Commissioners

Kristin Rizzo (She/Her/Hers)

Kristin Rizzo is a native of San Diego. She is an employment attorney, mediator, conflict resolver, impartial fact-finder, wife, and a proud parent of two daughters. Through her professional neutral work, Kristin helps people resolve disputes in creative and meaningful ways and provides answers to people and companies by finding and delivering facts underlying workplace conflict.

A cum laude graduate of the University of California, San Diego, Kristin holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science – International Relations and Spanish Literature and obtained her juris doctor degree from the University of San Diego School of Law. Kristin deeply values service to the San Diego community and has been active in numerous organizations. She sits on her law school’s Board of Visitors and has spent many years volunteering with the San Diego County Bar Association, ultimately serving as the association’s President. In 2019, she was recognized by the San Diego Metro Magazine as a top leader under 40.

Rickie Brown

Rickie Brown is an active advocate for her community City Heights for a number of years.   Most recently she led an advocacy group to lobby in Sacramento around local disparities here in City Heights and more specifically in the lack of affordable housing in the state.  Rickie, also participates in Regional and Statewide discussions about strategies to reform the housing budget and continued training for leaders on the ground to train in this type of advocacy work.  She has also been nominated for a Housing Leadership Collaborative from the San Diego Housing Federation, Ruby Award.  Rickie is the recipient of the 2017 Volunteer of the Year from the San Diego Housing Federation.

Rickie currently works for City Heights Community Development Corporation, as the Property Manager for Hollywood Palms and Casa Del Sol.

Currently Rickie serves on the Martin Luther King Democratic Club Treasurer, Democrats for Equality Board, Sheriff’s Advisory Board, Mayor’s LGBT Advisory Committee, Crime Survivor’s for Safety and Justice, Resident’s United Network, Human Relations Commission, San Diego Housing Federation Policy Committee, City Heights Community Development Policy Committee.   Rickie is a pass member of the City Heights Redevelopment PAC and the Citizens Review Board, Better Build San Diego Coalition.  Rickie also served as an executive member of the Fox Canyon Neighborhood Association.

Dolores Canizales (She/Her/Hers)

Dolores Canizales holds a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University in Public Relations. She is a graduate of the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management, and holds a certificate from Harvard-MIT public disputes program. She is a member of the Union Tribune Latino Advisory Board, Poway Unified School District Partners in Excellence program, and a member of the Poway Road Corridor Study ad-hoc committee. Ms. Canizales was appointed president & CEO of the Poway Chamber of Commerce in August 2012, and formerly served as District Director for Councilwoman Janice Hahn and as Community Affairs Manager for former Mayor Richard Riordan in Los Angeles. She also worked as Director of Community and Government Relations at Loyola Marymount University.

Olympia Beltran

Olympia Beltran is a registered nurse, mother of four, proud wife of husband Brent and active community leader. She currently serves on the board of directors of San Diego Habitat for Humanity, and passionately advocates for affordable housing. As a resident of Barrio Logan, Olympia served as a member of the Barrio Logan Community Planning Group, and remains engaged in the AB617 Air Quality Steering Committee spearheaded by the Environmental Health Coalition. As a member of the Yaqui Nation of Southern California and the American Indian Movement Southern California Chapter, Olympia has close ties to local Kumeyaay communities and uses her frontline medic training to support health and wellbeing in the defense of human rights and environmental justice. Olympia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies from the University of California San Diego and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing with an emphasis in Public Health.

Faye Detsky-Weil

Faye Detsky-Weil is a registered volunteer Medicare Counselor for Elder Law & Advocacy’s Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy (HICAP) Program and serves as a member of the San Diego County Aging and Independent Services (AIS) Advisory Council. Ms. Detsky-Weil served for five years as City of San Diego Ethics Commissioner. She has been active in numerous organizations, including 10 years on the Torrey Pines Community Planning Board serving as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary; volunteer Paralegal for Nursing Home Rights Enforcement Program at Elder Law & Advocacy; a member of the Torrey Pines High School Foundation Board; co-chair of Torrey Pines High School Student Success Services; and a member of Del Mar Heights Elementary School’s Site Council. Ms. Detsky-Weil received the 2001 City of San Diego Community Service Award. She is formerly an Instructional Systems Designer with L-3 Communications and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), designing and developing training for the Department of Defense on aircraft, health care, and computer systems. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston, holds a Massachusetts Teaching Certificate in Secondary Education, and earned a Paralegal certificate from the University of California, San Diego.

