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Meet Your 2021 Board Candidates

Author: bcomadmin

Date: January 4, 2021

Bike East Bay’s Annual Member Meeting and Election

 

When: Thursday, February 4,  from 6:00pm-7:00pm. We vote early, so please arrive promptly!

Where: On Zoom – RSVP for all the details

Who: Bike East Bay members (Not sure if your membership is current? Join or renew now, or get in touch: membership@bikeeastbay.org

What Else: Bikey friends!

RSVP to let us know you are coming.

How It Works

As a nonprofit, Bike East Bay is overseen by a volunteer board of directors. At our annual member meeting, we’ll vote in our newest candidates to the board of directors. Check out more details and answers to frequently asked questions

Who elects the board?

Bike East Bay’s own members! Any current member can participate by attending our Annual Member Meeting and exercising their vote. Not sure if your membership is current? Join or renew now!

Get a sneak peek at what the candidates on the ballot have to offer below, and meet them online on the 4th!

Elaine Beale

Elaine Beale is a lifelong cyclist and longtime resident of Oakland. Currently, she is the Director of Development at Bay Area Outreach & Recreation Program, a nonprofit providing sports, recreation and fitness programming for people with physical disabilities and vision impairments. She has worked in nonprofit management and fundraising for almost 30 years and has been active in social justice movements throughout her adult life. Elaine worked as an independent fundraising consultant for more than 20 years, working closely with numerous East Bay nonprofit organizations to increase their capacity to promote equity, inclusion and access. Elaine is also a published novelist and teaches creative writing at The Writing Salon.

Chris Cassidy

Chris Cassidy is a social justice advocate and communicator. He offers over 10 years of experience with nonprofits and progressive campaigns. Cassidy lives in East Oakland and works as the Communication Director at the UC Berkeley Food Institute. He previously worked at the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, where he helped dramatically expand communications capacity, won miles of high-quality bike lanes, and advanced equity initiatives. Cassidy, his wife, and young son do not own a car, taking transit, walking, and biking for most trips. If entrusted by members to join the board, Cassidy would offer his full-throated support to Bike East Bay’s staff and excitedly help out in whatever capacity is requested.

Eric Monek Anderson

For Eric Monek Anderson, cycling is about fun and the freedom to get around independently. He recognizes, however, that there are many impediments to ensuring that all communities and people in the East Bay have the same freedom to get around safely and on their terms. He admires Bike East Bay for its commitment to racial and social equity in cycling and transportation, and its ability to have fun. Eric lives in North Oakland with his wife Caitlin and is a lawyer with Farella, Braun + Martel, a San Francisco-based firm specializing in business law. He first got into cycling through (almost) all-season bike commuting in Chicago, and loves riding around the roads and trails of the East Bay.

Michael Santero

(Returning Candidate) 

Michael Santero is the Director of Asset Management for First Community Housing (FCH), which provides housing for over 1,600 low income households in the South Bay. He believes that by building infrastructure and providing services for our most vulnerable populations, we end up improving the quality of life for everyone. For example, FCH has integrated bicycling into its housing community services by hosting bicycle clinics, bike mechanic classes, community rides, bike give-aways, building bicycling infrastructure, and promoting bike share.

Michael joined Bike East Bay’s board in 2018 and currently serves as chair of the Advocacy Committee. He lives in North Oakland and can often be seen biking around town on either a purple Trek with a bright yellow basket and flashy lights or using Bay Wheels bike share.

Mimi Torres

(Returning Candidate) 

Mimi Torres has professional experience in nonprofit fundraising and event planning. Currently she works on the development and program team at Grid Alternatives, a nonprofit solar installer serving low-income communities. Mimi made a conscious decision to never own a car in 2005 and joined Bike East Bay as a member and volunteer in 2009. Since then, she has been inspired by watching the organization grow in staff and membership and develop an overall culture of philanthropy in that time. 

Mimi lives in Berkeley and joined Bike East Bay’s board in 2018, serving as board secretary for the past two years. She hopes to next serve as chair of the Membership and Fundraising Committee. 

Tim Beloney

(Interim Candidate, approve to complete next 2 years of 3 year term) 

Tim Beloney is a strong social justice advocate, particularly with regard to economic and race related issues. Tim was a founding member and Board Chair of the Alameda Multi-Cultural Community Center, on the Board of BVUMC Foundation, worked closely with Alameda Point Collaborative in their Youth Training program involving the bike shop, garden, and Youth In Action (a program he created). For the past few years at Levi’s Gran Fondo, he created Team DACA (Dudes Against Cycling Apathetically), which raised funds for the ride to benefit underserved youth. As a cyclist, bike commuter, and parent, he is very concerned about bike safety in the East Bay, particularly in underserved areas. 

Tim lives in Alameda, joined Bike East Bay’s board in 2019, and currently serves on the Advocacy Committee. 

Steven Dunbar

(Interim Candidate, approve to complete next 2 years of 3 year term) 

Steven Dunbar is an advocate for sustainable and equitable transportation. Professionally, he is an electrical systems engineer in Livermore, working on electric public transit buses. Privately, he organizes with TriValley Citizens’ Climate Lobby, East Bay for Everyone, Bike East Bay, and street safety groups in Hayward and the TriValley. Steven was also recently appointed to the Livermore Planning Commission. As a board member, he has been focused on expanding advocacy efforts with Local Leaders, working directly with city staff to improve early design concepts, expanding TriValley membership, and supporting staff with equity outreach in Hayward.

Steven lives in Livermore, joined Bike East Bay’s board in 2019, and currently serves on the Advocacy and Fundraising Committees.

 

RSVP for the annual member meeting today!