The Healing and Justice Center (HJC), a worker self-directed non-profit, stands in solidarity with, supports, and actively participates in organizing and advocacy for individuals and BIPOC communities. While also supporting community-based non-profit organizations and community members in developing a collective wellness culture that moves beyond individual self-care to holistic practices that address emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing, allowing us all to live dignified lives in which we advance social justice for all, not at the cost of our own wellbeing. Our work is founded on dismantling systems of oppression and boldly envisioning a new world of connectedness, inclusivity, and belonging. HJC acknowledges it takes a lot of intentionality and commitment to create an organizational culture in which those working to create social change also are challenging themselves as staff and change-makers within the organization to unlearn what has been internalized from living and operating within the systems of white supremacy, racism, colorism, sexism, heterosexism, ableism, classism, ageism, and anti-Semitism. Unlearning and creating the world we want to live in requires an ongoing practice of self-attunement, healing and wellness tools, and ongoing exploration and support.
A worker self-directed nonprofit is a nonprofit organization in which all workers have the power to influence the programs in which they work, the conditions of their workplace, their own career paths, and the direction of the organization as a whole. HJC founders chose to develop HJC as a worker self-directed non-profit to decentralize decision-making power and challenge themselves, future staff, board members, and contributors to intentionally stay committed to creating systems that honor and deepen their ability to practice the organizational values in everyday interactions. With not many models of decentralized power in the nonprofit sector, HJC is committed to exploring and learning different ways of being in relationships, communicating, making decisions, sharing power, and resolving conflict that keeps us in alignment and fulfilling our organizational values. (our values will be posted below)
Our Vision
We envision safe, healthy, resilient & just communities
Our Mission
To strengthen people, organizations, and movements to disrupt cycles of harm by advancing intergenerational healing through practices that nurture resilience, compassion, and collective well-being
HJC Values
Meet The Team
Azucena Ortiz
Co-Founder
(626) 346-1136 azucena@healingandjusticecenter.org
I am Azucena Ortiz, (Ella, she, her, they) a woman of color born in Mayan lands (Guatemala), raised in tongva lands (Los Angeles) and currently reside in Kawengna Tongva lands (Duarte, CA). For the last 18 years, I have been finding my way back to myself through personal healing and supporting others in their healing journey through my work as a facilitator, social justice advocate, and healer. I am a mother of two young men, 21 and 24 years old, my desire for them to grow in a better world is what ignited my passion for healing and social justice. I began my journey working with community as a parent educator at the Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting (aka ECHO ). My growth and experiences stepping into an array of different roles in a grassroots organization invested in creating a paradigm shift rooted in nonviolence was foundational to my development as a coach , facilitator, and social justice advocate. In the continued fight for social change, while also continuing to live and be impacted by systems of oppression, I experienced burnout. The road to recovery from burnout required me to train and deepen my practice of self-reflection, self-attunement, and practices of embodied healing wellness practices. This led me to Critical Mass Dance Company where I became a Dance From The Heart Teaching Artist for the Women Empowerment Program helping woman-identified individuals reconnect to their bodies to reduce chronic pain, heal trauma, build self-confidence, reach their goals, and cultivate community. After receiving my BA in Organizational Studies and minor in Chicano Latino Studies my desire to integrate my experience and create a safe, healing and connected space for BIPOC community, organizers and advocates to continue to strive for social change while also living dignified lives integrating healing and wellness practices led me to co-found the Healing and Justice Center.
Jorge Rivera
Co-Founder
(562) 590-5601
After graduating California State University of Long Beach earning a BA in Psychology and Philosophy, Jorge worked in the private foster care sector but became disenchanted with the system. After exploring other careers, he became involved in his own community and local government. In doing so, he emerged as a grassroots community organizer advocating and fighting for tenant rights and affordable housing. Concurrently, he began his own personal journey and exploration of stress, trauma and the various modalities of healing. His personal and professional paths have since converged creating a desire to focus on healing trauma, fostering resilience and addressing systems of oppression and other root causes. To support this paradigm shift, he has set out on various ventures, one of which is co-founding and starting “The Healing & Justice Center.” Additionally, he helped found The San Gabriel Valley Tenant Alliance which is a supportive group of tenants that help foster and build tenant unions and associations throughout the valley. He also practices real estate supporting individuals and families to own within the communities they reside, and building generational wealth. His goals are to use this experience and knowledge of real estate to help inform and educate communities on home ownership, establish creative ownership solutions such as cooperative housing and create more affordable housing through collective financing models.
