Independent Living Resource Center
Jo Black

Executive Director and Board Liaison, ILRC

 

  • Free-Lance Sign Language Interpreter
  • Independent Living Center ADA Trainer, National Council on Independent Living
  • Member, Executive Committee, California Foundation for Independent Living Centers
  • Board of Supervisors-appointed member, Santa Barbara 2030 Outreach Committee
  • Member, Grant Making Committee, Fund for Santa Barbara
  • Chair, Board of Directors, Consumer Advocacy Coalition
Board of Directors

The ten members of ILRC’s Board of Director represents California’s diverse disability and ethnic populations. They volunteer their time and work together to govern through oversight, policy and procedure so that ILRC staff can do their best to serve people with disabilities living in the tri-counties region.

 

The board meets on the last Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at the main Santa Barbara office. Members of the public are welcome to attend, and public comments are invited at the beginning of each meeting. If you require accommodations, please call ILRC the week before the meeting.

Cherie Phoenix

President, ILRC Board of Directors

  • Founder and Executive Director, Life After Brain Injury
  • Governor-Appointed Member, State Independent Living Council (SILC)
  • Chair, SILC Communications and Collaboration Committee
  • Member, California Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Board
  • Chair, Thousand Oaks Disabled Access Appeals and Advisory Board
  • Member, T. Oaks Council on Aging Senior Adult Master Plan Transportation Committee
  • Founding Member, Ventura County Nonprofit Leadership Council (VCNLC)
  • Member, VCNLC Steering Committee

Dondra Lopez, M.A.

Vice-President, ILRC Board of Directors

  • Assistant Director of the Independent Living Institute, LLC; a community agency providing excellent independent living skill instruction to adults with developmental disabilities. (2011)

  • Lead Disability Program Navigator for the Washington State Employment Security Department (2010)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) for the Department of Social & Health Services (2007)
  • Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues & Employment (GCDE)(2007)
      • Chair of Membership Subcommittee
      • Chair of Civil & Legal Rights Subcommittee
  • Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from St. Martin’s University (2004)
  • Executive Fellow VRC for the Governor’s Internship Program (2004)
  • Governor’s Affirmative Action Policy Commission (GAAPCOM) (2004)
  • Ombudsman for the Washington Long-Term Care Program (2001)

Kathy McMillion

Secretary, ILRC Board of Directors

 

  • Employment history includes in-home service provider for Sanctuary Psychiatric;
  • social services director for several nursing homes; and
  • staff support at a group home for teen runaways, gang members,
  • and adolescents with psychiatric issues.

 

Eric Brody

Treasurer, ILRC Board of Directors


  • Member of Association of Late Deaf Adults
  • Former Board of Jewish Deaf Community Center
  • American Sign Language Instructor at UCSB

  • Owner of SBNaturally and PaintJamUSA.com
Mary Bowman

Member, ILRC Board of Directors

 

  • MACP Student at Antioch University
  • Member, Senshin Center Aikido Dojo 
  • Volunteer, Domestic Violence Solutions 
  • Member, Santa Barbara Art Association

Kathy Van Slyke

Member, ILRC Board of Directors

  • Business and Professional Woman
Ignacio Ponce

Member, ILRC Board of Directors

  • Lead American Sign Language instructor, Santa Barbara City College
  • Member, Santa Barbara Mayor Breakfast Committee
  • Employment history includes Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness
  • and Goodwill industries

Kristin McGuire

Member, ILRC Board of Directors

Dan Naretto

Past Board President, ILRC Board of Directors

  • Retired, Financial Services Industry