Meet our Board Members
Maria Alonso, Founder, Executive Director, Board Member
In September 2014, Maria Teresa Alonso found herself celebrated at a regional health collaborative meeting in San Bernardino. People cheered for her work in organizing the Huerta del Valle community garden, and for her commitment to local food and health. Someone in the audience said they wished there could be a whole room full of Marias—a room full of Marias might make change in our region possible. Maria’s leadership has grown in concert with Huerta del Valle and in response to her family’s health challenges. Huerta del Valle was the result when her son’s ADHD and her husband’s diabetes drove her to seek healthy food, only to find it miles from her community and at a prohibitive price. Maria started Huerta del Valle with a handful of students in the Pitzer College in Ontario program, 10 Ontario families, and a will for change. She built what are now seven thriving community gardens and urban farms, an tax-exempt nonprofit for which she is now executive director. Little by little, she says, she is learning—English, computer skills, what it means to lead with heart. She thinks, “If I can do this, you can too. If they can do it over there, I can do it here too.” She is passing on this confidence, drive and values to other members of her community through innovative programming and the vision of “a garden every mile” for her community and others in the region. Huerta del Valle, Maria says, is about growing leaders and a community as well as food.
Maria Elena Bastian, Treasurer
As a child in her native Ecuador, Maria Elena Bastian watched her father in awe as he carefully crafted the leather hats that were his livelihood. He would also perform his calculations of the cost of each component very carefully as he felt it was very important to keep an accurate system of expenses and profits. Ever since, Maria Elena has been interested in accounting. After she graduated from college with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in Ecuador, Maria Elena spent the next 15 years balancing the books for several types of businesses in both her country and in the US. These businesses included an international company in Riobamba, Ecuador that hosted medical students from all of the world who were learning medical Spanish as well as a large real estate company in Redlands, California. In addition, Maria Elena volunteered her accounting services to CEBYCAM-CES (Center for Human Development in Culture and Solidarity Economy), an Ecuadorean Catholic non-profit organization that sponsored the “Footwear Vinicio”project, a project devoted to helping differently abled people join the labor force.. Footwear Vinicio, which was located in one of the poorest areas of Ecuador, also assisted single and young mothers, low income families and other community members in need. More recently, Maria Elena trained in community health at San Manuel Gateway College in California and worked as a Coordinator of the English as a Second Language program at Ameri-Corp in Boston. At Ameri-Corp she worked closely with both documented and undocumented immigrants who were learning English. At Huerta del Valle, Maria Elena utilizes her accounting skills, community health training and knowledge of the needs of immigrant and other communities in need to carefully craft her work as Treasurer of the Board of Directors.
Stephanie Silva, Board Member
A native of Mexico, Stephanie received a degree in nursing and obstetrics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In Mexico, she also studied computer science and programming and was certified in computer operation programs and trained in computer repair. She is currently a small business owner and active in Inland Valley Latinx communities. Stephanie immigrated to the United States in 2008 and spent the following eight years teaching computer operations at RTC College where she eventually became an Assistant Director. During this time, Stephanie continued her education in computer science and took courses in business development from various local Chambers of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center, the Latina Business Association, and the Emprendedor@Business Program. Stephanie founded and currently owns USLC, a company that provides local small business owners with computer and technology education . It also conducts QuickBooks courses through the Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino, California. Stephanie trains Huerta del Valle’s agricultural students in specialized computer operations and in small business development. In addition, she teaches community-based computer classes for members of the Huerta del Valle community of gardeners.
A native of Mexico, Stephanie received a degree in nursing and obstetrics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In Mexico, she also studied computer science and programming and was certified in computer operation programs and trained in computer repair. She is currently a small business owner and active in Inland Valley Latinx communities. Stephanie immigrated to the United States in 2008 and spent the following eight years teaching computer operations at RTC College where she eventually became an Assistant Director. During this time, Stephanie continued her education in computer science and took courses in business development from various local Chambers of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center, the Latina Business Association, and the Emprendedor@Business Program. Stephanie founded and currently owns USLC, a company that provides local small business owners with computer and technology education . It also conducts QuickBooks courses through the Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino, California. Stephanie trains Huerta del Valle’s agricultural students in specialized computer operations and in small business development. In addition, she teaches community-based computer classes for members of the Huerta del Valle community of gardeners.