Karla Ortiz
(562) 261-1119
Karla E. Ortiz (Ella, she, her), is a woman of color who believes in the power of searching within oneself to overcome adversity and heal past traumas, reconciling our present and striving for a future where we can create healthy, resilient, and safe spaces. She has a deep passion for helping others/communities access both internal and external resources to thrive. Karla began her journey at The People's Resource Center (Healing and Justice Center) in March, 2020 with a desire to break old patterns rooted in past trauma and strengthen her own resiliency. Among the many roles she plays at HJC she is a social media manager, she helped establish and manages the tenant hotline while implementing embodied listening, connected communication and regulation practices in each interaction. In a previous life, she has been a make-up artist, a beautician, worked in tourism, customer service, and a food vendor which has greatly informed her work ethic and ability to connect with and understand the needs of community.
Katherine Callejas
(626) 596-2336
Katherine P. Callejas (she/her) joined the Healing and Justice Center as a volunteer in August 2023, where she contributed to the tenant hotline, created social media posts, and assisted with the curation of a comprehensive resource database. She earned a dual bachelor's degree in Sociology and Psychology from the University of California, Riverside in December 2023. Committed to fostering meaningful connections within her community, Katherine is dedicated to advancing her expertise in advocacy, digital equity, and compassionate parenting. Her academic background and hands-on experience have equipped her with a profound understanding of the intersectionality of societal dynamics. Katherine is a firm believer in the transformative power of collective wellness, resilience, and healing from trauma. Her overarching goal is to empower communities through the embodiment of empathy and non-conflict communication. With a passion for social justice and community well-being, Katherine remains driven to make enduring contributions to the Healing and Justice Center's mission.
Gisela Burquet
(213) 618-1547
Gisela Burquet has a Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University and an undergraduate degree in Child Development from California State University in Los Angeles. Prior to being a psychotherapist, she had fifteen years of experience as a master educator and group facilitator for the Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting, training thousands of parents, teachers, childcare providers and mental health professionals as well as working with children from birth to adolescence. Born in Argentina, she is a longtime US resident and naturalized citizen with a nuanced understanding of issues related to bi-culturalism, immigration and feeling uprooted. Gisela enjoys art and movement as ways to express our hearts, souls, and to guide our healing journeys.
Julie Fernandez
(818)404-7892
Julie is a somatic trauma integration practitioner and facilitator who supports individuals and communities in healing unresolved trauma through embodied, relational, and trauma-informed practices. Her work is grounded in the understanding that healing happens through the body and in connection with others. Drawing from Somatic Experiencing, trauma-informed yoga, Family Constellations, expressive arts, and other body-centered modalities, Julie creates emotionally safe, inclusive spaces that invite reflection, presence, and meaningful connection. She approaches symptoms and behaviors as adaptive responses to overwhelming experiences and supports participants in reconnecting with their inherent resilience, agency, and capacity for choice. Julie brings extensive training in psychology and somatic trauma work alongside lived experience that informs her grounded, relational approach. She values slowing down, listening closely, and meeting people where they are, supporting spaces that feel steady, respectful, and human.
Maria Evelia Scanlon
(661) 993-6196
Evelia Scanlon is a bilingual facilitator, educator, healer, motivational speaker, and workshop creator with over 15 years of experience designing and leading trauma-informed workshops, support groups, and curricula that foster healing, empowerment, and resilience. She specializes in domestic violence recovery, parenting, emotional intelligence, healthy relationships, and anger management, bringing a compassionate and practical approach to her work with survivors, families, and communities. Evelia holds certifications as a Probation-Approved Domestic Violence Facilitator, Domestic Violence Victim Counselor, Certified Parent Educator, Facilitator Trainer, Sound Bath Facilitator, Reiki Master, and A Window Between Worlds Facilitator. She has facilitated programs in collaboration with respected organizations including Haven Hills, Valley Family Center, Single Mothers Outreach, Child & Family Center in Santa Clarita, The Domestic Violence Center in Santa Clarita, and Zonta’s LifeForward Program. In addition to facilitation, Evelia has created and presented workshops for SCV Zonta’s LifeForward Program and has also designed and delivered trainings for organizations seeking to strengthen their work with survivors and families. She is the creator of a Domestic Violence Recovery Program that integrates tools for anger management, self-regulation, understanding trauma, and self-love, as well as multiple empowerment and healing workshops. As both a motivational speaker and workshop creator, Evelia inspires audiences while designing programs that integrate evidence-based practices with creative healing modalities such as journaling, art, movement, meditation, sound healing, and nonviolent communication. Her philosophy is rooted in empathy, connection, and resilience. Evelia believes that with the right support, individuals can break cycles of violence, reclaim their voice, and step into thriving, connected lives. Her work reflects her deep commitment to helping others move 'from surviving to thriving.
