CPMCC Board Members

Josephine Talamantez, Chair

Josephine S. Talamantez (Chicana/Yaqui) is an Organizational Management, Public Policy and Governmental Relations consultant with a specialization in Arts, History and Cultural Public Programming, Historic Preservation, Cultural Resource Management and Public History. Founder and Board Chair of the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center (CPMCC ) San Diego, CA; Former Chief of Programs/ Legislative Liaison, California Arts Council, a State agency; Executive Director, La Raza/Galeria Posada-Sac, CA and Centro Cultural de la Raza-San Diego—nonprofit arts organizations, CA; Past executive board member, National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC); and Co-founder of Latinos in Heritage Conservation (LHC) a national organization. She has served as an Advisor to the California Office of Historic Preservation for the development of the Ca. Latino American Theme Study and Multiple Property Registration Form (MPRF.) Co-founder—Chicano Park & Chicano Park Steering Committee (CPSC), and member of the Royal Chicano Air force (RCAF). She authored Chicano Park and the Chicano Park Monumental Mural’s successful National Register nomination and co-authored its successful National Landmark nomination. In addition, she serves on Barrio Logan Planning Group; Barrio Logan Association/Maintenance Assessment District; Air Pollution Control District Portside Communities Steering Committee; Latinx Advisory Committee for San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and was inducted to the California Women’s Museum, San Diego’s Women’s Hall of Fame-2022.  She has a Master’s degree in History focusing on Chicano civil rights era and on public history programming.

Diane Armenta

Diane Armenta has been a community member all of her life and loves living in Logan Heights. Since 1970, Diane has been an activist and participated in the take over of Chicano Park in 1970. She is a member of the Chicano Park Steering Committee and worked at Non-Profit- Barrio Station beginning February 1980 and continued working as Administrative Assistant until she retired in 2014.Currently, she is a Board Member of the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center as well as a member of the South East San DIego Planning Group.

Enrique (Chikle) Lugo

Enrique (Chikle) Lugo is the Dean of Students at High Tech High Chula Vista, the proud son of Mexican immigrants, a visual artist, and San Diego native dedicated to progressive education, entrepreneurship, and community activism.  He is also a co-founder of the Emo Brown Art Department. 

Helen Gonzales

Helen “Elena” Gonzales is a Chicana/Mexicana community member and educator who advocates for educational equity and access for all children, youth, and adults: ensuring the highest quality of learning within institutions of education and community-based organizations. As a retired educator, counselor, and administrator with over 35 years of experience in pre-K-12 education, university level and expanded learning opportunity programs she has worked within urban and rural school districts with diverse communities.

Ms. Gonzales professional career has included experiences as Outreach Coordinator, CSU Fresno/UCSF Medical School Health Career Opportunity Program, Volunteer Coordinator, Part Time Faculty, CSU Sacramento, Counseling Department. Principal/Vice Principal Administrator in Elementary /Middle Schools, Elk Grove Unified School District, Sacramento, CA. Most recently she served as the California Statewide Region 9 Coordinator for Expanded Learning Programs representing over six hundred schools in San Diego, Orange, and Imperial Counties for the San Diego County Office of Education.

Originally from Stockton, California as the daughter of Salvador and Carmen Gonzales, her parents instilled the values of family and community, love, respect, cultural traditions, and the importance of education. These values and beliefs have impacted her efforts in both personal and professional paths. Ms. Gonzales has presented classes on her personal interest in cultural art, history, literature and provided trainings on the topics of Educational Leadership/Cultural Diversity, Counseling Latinos and Families and Supporting English Language Learners.

She has served on local and statewide educational committees and community board memberships. She is currently a Board Member of the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, San Diego, CA., and former board member of the La Raza Galleria Posada, Sacramento, CA, and Sacramento City College PUENTE Mentor Project. 

Ms. Gonzales’ Education Degrees and Credentials include a Master’s Degree, Educational Counseling, Community College Counseling and Clear Administrative Credential K-12.

Juan “Wicho” Flores

Juan “Wicho” Flores aka Your Neighborhood DJ aka Dale Gas is a Counselor at Logan Memorial Educational Campus, Barrio Logan resident and longtime member of the lowrider community. 

