Meet our Staff
CHRISTA WIENS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Christa Wiens has been actively engaged in the anti-trafficking field for over a decade, working to educate and equip communities to prevent exploitation. She has served as the Executive Director of Central Valley Justice Coalition since 2022, after previously leading as the Education Coordinator. Christa is the author of the Understanding Human Trafficking series and has contributed to multiple publications. With a background in education and a passion for prevention, she combines her experience as a teacher and leader to advocate for vulnerable populations. In 2022, she earned a Master of Arts in Ministry, Leadership, and Culture from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary.
TIFFANY RICHARDS, YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Tiffany is a passionate advocate for youth, seeking to empower them to find and use their own voice. Her experience creating teen workshops focusing on injustices in the Bay Area and an after school math program for disadvantaged youth led to an invitation to speak to the California Senate regarding California Youth Authority’s policies toward adolescents. Tiffany has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Anthropology from UC Berkeley and completed her Masters of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling at CSU Fresno.
Her other interests include the creative arts; designing clothes, writing stories, dissecting movies, and going to museums and theaters.
Dominique Brown- Youth Advocate/ Lived Experience Expert
Dominique Brown’s journey into this work is deeply personal. As a survivor of human trafficking, she has dedicated her life to preventing exploitation and supporting vulnerable youth. She brings her years of experience in advocacy, education, and compassionate care to the team at the Central Valley Justice Coalition, helping youth find agency, healing, and the freedom to thrive.
Daniel Licona- Youth Advocate
Daniel has a heart for youth who have experienced trauma and are finding their way in the world. His professional experience has allowed him to walk alongside youth in challenging situations through systems that can be complex and frustrating. His calm presence and ability to establish and maintain connections with youth make him a tremendous asset to the Justice Coalition team and the youth we serve.
KIM CONTRERAS, TRAUMA HEALING SPECIALIST
For more than thirty years, Kim has been serving the inner city of Fresno with deep love for her neighbors. She joined the World Impact team in 1993 and the Central Valley Justice Coalition Prevention volunteer team in 2017. It has been an honor to learn about the city and be changed by that experience through the Lord and her neighbors and friends in the Lowell and Hidalgo community. As Trauma Healing Specialist, Kim focuses on equipping the church and community to understand trauma and experience their own healing journey, along with an invitation to participate in outreach to survivors of human trafficking. Two of the accessible tools she utilizes are the Clear-Thinking Solutions method and Trauma Healing Institute healing groups. She can often be found with friends and family in the garden, enjoying a cup of coffee or a good burrito.
CHRISTY SEEBER, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Christy has a background in Education with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and a Masters of Education degree from Anderson University. Christy taught in North Philadelphia, PA and in New York City. Since leaving the classroom to raise her three young children and looking back on her time as an educator in under-resourced communities, she sees the importance of educating on human trafficking and prevention, so trauma and vulnerabilities are not overlooked. Christy lives in a beach town in New Jersey and enjoys beach days with her family and friends, reading a good book, and doing arts and crafts with her kiddos.
ANGIE STAFFORD, ADULT ADVOCATE
Kamari Foster- Office Administrator
Meet our Board of Directors
Dr. Rev. Lauran Bethell, President
Global Consultant, International Ministries
Lauran serves as a Global Consultant serving grassroots organizations, encouraging the development of projects and networks which are dealing with the issues of prostitution, trafficking in persons and other forms of abuse and exploitation. Her ministry in the field began in 1987 in Thailand, where she served for 15 years. She has lived in 6 countries, and now continues to consult and network around the world, traveling from her base in Fresno, CA.
James Bergen, M.Div., CPXP – Board Member
Healthcare Administrator, Valley Children’s Healthcare
James Bergen, former pastor and community development leader, has served and invested in the communities of Fresno and the Central Valley since moving to Fresno in 2006. Currently, he serves as Manager Patient Experience at Valley Children’s Healthcare helping the 1.3 million children of the Central Valley and their families access quality, safe, timely, and equitable healthcare.
Kimberly Gragston, MSW- Clinical Social
Worker- Board Member
Kimberly Gragston is a clinical social worker who
has supported individuals and families impacted by
harm and incarceration for over a decade. She
previously served as Clinical Director at ReEvolution
and has been a restorative justice practitioner with
various community organizations since 2018. In this
work, she has facilitated healing circles, victim-offender
dialogues, and programs that support healing,
accountability, and community transformation.
Kimberly brings extensive experience in program
development, implementation, grant writing, and
strategic relationship building. She earned a Bachelor
of Arts in Organizational Leadership and a Master of
Social Work with an emphasis in mental health and
trauma from the University of Denver.
Krystal Klaassen, MA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR- Board Member
Human Resources and Operations Director, California Environmental Justice Alliance
Krystal Klaassen brings over 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience and HR expertise. Her work is guided by a deep commitment to equity, justice, and building supportive environments where people can thrive.
As a board member, Krystal brings her expertise in organizational development, HR strategy, and systems-building. She is a thoughtful and strategic partner who seeks to strengthen CVJC’s capacity so that staff and volunteers can continue leading life-changing work in the Central Valley.”
Caty Perez, M.A. Education Administration- Board Member
Senior Philanthropy Officer at the Central Valley Community Foundation
Caty served for 23 years as the Associate Vice President of Comprehensive Campaigns and Development at California State University, Fresno, including work with the Craig School of Business, Lyles College of Engineering, and College of Science and Math. Under her leadership, the Council of Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) honored Fresno State with eight awards for its development program.
Long recognized as a leader in the Central Valley and philanthropic community, Caty has been awarded the Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Woman of the Year by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She is a regular speaker on leveraging local philanthropy, community foundations, and higher education development. Her board experience is broad and demonstrates a deep commitment to Fresno and the Central Valley.
Peter Smith, PhD – Board Member
Grant Project Director, Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary
Currently, Peter works at Fresno Pacific University overseeing a large Lilly Endowment grant for the Seminary. Previously at FPU, he was a faculty member in Peacemaking & Conflict Studies for 12 years. He has lived in Fresno for the longest sojourn in any one place of his married life, spending stints in Zambia, Prague, Los Angeles, and Lithuania along the way. He is delighted to serve with the Justice Coalition since it dovetails with his commitment to justice as wholeness and repair.