Godwin Higa

Godwin Higa received his bachelor's degree in education from the University of Hawaii, Manoa, Masters of Administration from Azusa Pacific University, and his Administrative Credential from the University of San Diego. He has been a principal, with San Diego Unified School District for 15 years. His passion is his students. He demands that all students are treated with the utmost respect and academically succeeding in their studies. He is an active member of the Mid-City community, and a member of the Citizens Review Board of San Diego. He is actively involved in the improvements of the Mid-City area of San Diego, focusing on safe schools, safe neighborhoods, and community improvements involving improved bike lanes, transportation, and safe walks to school and skate parks in the area. He is an active member of policy changes on student discipline, focusing on Trauma Informed Schools and Community, Restorative Justice and Restorative Practices in schools and the community. He is also an ongoing member of the Compassion Project of San Diego, International Day of Peace, and most importantly believes in human rights for all.

Kathie Moehlig (She/Her/Hers)

Kathie Moehlig is the Executive Director of San Diego-based TransFamily Support Services, and a leading authority on supporting transgender and non-binary youth and their families. A tireless advocate for the LGBTQ community, she was named “Woman of the Year” by California Assemblyperson Todd Gloria, and one of the “Best People of San Diego” by CityBeat Magazine. A certified life coach, parenting instructor and motivational speaker, Kathie’s work has been featured in the New York Times, the San Diego Union-Tribune and on the NBC News. She has lived in San Diego for 25 years, raising her children here and regularly crisscrossing the county to work with families, school, healthcare and the organizations to promote understanding, inclusion, and equality.

April Purcell (She/Her)

April Purcell is a proud parent of three school-aged children, an active community volunteer. She has lived in San Diego for the past 17 years and is active member, and past board member, with Rady’s Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, she serves on the School Site Councils and School Governance Committees for two local schools, she has served as the Mothers & Daughters Club Assisting Philanthropies Class Benefit Chair for the past 5 year, and in an active volunteer with Teens Volunteers In Action.  April is passionate about social justice issues with a strong belief that change begins within. She is also a certified Life and Equus Coach, and yoga instructor.

Formerly April was the General Manager of a multitherapeutic research organization, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Science and a Masters in Government Democracy Studies and Governance from Johns Hopkins University and served three years in the US Peace Corps in Lesotho, Africa.

Nicole Murray Ramirez

Nicole Murray Ramirez is a 68-year native Californian who has dedicated over 45 years of his life to the Latino community, LGBT community, public service and social justice for all people. A charity and nonprofit fundraiser and leader in raising funds and awareness for those in need for over 40 years as the Chairman of International Court Council of USA, Mexico and Canada.

Dr. Yessica Diaz Roman (She/Her/Ella)

Dr. Roman is actively involved in the San Diego community and has focused her efforts on promoting diversity and improving the health and well-being of those in need. Dr. Roman is currently a psychology instructor at Southwestern College and lecturer at San Diego State University School of Public Health. Dr. Roman is actively involved in the community and is an active member of several non-profit organizations including MANA de San Diego, the Association of Women in Science in San Diego, and Latinas in Medicine where she helps to promote and contribute to the advancement of Latinas pursuing a career in medicine. Dr. Roman is a recent graduate of LEAD San Diego’s Advance ‘20, Center on Policy Initiatives Boards and Commission Leadership institute ‘18 and RISE San Diego ‘s Urban Leadership Fellowship Program ‘17. Dr. Roman completed her doctoral degree in Sociomedical Science from Columbia University and master’s degree in Social Work and Public Health from the University of Michigan.