Board of Directors
Alexandra Wilkinson
“My name is Alexandra Wilkinson. I was born in Long Beach, CA, and raised about 15 minutes away in Huntington Beach. Passionate about brain health and Neurodegenerative diseases as we age, I earned my BA in Psychology with a certificate in Gerontology. Which led me to earn my master’s in Gerontology. As a student my time was well spent, serving as a leader in many student organizations including, secretary of the Psychology Student Association, Vice president of the Gerontology Honor Society, and president of the Gerontology Honor Society. As a student passionate about helping people, I also aligned myself with organizations doing good including the Psychology Resource Office, Meals on Wheels, the VA hospital of Long beach in Neuropsychology, SCAN health plan, and tutored students at Millikan high school.
After graduating with my master’s, the service did not stop. As the daughter of an army veteran, I am passionate about helping veterans. I continued my service for the VA hospital, but this time in Neuropsychiatric research. This allowed me to work more closely with veterans with dementia, traumatic brain injury, and schizophrenia. Eventually, I was hired as an instructor at California State University Long Beach. This opened new opportunities to serve. As faculty, I took on new roles including becoming a member of the campus GWAR committee which oversees writing-intensive courses at CSULB. Furthermore, I recently became a member at large for the California Council of Gerontology and Geriatrics. As part of my position, we discuss important statewide policies impacting older adults and collaborate with other California colleges. Committed to making the campus inclusive I also joined my department Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee that focuses efforts on inclusion among faculty and students. As a committee we were able to mandate DEI training for all faculty within our department, so all students experience a productive learning environment.
Additionally, I am thankful that I become involved with a nonprofit called Love Beyond Limits – an organization that excels at doing good for the community. Finally, I recently became the director of a friendly caller program, in which I manage volunteers. The program serves homebound seniors and pairs them with students to talk with and check on them. This provides relief from loneliness and provides vital resources as needed. Although I have worn many hats in my lifetime, all of my projects have one thing in common – making the world a better place. Whether it is encouraging an older adult to smile, or assisting a struggling student with paper deadlines, I want to make the world a better place one person at a time. I am always looking for more ways to give back so naturally becoming part of this great organization will further my commitment to improving the community. Whatever I am doing I love to leave every interaction making someone’s day better, which has a lasting rippling impact.”
Betajohmarie “Beyjah” Brown
Currently, I am a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) Graduate student specializing in Applied Community Psychology at Antioch University in Los Angeles. I’m also a Dillard University School of Nursing Alumni with a Baccalaureate of Science Degree in Nursing (RN) with 26 years of diverse clinical experience in acute care and adult psychiatry. I’ve also worked independently as a Traveling Nurse, where I contracted with some of the finest Magnet hospitals in the U.S , and sometimes under challenging and stressful labor conditions. I’ve held RN licensure in R.I., NJ, D.C., GA, LA, TX, NV, and currently in CA. Prior to becoming an RN, I worked as an Licensed Vocational Nurse in both acute care and Long Term Care settings for 5 years while pursuing my BSN degree and serving in the U. S. Army Reserves, Additionally, I’ve been an Instructor of Practical Nursing and a volunteer NCLEX-PN Exam Item Writer for the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in conjunction with Pearson-Vue in Chicago, IL.
Currently, I am a member of the California Coalition to Abolish Slavery National Network, Abolish Slavery National Network (ASNN), and the Anti-Violence, Safety and Accountability (or ASAP), and board-member of Mind Change- a 501(c)(3) organization centered on the mental health and well-being of children impacted by police and community murder, gun violence, and incarceration. My future goals include successful completion of graduate school, the pursuit of doctoral studies in Psychology, developing a community-based non-profit organization that involves elements of empowerment, mental wellness, and social justice advocacy.
Gaston Lassalle
Bio coming soon!
Joe Gatlin
Joe Gatlin is a proud San Pedro resident born and raised here in San Pedro and has been a part of this community and it’s events for the past 60 years. Joe is a community activist and true community leader. Some of his attributes are fundraising for various charities and local organizations. He assisted in fundraising for the local YMCA, Barton Hill Neighborhood Organization and the San Pedro Committee. He was on the commission board of the Racial Justice Awards for the YWCA Harbor area, and he was also active on the board of trustees with the Port of Los Angeles High School (POLA).
Joe is the Chairperson for the San Pedro Committee Juneteenth committee here in San Pedro which has reached over 30 years of existence. Joe assisted in establishing the very first San Pedro section of the National Council of Negro Women here in San Pedro in 2006.
During the years of December 1965 to June 1976 Joe served in the Army with a special unit known as the Air Defense team. While serving in this branch he later became a Commissions officer in the year of 1969. He was the area supervisor over the missile battalion located in Palos Verdes California. Joe also served as Jane Goodall’s West Coast representative for the Goodall Institute from 1991 to 1996.
Joe formerly served on the Toberman Board, Central San Pedro Neighborhood council as vice president, and later became President of the council. Coach Joe Gatlin coached the girl’s basketball team of San Pedro High School, he was a part of the Chamber of Commerce Waterfront Planning Committee and served on the steering committee of the PCAC and the PCAC board for 5 years. In the past Joe was very instrumental with assisting the founder of COPSS organization which is now known as COPE, an emergency preparedness committee, which at that time was a major concern of the residents in San Pedro. Joe also played an important role in assisting the emergency food program with the ILWU Hands Open Wide Program and the Toberman food pantry to provide food for casual longshoreman and local harbor area residents. He rolled up his sleeves to help distribute to those that were in need during this economical down side. He is currently a board member of the (BHS) Behavioral Health Services since August of 2016. Joe started the NAACP Branch of San Pedro/Wilmington #1069 back in October 2015. He has always been concerned enough to be that positive motivating force in keeping San Pedro united , safe and productive.
Mitchelle Pacleb
Mitchelle is a Marketing Director at Revolution Financial Management. With over six years in the financial industry, she has built a solid business by helping families get on track financially. She takes pride in keeping her standards high and transcending those standards to her team. Helping people has always been her way of life. She also comes from a nursing background. She received her Licensed Vocational Nursing degree from Casa Loma in Los Angeles. Her experience of over 20 years in the health industry has humbled her. As a lead triage nurse to case manager with a physician’s group, she found working with the geriatric community to be the most rewarding years of her life. As a hospice nurse, Mitchelle saw it as a privilege to serve her patients in their last hours. Despite her busy schedule she still finds time to volunteer her time with The Dreammakers (benefiting Easter Seals), collect and distribute donated items to local shelters, donate books to further enhance school libraries, communities and coordinate volunteers within her firm to distribute clothes and hygiene items to residents of Skid Row. Additionally, she is the Board Treasurer of Connected to Lead, an organization focused on leadership development for people of all ages. Outside of her volunteer work she also enjoys biking, outdoors sports, watching movies, and hiking with her daughters, son, and husband. But what she cherishes the most is her faith. A California sunrise reminds her of how God continues to work through her and excited that the best years are yet to come.