The Vamos Afuera Familia

Get Out Stay Out’s leadership looks a little untraditional, it is comprised of passionate, knowledgeable and diverse, community members. Our leadership team understands the importance of not only being familiar with the community you are aiming to serve, but the vital importance of belonging to it. Who better to identify the needs of a community then its own members. That is why our board members are teachers, local activist, and students on the Central Coast with first hand experience of the migrant lifestyle. All united by the shared belief that our youth deserve quality and culturally equitable outdoor experiences. Meet the awesome humans helping youth have the opportunity to get out and stay out!

Picture by: James Harnois

Picture by: James Harnois

Picture by: Zach Ayers

Picture by: Zach Ayers

 

Founder, Executive director

Karen Ramos

Karen Ramos was born and raised on the Central Coast in the Santa Maria Valley. Daughter of two migrant farm workers, Karen loved being outdoors and camping with her family when she was younger. She wanted to provide that same opportunity to youth with whom she so strongly identified with, so she founded Get Out, Stay Out. Currently finishing up her studies at Cal Poly, SLO, when she isn’t hitting the books she can be found running up a trail pulling her very stubborn very cute dog along.

Email: karen@vamosafuera.org

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Founding Board of Directors:

 
Raquel

Raquel Estrada

Niztle/Piyali (greetings), Nanotocah Raquel notzonquizca Estrada. Nicpiya eztli tlen huan ni ehua (Born, raised, and currently reside in) Santa Maria, California. I'm honored to commit my life to youth-led practices like GOSO! As a self-determined ReIndigenizing Xicana, I critically challenge all "truths" while living in harmony with all. Fundamentally my intention with this work is to provide opportunities for young people to reconnect with the land. Somos Gente De La Madre Tierra!

Email: raquel@vamosafuera.org

 
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Angel Lopez

Angel is a proud product of Santa Maria, CA. Angel is the son of an immigrant farm working single mother. In May of 2018, he received his Bachelor degree in Sociology from California State University, Sacramento. During his time at Sacramento State, Angel was very active on campus through his fraternity. Angel helped organize and start up an annual Youth conference promoting higher education, homeless feedings and voter forums. Currently, Angel is an Americorp volunteer serving as the Community Engagement Coordinator at the Freedom Warming Centers. As a REACH Fellowship Alum, Angel understands the importance nature can play for youth development and acknowledges the inequities youth of color face to access outdoor outing opportunities. Angel is proud to serve the Santa Maria youth and is excited for the future impact GOSO will have in our community. Email: angel@vamosafuera.org

 
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Noel Russel

Noël is a passionate adventurer and advocate who uses her years of executive experience in both non-profit and for-profit sectors to bolster and build innovative programs and businesses. Her insatiable curiosity and excitement for creative collaboration has led her to develop and facilitate innovative initiatives, catalyzing constituents and inspiring clients.  As a first generation American, Noël was raised in a multi-generational family context where her love for the outdoors, value of community, and commitment to compassion were formed. Whether for work, or leisure, you can often find Noël, her husband, and their two dogs, traveling around the West in their campervan.

Email: noel@vamosafuera.org

 
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Daisy Basulto

Daisy Basulto!
Daisy Basulto is a first-generation Xicana. She was born and raised in Santa Maria, CA. Daisy comes with over 3 years of experience in youth leadership development and community organizing. Currently, Daisy provides resources to individuals and low-income families throughout the Central Coast as the CalFresh & Programs Coordinator at the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

Email: daisy@vamosafuera.org

 
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Deanna Hernandez

Deanna Andrade was born and raised in Santa  Maria, CA but currently resides in Nipomo, CA. Professionally, She takes on the role of an Office Administrator. Her proudest moments can be captured in her day to life as a mother, partner, daughter, and friend. She has a passion for the outdoors, loves music, and believes in uplifting positive energy.

 
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Sofia Altamirano

I am Sofia Altamirano, I am a proud Oaxaquena, Mixteca, Indigenous woman raised in Santa Maria.
Being part of Get Out, Stay Out I want others to embrace their indigenous identities and languages as well as being active with the outdoors.
For me, it was going through a program to get the outdoors experience. With Get Out Stay Out I want indigenous youth to get active with the outdoors at an earlier age.
I have been active with Santa Maria CAUSE for two years in the young adults advocating for immigrants rights and environmental justice. Recently I started volunteering with the Food Bank in helping families apply for Cal-fresh. I am super excited to join the Get Out Stay Out team!

 

Maricela arredondo

Hola Todos! Soy Maricela Arredondo, born and raised in Santa Maria by immigrant parents. My cultural background is Mexican, I am grateful my parents were able to instill their culture in me, while raising me in the United States. I am now a Cal poly alumni, a elementary school teacher, and an online educational advisor. I proudly serve our migrant youth through our local district’s Migrant Education Program. I believe learning should not be confined to a classroom, real-world experiences can many times be more meaningful than a textbook ever could be, and that is why I am proud to serve on the Get Out Stay Out board.

 
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Cristal Robles

Cristal Robles was born and raised in Santa Maria, CA to immigrant parents. She is the first in her family to attend college and hopes to one day earn her Phd. Cristal loves to adventure, she has been up and down California taking in all the beautiful sights.
Currently, Cristal work at Family Service Agency, as a Family Advocate providing resources and help to family. She is one of the few trilingual speaks in the community, speaking English, Spanish, and Mixteco. Mixteco is the native language of her parents who are from Oaxaca, Mexico.
Being trilingual, she has used that to help her indigenous community by translation various occasions. She looks forward to connecting with youth form Get Out, Stay Out, and empowering them through their beautiful culture/background.


advisory board

 

Jose Gonzalez

José González is an experienced educator in formal and informal education settings with an array of associated interests in the arts, education, conservation, and the environment. He has broad experience as a K-12 public education teacher, environmental education advisor, outdoor education instructor and coordinator, and university adjunct faculty. He received his B.A at the University of California, Davis, and his M.S at the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources & Environment. His teaching credential coursework was at the Bilingual Multicultural Education Department at California State University, Sacramento.

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Micah Leinbach

Micah has spent over a year in the field as an educator, guide, trainer, and wolf researcher. He previously launched another outdoor company, Crystalaire Adventures, and has supported several other programs as a consultant and volunteer.

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