Kim Desmond (she/her)

Kim Desmond was born and raised in the Five Points neighborhood in Denver, Colorado where she graduated from Manual High School. Kim has over 15 years of experience in the non-profit, local, and quasi-government sector within the areas of diversity, inclusion, racial equity, and addressing systemic racism.

Kim holds multiple degrees, including a Bachelor’s in Sociology from Fort Hays State University, a Master’s in Community Counseling from Fort Hays State University, a Master’s in Education Administration and Policy Studies from the University of Denver, and an Early Childhood Leadership certification from the University of Denver.

She is currently the Chief of Race and Equity for the City of San Diego, leading the Office of Race and Equity for Mayor Todd Gloria. Prior to this appointment, Kim served as the Director and Interim Chief Equity Officer for Mayor Michael B. Hancock, overseeing the Mayor’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation within the City and County of Denver.

Kim has an extensive background operationalizing racial equity into local government programs, budget allocations, and policies through building equitable outcomes with a targeted focus on eliminating systemic racism.

Grace Bagunu (Grace)

Grace Bagunu is a Program Manager for DRE and has been with the City since June 2023. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Grace is happy to call San Diego home after living here for 17 years.

As a Program Manager, Grace focuses on Training & Systems Integration. As an educator and lifelong learner, Grace feels one of the best parts of the job is the personal growth that comes from teaching others. This role requires staying up to date with what’s happening around San Diego and keeping an eye out for opportunities to participate with and support the diverse groups of people who call the City home, an aspect of the role that Grace appreciates.

When not working, Grace enjoys foodie adventures and walking their two dogs. Grace also likes taking care of plants and playing the ukulele, and looks forward to Comic-Con and chances to travel worldwide. 

Lisa Ann Kim (she/her)

Lisa Ann Kim has been a Program Coordinator with DRE since July 2023 and shares Grace’s focus on Training & Systems Integration. She recently moved to San Diego from Baltimore where she developed a culturally responsive social studies curriculum with the school district.

Lisa Ann creates content and facilitates training based on advancing racial equity and inclusion within the City. She partners with different departments as they design and implement tactical equity plans, identifying disparities and helping address them. She’s humbled and grateful at the opportunity to support the City’s efforts to ensure all neighborhoods have what they need to flourish as their authentic selves.

Outside of work, Lisa Ann enjoys exploring new restaurants and CrossFit. She’s a fan of film photography and the Sacramento Kings and is happily married to her best friend, Timothy.

Yey Morales (they/them)

Yey Morales is also a Program Coordinator with DRE, joining the team in June 2023. They share the same mission and passion as their colleagues for promoting consciousness around systemic racism and social justice. They previously led the Youth Services Team at the San Diego LGBT Community Center and served as Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Student Life, Diversity, and Leadership for Claremont Graduate University. 

For Yey, much of this drive can be traced to lived experience and academic exposure. They come from a Latinx immigrant family where their parents encouraged them to pursue higher education and meaningful work. Their older brother shared that inspiration, currently working as a municipal employee for their hometown of La Puente. Yey’s background and interest in both ethnic and urban studies, as well as Latinx literature, serves them well as they continue to bring attention to equity issues in the City.

They enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible, attending sporting events, kayaking, and camping with their partner. Yey’s also a guide for a local camping group called Queering the Path, which encourages BIPOC LGBTQIA+ people to share and enjoy the outdoors. As a non-binary trans masc person, advocacy for gender inclusivity is another guiding passion in their work and personal life.

Salina Villegas

Salina is a dedicated systems thinker who comes from at least six generations of family born and raised in the city of San Diego. With a deep understanding of the local community and its unique challenges, Salina has dedicated her life to understanding power and its relationship to the “isms” we created to practice supremacy over each other and our land.

Currently, Salina’s role in the Department of Race & Equity as a “Data, Evaluation, and Community Impact Manager” involves developing content and facilitating trainings, workshops, and programs focused on advancing racial equity and inclusion for city departments, Mayoral appointees, and City Council offices. Salina also works closely with City departments to collect, analyze, and use data to inform decision-making, evaluate programs and initiatives, and track progress toward achieving equity goals.

Folks can find Salina frequenting community-based coffee shops and sharing resources with her village on social media. Salina is a mother to two growing humans, a partner to a hard-working civil rights advocate, and a sibling to anyone in/of struggle.

Helen Gaim Weldeghiorgis (she/her/hers)

Helen’s parents arrived on Kumeyaay land in the mid-1980’s as Eritrean refugees. She is the youngest of 4 siblings and was born and raised in southeast San Diego. Helen considers SD to be one of her many homes, and was both nervous and honored to join the Department of Race & Equity (DRE) as a Program Manager in July 2022.  When DRE restructured in 2023, Helen pivoted to shepherding the department’s new Social Equity & Economic Investment program area. Under that umbrella, Helen leads both the Cannabis Social Equity & Economic Development (SEED) Program as well as DRE’s Reinvestment Funds Program which includes a ~$5 Million portfolio.

Helen enjoys doing the same things at work as she does outside of work- making connections and meaning with people she cares for, in service of her community. Her favorite hobbies include playing tabletop games, visiting the Pacific Ocean and any other creative pursuit (especially in nature!)