Stan Rodriguez

Dr. Stan Rodriguez, member of the Santa Ysabel Band of the lipay Nation, is a mentor to students of all ages and advocate for cultural preservation. Serving in a number of advising and teaching roles in universities and organizations across southern California, he is dedicated to educating about Kumeyaay history, culture, and language revitalization. Dr. Rodriguez was appointed to the California Native American Heritage Commission in 2021 and has developed an accelerated Kumeyaay language immersion program serving Kumeyaay Community College/Cuyamaca college since 2005. Dr. Rodriguez served in the U.S. Navy from 1985 to 1991, earned a Master of Arts degree in Human Behavior, and Doctorate in Education from the University of California, San Diego.

Ed-Sandoval

Edward F. Sandoval

Edward F. Sandoval is a lifelong San Diegan with deep roots in Logan Heights. Raised in a family committed to hard work and community, his father worked at NASSCO and his mother at the historic Bumble Bee Seafoods facility near their family home on Boston Avenue. These early experiences instilled in him a strong appreciation for the cultural heritage, resilience, and pride that have shaped the Barrio Logan community and the legacy of Chicano Park.

Edward has over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, specializing in commercial lending, business development, portfolio management, and treasury management solutions. Currently serving as Vice President and Senior Commercial Relationship Manager at Banner Bank, he partners with business owners, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders to develop tailored financial strategies that support growth, long-term success, and wealth preservation.

Throughout his career, Edward has built trusted relationships across San Diego’s diverse business and civic communities. He has worked closely with organizations in both the public and private sectors, providing strategic financial guidance while maintaining a steadfast commitment to integrity, service, and community engagement.

A fluent English and Spanish speaker, Edward is passionate about supporting initiatives that promote education, culture, economic opportunity, and community empowerment. His professional affiliations include Junior Achievement of San Diego, the Building Industry Association of San Diego, the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce, and the National City Chamber of Commerce.

Edward attended the University of Phoenix, where he studied Business Administration, and is a graduate of Junípero Serra High School. He is happily married to his wife, Cristina, and is a proud father to his son, Diego, who will be attending the University of California, San Diego. He is also a proud grandfather to Christopher, Caleb, and Catalina through his Stepdaughter, Cristie, and cherishes the joy and perspective that family brings to his life.

As a member of the Board of Directors for the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center, Edward is honored to support the preservation, celebration, and advancement of the rich cultural history and artistic legacy that Chicano Park represents for future generations.

Staff

Monica's headshot

Monica Hernandez, Executive Director

Monica Delgadillo Hernandez is the Executive Director at Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center. She is a Xicana raised in the San Ysidro/Tijuana borderlands, bringing over 15 years of experience working at the intersections of art, social justice & community. Monica graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Chicano studies and an interdisciplinary focus on social justice, cultural studies, and multimedia. She began her professional career at Casa Familiar where she co-founded the Front Arte y Cultura — a community-based cultural center amplifying voices of Latinx, Chicanx, Indigenous, and local artists.

Monica is also an interdisciplinary artivist, writer, curator, and cultural strategist. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the San Diego County Arts Commission, representing District 1 where she strives to implement equity outcomes that address current and historical barriers to arts and culture resources for underrepresented communities.

Additionally, she co-founded the xikanx collective, whose mission is to elevate historically marginalized artists and cultural bearers by disrupting systemic racism and inequitable access to resources and decision-making spaces.

  • Mirna Cruz, Executive Assistant / Via Verde Program Admin
  • Ariana Arroyo, Exhibitions & Programs Manager
  • Lulu Urdiales, Archivist
  • Diego Jimenez, Archive Assistant
  • Terri Steele, Via Verde Program & Development Advisor
  • Fernando Lucero, Community Programs Coordinator
  • Marielle Tellez, Outreach and Engagement Associate
  • TrèDesiderio Simmons, Guest Services Associate
  • Alysia Tellez, Guest Services Associate

Consultants

  • Jasmine Zavala, Marketing and Communications
  • Tony Moreno, National City Building Manager and Facilities Consultant
  • Luis Valdez, IT Specialist