Staff

Crissy Brooks, Executive Director & Co-Founder

Crissy grew up in Costa Mesa and has come to love her city deeply.  Her leadership development journey began in the Brooks’ home as the daughter of a police captain and PTA president.  Her faith and leadership were further shaped by involvement in her Church.  Her youth pastor, Mark Orphan is highly influential in her life and along with Laura Johnson and Lindsy Harris, they founded Mika in 2003.  Through her studies at Azusa Pacific University, three years living in Caracas, Venezuela, and now engaging with immigrant neighbors, Crissy has developed a love for Latino culture.  She lives in the Shalimar neighborhood with two amazing roommates and one crazy dog.  They like to run together and connect over long drawn out breakfasts on Saturdays.

Follow:  @crissybrooks

View from the Mesa: Blog, Column- Daily Pilot

Affiliations:  Lead Team- Soul Survivor Church; Lead Team- One Church for Our City (OC for OC) ; Board of Directors- Christian Community Development Association

 

Keturah Kennedy, Director of Operations

Keturah loves living in Costa Mesa.  She moved to California from Missouri in 2002 to attend Vanguard University where she earned a BA in Cultural Anthropology. Soon after graduation she began volunteering at Mika and joined the staff in 2006.  She completed the Arrow Leadership Program in 2010 which has been highly instrumental in her personal leadership development.  Keturah has a passion for participating in God’s Kingdom work in Costa Mesa and uses her gifts in organizational development as Mika’s Director of Operations. Keturah lives in the Shalimar neighborhood and most of all enjoys hearing the children playing outside.  It’s been said that a sign of a healthy community is children playing in the street, and she feels blessed to be part of such a beautiful neighborhood.  Keturah is  currently pursuing her dream of being a hair stylist and is attending Paul Mitchell The School in Costa Mesa.

Follow @keturahkennedy

Blog: Before I’m 30…

Affiliations: Member of the Board of Directors at The Marin Foundation, Lead Team – One Church for Our City (OC for OC), Member of Pacific Pointe Church

Caryn Blanton, Youth Development Director

Caryn is passionate about helping others find their passion – especially youth.  As Mika’s Youth Development Director, Caryn seeks to expose the students she works with to new and diverse experiences and to help them explore their interests. God has placed unique gifts and talents in each and every one of them.  Caryn intends to help each student find out what their special gifts are and how they can be used to serve God and their community.

Caryn recently graduated from Vanguard University with a BA in Psychology and after settling into a new marriage, she is considering furthering her education in Spiritual Direction and Formation beginning in 2012.  When she is not with the youth in our Mika neighborhoods, she is happily at home with her family and their friends, at the beach, quietly reading a book, or experiencing art and other beautiful things.

 

Walter Garcia, Neighborhood Advisor

Walter grew up in Guatemala City and came to the U.S. at the end of 2000 with his wife Carmen and two sons Alex and Alberto.  Walter began his academic studies in Public Administration and graduated with a BA in Human Development from Hope International University.  In 2006, Walter and his family moved to Costa Mesa and in 2007, after volunteering for one of Mika’s Law Clinics came on staff.   Walter’s love of Costa Mesa and his commitment to walking alongside his neighbors as the Baker Neighborhood Advisor has given him influence in many spheres in the city.  His work with the Costa Mesa Police Department, city officials and educational institutions has enriched Mika’s work in our city and has facilitated unlikely connections to bring about meaningful change.

Blog: Chapin in Costa Mesa

Affiliations:  2^nd Vice-President of The Costa Mesa – Orange Coast Breakfast Lions Club

 

Juval Flores, Neighborhood Advisor

Juval grew up in Santa Ana and Costa Mesa, but he considers Costa Mesa home. He loves the city and all that it has to offer. Juval came to Mika in 2008 to work as a part-time Neighborhood Advisor on Center St. He is currently attending Orange Coast College until he is ready to return to Cal State Fullerton and finish his degree in Criminal Justice. Eventually, he would like to pursue his dream job, a Costa Mesa Police Officer. He enjoys going to the movies, anytime, and his all time favorite activity is drag racing.  Juval is married to Teresa and loves spending time with his wife and family.

 

Effy Sanchez, Neighborhood Advisor

Effy grew up in the city of Campeche, Mexico. She first came to Mika in 2004 as a volunteer with her church, and later  joined the team as a Neighborhood Advisor for Shalimar Dr. and Maple Ave. Effy enjoys working in the community and building relationships with the neighbors. She has been married to her husband Paul for 25 years and has a son and a daughter. In her spare time, Effy enjoys exercising and practicing Folkloric Dance!

 

Monserrat Rivera, Volunteer Coordinator

Monse grew up in Acapulco City, Mexico and came to the U.S. when she was 13 years old. She attended  Century High School in Santa Ana and went to Vanguard University where she was awarded with a full scholarship. In 2011 she earned her BA in International Business with a minor in Anthropology and Religion. She recognizes God to be the author of her success and has a passion to bring hope to those who face challenges as immigrants. Monse came to Mika as an intern and is now on staff as the Volunteer Coordinator.  With this position she wants to inspire and motivate others to use their talents to invest in our community.  She likes spending time with her family and loves going to the movies with her little brother who is the main person she wants to inspire.