Karina Mendoza
(707) 304-4353
Karina Mendoza arrived in the United States nine years ago. She was born in Mexico City and raised in Mérida, Yucatán, where she developed a deep commitment to family, community, and service. She currently serves as a community health promoter and advocate in Long Beach, California. She actively participates in various school district committees, reaffirming her strong commitment to education and student well-being. Her leadership is rooted both in her experience as a mother and in her conviction that families must have an active voice in the spaces where decisions are made that impact their children’s future. Karina has collaborated on multiple advocacy projects focused on early childhood education for children under the age of five, as well as initiatives aimed at preventing child neglect and abuse. Her work centers on providing information, guidance, and practical tools that empower families to strengthen themselves and become active advocates for their children’s development and well-being. She is distinguished by her cultural sensitivity, dedication to service, and commitment to family empowerment. Her mission is to continue building bridges between families and educational and health systems, promoting more informed, engaged, and resilient communities."
Meet Our Board
Brooke Clavesilla,
Licensed Therapist Independent Practitioner
(562)270-2174
brookeclavesilla@gmail.com
Brooke is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) & Certified Yoga Instructor. She is a 3rd-generation Mexican American and was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. Over the past 10 years, Brooke has planted roots in Long Beach, CA, a place she is proud to call home. She has worked at the individual, organizational, and community levels. Brooke’s work experience includes providing case management and one-to-one crisis and therapeutic support, facilitating workshops and training for youth and professionals, developing programs, organizing local campaigns, and advocating for equitable public policy. After realizing the route she had chosen in her career as a social worker wasn’t for her, Brooke was propelled to turn her attention inward and do some deep soul searching. She was burnt out and had no idea who she was or where she was going in life. Brooke started going to therapy and created a regular yoga and meditation practice. Through her healing process, she slowly started to find her way back to herself and a renewed sense of purpose. Therapy and yoga facilitated so much healing in Brooke’s life, she decided to become a licensed therapist and completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training. She was inspired to help other women like her reconnect with their whole selves and heal. At the heart of Brooke’s work is a deep passion for facilitating healing and social justice in her community. In a society that values productivity over rest, she views helping people slow down and reconnect with themselves as a radical act of self and community love. In other words, when we take care of ourselves, we take care of our communities.
Alexandra Hong,
Attorney LA County Bar Association
(213) 505-1137
Alexandra Hong is an attorney devoted to human rights since becoming licensed in 2015. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms.Hong worked on issues from ending homelessness, fighting hunger, and expanding literacy in prison through various grassroots projects. Ms.Hong graduated from Southwestern Law School’s SCALE program and has primarily focused on eviction defense, providing quality representation and empowerment to countless tenants from consultations, negation, and litigation, including several jury trials. Ms. Hong continues to support grassroot movements through her work with the Healing and Justice Center and the LA Tenants Union.
Gabriela Sandoval,
Executive Director Excessive Wealth Disorder Institute
(805) 815-5449
Gabriela Sandoval is an experienced thought leader with a demonstrated history of working in energy equity, family economic security, birth and reproductive justice and education. Skilled in strategic visioning, project and program planning, fundraising and research and management. Strong economic justice, racial and gender equity professional with a Ph.D. in Sociology and and M.R.P. in City and Regional Planning from Cornell University.
Mayra Vega,
Organizing Director SEIU
(213) 505-1137
Mayra Vega brings extensive experience and a deep commitment to community organizing and advocacy. With a career spanning over two decades, Mayra has been at the forefront of various grassroots and political campaigns. She served as a Regional Organizing Director for the Mike Bloomberg Presidential Campaign in Orange County, CA, overseeing field operations, managing staff, and driving recruitment efforts. Her work with organizations like SCOPE (Strategic Concepts in Organizing & Policy Education) in South L.A. involved developing and executing direct-action campaigns, training grassroots leaders, and advocating for marginalized communities. Mayra's expertise also extends to environmental justice, minimum wage advocacy, LGBTQ+ rights, and labor organizing. Her resilient, positive attitude, fluency in English and Spanish, and exceptional leadership skills have made her a respected force for social change and human rights. Mayra's dedication and passion for community empowerment continue to drive her impactful work.
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