Meet Verna Castro the newest member of the RCA family. She is the fourth of five children of Jesus and Rita Castro. Her family is Chamoro - an indigenous people of the Mariana Islands. They immigrated to the United States from Guam in 1960 and settled in Alameda. Shortly after Jesus became a firefighter, he passed away leaving Rita to raise their five children ages 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Rita’s life was dedicated to the values of her culture; Namely, family, generosity. Trust, harmony, courage, and perseverance.
 
Verna took those values with her to the University of San Francisco where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts and on to Stanford University where she earned her Masters in Urban Education, along with a teaching credential. Later, she earned a second Masters and administrative credential from the University of California at Berkeley
 
She taught high school sports in the San Francisco Unified School District for 27 years transforming physical education programs to a focus in the integration of body, mind, and spirit. She is proud to have coached two women that went on to play in the WNBA.
 
Verna’s leadership expanded as a high school athletic director for 20 years leaving a legacy of academic excellence, athletic success, and life skills developed through sports participation. Currently, she is in her eighth year as the High School Physical Education Administrator for the San Francisco Unified School District where she oversees 21 high school athletic programs.
 
Her latest project as the founder of Inafa’naolek is to establish a nonprofit whose mission is to serve the Chamoru and Pacific Island communities, mixed race, and those who identify with the community. Programs will include a community circle to heal and liberate the trauma we all experience, weekly in person or virtual hikes, and an online safe space for personal expression.
 
Verna has a daughter, who has a private counseling business here in Alameda and two grandsons that mean the world to her. Verna believes in love for all things start and end with self love. She looks forward to building authentic relations within the Rotary Club and being in a space where each person can thrive.

Verna has expressed an interest in being a part of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.

WELCOME VERNA ! ! !

 

 

Dr. Stewart Chen was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. He came to the United States in 1979 and later moved to California in 1985. He and his wife Lorie chose Alameda to start a family and raise their children where they have lived for the last 30 years.

Dr. Chen has been an active member of the Alameda community. He has participated in the Alameda City-wide Needs Assessment survey and has chaired various committees including serving as Second Vice Chair of the Alameda County Human Relations Commission, Vice President of City of Alameda Social Service and Human Relations Board, and Chair of Alamedans Together Against Hate (ATAH).

He founded the Alameda Sister City Association (ASCA) and the Alameda Asian Pacific Islander Festival. Additionally, he was one of the Directors of Alameda County Healthy Homes Joint Powers Authority and the alternate Commissioner to Alameda County Transportation Commission.

 In 2010, Dr. Chen ran and was successfully elected to the City of Alameda Healthcare District (Hospital Board) where he served until he was elected to the City Council in 2012.

 His passion is healthcare. As a Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Chen has been in active practice since 1987. He specializes in disability evaluation of musculoskeletal conditions, and he is also a Certified Medical Examiner for U.S. Department of Transportation.

He is an avid golfer and enjoys travelling. He is fluent in many different languages, including Mandarin , Cantonese, Taiwanese, and Tagalog. He will serve on the Club’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.