This work led to Santa Cruz County being selected as the 2013 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize Winners for their collective impact approach to equity, justice, and well-being.

Keisha also leads the robust tracking of well-being with the Santa Cruz County Community Assessment Project, the nation’s longest-serving collection, assessment, and utilization of community data that includes the voice of the residents. Keisha co-authored “Leveraging Data for Meaningful Improvements: How Credible Data Enables Partnership Alignment to Achieve Well-Being at the Population Level” (Community Quality of Life Indicators Best Cases VIII, Springer).

She has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, serving in executive leadership roles throughout the nation, raising nearly $60 million for community transformation in Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and now returning home to California.

Keisha serves on several boards including the United Way Worldwide Equity Advisory Council, Santa Cruz County Health Improvement Partnership, Dignity Health Dominican Hospital Community Advisory, Digital NEST Advisory, Santa Cruz Nonprofit Connection, Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast, and Monarch Services.

Keisha is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women — Silicon Valley Chapter, and Soroptimist International — Watsonville Chapter. Keisha is a graduate of the University of Washington and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders.

Enrique Dolmo

New Brighton Middle School Campus Supervisor

Enrique is the Campus Supervisor and Athletic Director at New Brighton Middle School in Capitola. Enrique spent most of his childhood in San Jose. As an adult, he decided to make a career change from banking to education because of his love for coaching and children.

As a partner to wife Ashley Dolmo, a teacher for 14 years, and a father, Enrique focused his career path so it allowed him to be more involved in his children’s education. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Enrique recognized children needed to be active during the lockdown and worked with the School District to offer intramural flag football conditioning and golf.

As our County moves into a safer tier during this pandemic, Enrique is focused on safely bringing back sports to children in our community.

Superintendent Scott Turnbull had this to say about Enrigue:

“Enrique Dolmo has served seven years as New Brighton Middle School’s Campus Supervisor. During ‘normal’ times, he is always present on campus to support students. Enrique also keeps track of lockers and serves as a coach and Athletic Director. He loves his job and working with everyone at NBMS. He enjoys building relationships with students and being a joyful presence on campus.

“A middle school thrives on having a lively school spirit, and this is where Enrique excels. For example, if you go into the NBMS Performing Arts Center during lunchtime on a Friday, you’ll get to see Enrique making his best DJ impression spinning tunes for students’ listening and dancing pleasure. During the Capitola Art & Wine Festival, you’ll see Enrique in the NBMS Parking Lot for long days directing parking and earning funds that all go to support NBMS Athletics. He is currently supervising a small cohort of students on campus to help them with distance learning challenges.

“Enrique is also now making an effort to safely bring back opportunities for NBMS’s student-athletes, focusing on golf and flag football conditioning. He does anything asked of him and always seeks to make attending NBMS a positive experience for students.”

Esabella “Bella” Bonner

Community Leader and Visionary

Esabella Bonner is a longtime Santa Cruz resident and community leader working to help bridge our local community. Bella is the visionary behind the Black Lives Matters march, a first to ever take place in the History of Capitola. ‘Bella Bonner

In addition, Bella is the sole founder of Black Surf Club Santa Cruz which aims to promote both physical and spiritual wellness through surf and community for our Black and People of Color residents. She has been active in making changes in our community by increasing awareness, amplifying Black & POC voices, exposing implicit bias, and working collaboratively with community leaders.

Bella also co-founded Blended Bridge, a local collective that aims to help connect the community through education, community engagement and service in an attempt to “Bridge our Differences.”

“When I originally decided to target Capitola for a Black Lives Matter march I was extremely nervous and reluctant,” Bella said. “However, these feelings only magnified the exact reasons why a march through Capitola was necessary.

“There are various pockets around Santa Cruz County that feel less and less safe or inviting for Black and POC residents with Capitola oftentimes coming up as a frontrunner on that list. In the weeks leading up to the event, there was some hesitation and resistance from residents and business owners who didn’t understand how and why Capitola needed to join the conversation.

“However, with that resistance and uncertainty also came an opportunity for education, community, and solidarity — something that made Capitola Village shine brighter on the evening of July 1st.

“Overall, the event allotted the opportunity for Black and POC residents to share their stories and urge their neighbors to join in solidarity, education and action for Black lives.”