Board of Directors
Our board acts as our strategic direction-setting body, setting the programmatic direction of Project Super Bloom, oversees our candidate endorsements, and decides on pertinent policy issues for Super Bloom's advocacy.
- Ana Karen EstradaBoard PresidentAna Karen Estrada is a first-generation college student finishing her senior year at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), majoring in Political Science. Ana grew up in the San Fernando Valley in a working-class household and is prideful in her Mexican-American roots. She enjoys performing advocacy and political work that involves uplifting her community and creating spaces to increase youth involvement. She serves on various youth-powered platforms, including being on the Executive Board of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats (SFVYD) as a College Liaison representing CSUN and President of the Matador Democrats. Ana is ecstatic to continue fulfilling Project Super Bloom PAC's mission of getting more progressive candidates elected with a history of advocating for youth values while providing paid opportunities to students to participate in politics.
- James ColemanBoard MemberJames Coleman is an elected City Councilmember with the City of South San Francisco. Compelled by the coronavirus pandemic, the nationwide protests against police brutality, and an intensifying climate crisis, James ran for city council to bring progressive change and a new perspective to his hometown's elected leadership. He was elected in 2020, becoming the city's youngest ever, first openly LGBTQ+ identifying, and first democratic socialist member of the city council at the age of 22. He graduated from Harvard University in 2021 with a degree in Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology and a minor in Government. Prior to this, James Coleman has worked with the community to help make our political system work for all of us from the Greater Boston area to his hometown in the Bay Area. In particular, James was a fellow with the Alliance for Climate Education, an organizer with Fossil Fuel Divest Harvard, and a cofounder of the Harvard Undergraduates for Environmental Justice.
- Jaria JaugBoard MemberJaria Jaug is an activist for college students from the Bay Area. She spearheads her advocacy in San Jose as a CA Democratic Delegate for Assembly District 25, a student lobbyist on San Jose State University's Lobby Corps, and a campaign coordinator for political campaigns in the Bay Area. She is also involved in the NAACP Youth Chapter, designing graphics and organizing joint-organization efforts. In the day, she works as a Field Representative helping individual constituents in Assembly District 25. She hopes that her progressive voice and organizing efforts will foster the youth to become more active in their community and push California forward.
- Anish MohantyBoard MemberAnish Mohanty is an organizer specializing in digital tools like video production, social media, and data analytics to support progressive campaigns and social justice causes. With a passion for storytelling, he has worked with prominent political figures and organizations to drive meaningful change, producing digital content for leaders such as U.S. Senator Ed Markey, California Treasurer Fiona Ma, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Anish has also served as Communications Director for Gen-Z for Change and Assemblymember Liz Ortega, and is currently the Digital Director for San José Mayor Matt Mahan.
In addition to his professional work, Anish is dedicated to community involvement and holds several leadership positions. He is an Elected Delegate to the California Democratic Party, a Steering Committee Member for the Working Families Party, an Arts & Culture Commissioner for Union City, CA, and a Sister Cities Committee Member for Union City, CA. Anish is committed to promoting progressive values and working toward a more just and equitable future. - Jonah GottliebBoard MemberJonah Gottlieb is a community organizer, socialist, abolitionist, policy nerd, and undergraduate student at UC Berkeley. He currently serves as the Secretary of the Berkeley Tenants Union, the Chair of the Cal Young Democratic Socialists of America Electoral Working Group, an At-Large Representative for the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club, and an elected CADEM Delegate (AD14). Previously, Jonah was the Campaign Manager for the Right to Housing Slate for Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board, Deputy Campaign Manager for Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran, NorCal Organizing Director for Project Superbloom, and Executive Director of the National Children’s Campaign.
- Carolina MendezBoard MemberCarolina "Caro" Mendez is a dedicated advocate for racial and social justice, leveraging her background as a first-gen Xicana raised in a working-class household to inform her activism. She earned her B.A in Political Science from California State University, Fullerton, where she founded and served as President of the College Progressives and Vice President of the College Democrats. She was also the first Orange County Regional Director of the California College Democrats and a Legislative Intern for State Senator Steven Bradford.
Today, Carolina leads in her role as a California Digital Organizer at the Working Families Party, working closely with coalition partners, candidates, elected officials, and staff to develop strategy and tactics for progressive campaigns in Orange and Los Angeles counties. She has a strong background in grassroots organizing and youth engagement, as well as a deep understanding of progressive policy. - Wendy SantamariaBoard MemberWendy Santamaria is a queer Latina organizer who has served on Project Superbloom’s Board of Directors for the last 2 years. Based out of Santa Barbara, CA, Wendy has been organizing for the last 6 years with a focus on tenant organizing and labor organizing. After graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2020, she worked with local communities most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to organize for better access to healthcare, housing, and workplace protections. Previously, she worked on the Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign and organized community members with the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) in Santa Barbara. Today, Wendy serves as an Associate Organizer with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), organizing workers in the nonprofit sector and beyond for better working conditions.
- Chris CastorenaBoard MemberChris Castorena is a Master of Public Policy Candidate at UC Riverside raised in the Inland Empire. He just helped launch a community-based initiative in his hometown called Banning’s Future Fellowship targeted at helping stop the brain drain in small cities. He is also a Blum Initiative Service Learning Fellow and Graduate Teaching Assistant for the School of Public Policy at UC Riverside, a member of Riverside County Young Democrats, San Gorgonio Pass Rotary, and Inland Empire Democratic Socialists of America. Aside from community organizing and teaching, catch him at your local library, park, or watching Lakers games.
- Elise WildmanBoard MemberElise Wildman is an organizer and activist from the East Bay as well as Project Super Bloom’s former Political Director. She graduated from UC Davis in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Since her time as a Campus Corps Leader for the Bernie 2020 campaign, she has organized around issues such as democracy reform, racial justice, climate justice, and health care for all. In her organizing, she prioritizes intersectionality. Elise is determined to fight for a more equitable society and stands against corporations in their efforts to put profits over people. In her free time she enjoys dancing and gardening.
- Jorgel ChavezBoard MemberJorgel Chavez was elected as Councilmember to the City of Bell Gardens in 2020. He won his election not through corporate contributions, but by knocking on the doors of his neighbors and engaging with his community. He is the youngest council member serving throughout Los Angeles County. In the midst of the pandemic, he graduated from the University of Southern California with his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Masters in Public Administration. Chavez is passionate about Bell Gardens and the SELA (South East Los Angeles) communities.
