Susun Kim, Executive Director
Executive Director of the Contra Costa Family Justice Center since March 2014, Susun is a family law attorney with extensive litigation experience in domestic violence matters. Previously, she was Managing Attorney of Bay Area Legal Aid’s Contra Costa/Marin/Napa Regional Office for 10 years. Susun is a 1991 graduate of New York University School of Law.
Susun enjoys creating new projects and participating in collaborative initiatives. She chairs the steering committees of the Contra Costa Alliance to End Abuse and Stand Together Contra Costa, and serves as executive committee member of the California Family Justice Center Network. She has helped develop a countywide violence prevention plan, a public-private partnership to address elder abuse, a pilot restorative justice project, and a Housing First model for domestic violence survivors. She also created the Family Justice Institute, which provides free community training on topics related to interpersonal violence throughout the year.
Susun has extensive training and facilitation experience and previously served as faculty for national training institutes hosted by the American Bar Association’s Commission on Domestic Violence. She is 2020 Assembly District 14 Woman of the Year and 2021 Senate District 7 Woman of the Year.
Reina Sandoval-Beverly, Regional Director of Client Services
An advocate and activist for over 30 years, Reina is locally and nationally recognized as an effective trainer, group facilitator, curriculum developer and program administrator. She has led community-based organizations and programs in Solano and Contra Costa County including the West Contra Costa Family Justice Center, STAND! For Families Free of Violence, Community Violence Solutions’ Safe 4 Us Supervised Visitation & Exchange Program and Solano Women’s Crisis Center. She serves as consultant/advisor to initiatives including the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color, A Call to Men and the Collective Healing and Transformative Justice Project (CHAT). Reina is committed to improving the quality of life for individuals and families impacted by intimate partner violence, and specializes in survivor advocacy, restorative justice practices, and working with individuals who cause harm. As a long-time resident of Solano County and the proud mother of two sons, she looks forward to working together with Solano partners to strengthen community safety and healing for individuals and families.
Natalie Oleas, Regional Director of Administration
Natalie, a native Californian, has worked as a survivor advocate for fifteen years and currently directs the Central Contra Costa Family Justice Center. She graduated from Northeastern University School of Law in 2011, where her studies centered on victim advocacy, criminal procedure, and civil rights. While living in Massachusetts, she worked as Legal Consultant for a local Rape Crisis Center. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from UC Santa Barbara, where she double majored in English and Sociology and worked as a Speaker for the Rape Prevention Education Program. She was a Certified Rape Crisis Counselor in California and Massachusetts. She is proud to be the coordinator for the Domestic Violence Multidisciplinary Team (DV MDT), the Human Trafficking Multidisciplinary Team (HT MDT), the Domestic Violence Death Review Team, the Strangulation Task Force, as well as Director of CCFJC’s Concord Center. She is strongly committed to a holistic approach to justice and healing.
Mayra Sanchez, Interim Center Director
Mayra has 10+ years of experience in direct client services, and has coordinated programming at the Solano Center for the past two years. She lives in Solano County, and she is excited to be working in her community to better serve survivors of interpersonal violence. When she is not working, Mayra enjoys being a soccer mom and cheering on her kids.
Jes Moniz, Family Justice Center Clinical Director
Jes,a licensed practitioner in Marriage and Family Therapy (LMFT), began her professional journey in the mental health sector in 2013. She formerly oversaw the Community-Based Counseling Program at JFK School of Psychology, National University. Her experience includes assisting at-risk and foster youth, and supporting families grappling with grief and loss. Passionate about personal and professional development, Jes is committed to empowering clients to realize their inherent strengths and cultivate resilience.
Cyrina Steward, Supervised Visitation & Exchange Manager
Cyrina is a Solano County native who recently returned to the area and jumped at the opportunity to give back to the community that has given her and her family so much. The daughter of a military father and law enforcement mother, she is passionate about working with people, which led her to study criminal and social justice and work in domestic violence shelters in Alameda County. She is committed to the mission of healing families and ensuring safe access to children. During her spare time she enjoys reading, painting and writing.
Jessica Escobedo, Bilingual Navigator
Jessica has 15 years of experience helping others. Her last 8 years have been giving back to the community she grew up in—Solano County. She enjoys spending time with her family, crafting, and watching baseball: Let’s go Giants!
Leslie Machado, Bilingual Navigator
A Solano native, Leslie is dedicated to serving her community. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from California State University, Sacramento. She aims to create a safe space for victims of interpersonal violence and connect them with appropriate supporting agencies.
Nora Martinez, Bilingual Navigator
Nora has a strong commitment to supporting survivors of interpersonal violence. With four years’ experience in grassroots organizing across Alameda County and Solano County, she has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by these communities. Nora is passionate about empowering individuals and strives to create a safe and inclusive environment for all survivors, foster resilience and promote healing for those in need.
Isabella Valladares, Administrator
Maria Fajardo, Housing First Specialist
Maria has many years of experience working with families going through interpersonal violence. As the Housing First Specialist at FJC Solano, she is passionate about helping clients and their children find a stable, safe and warm home to go to.
LaTasha Knighten, Associate Clinician
La Tasha is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT) born and raised in San Francisco; she has a passion for early childhood development, psychology, and working with at-risk youth. She entered the Child Development field in 2003 and has served as a teacher’s aide, teacher, counselor, group counselor, job coach, trainer, program supervisor, program manager, crisis intervention specialist and Associate Clinician. Through her journey she has found joy in her ability to make a difference in the lives of the children, adolescents, parents, and the colleagues she has encountered along the way.
Samantha Duncan, Associate Clinician
Samantha, a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), is an inclusive and trauma-informed therapist, specializing in treating clients with symptoms of anxiety, depression, grief, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. She is committed to supporting young individuals and families impacted by adversity and trauma and empowering them with the tools they need to thrive. Samantha is also an avid thrifter and lover of animals who enjoys being in nature and playing with her dog Milo.
Cotie Galloway, Program Coordinator
Cotie joins our team with a diverse background in education, community support, and program management. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Sonoma State. With a passion for service and a focus on community engagement, Cotie is dedicated to implementing trauma-informed practices and enhancing community outreach to ensure effective service for children and youth in need. In her spare time, she enjoys thrifting, comedy, and spending time by the water.
Dulce Prado, Project Assistant
One of two Project Assistants at Solano Center, Dulce is the first point of contact when clients call or walk in to the center. With 10+ years of hospitality management experience, she takes pride working at Family Justice Center and enjoys welcoming families and individuals. Her goal is to make them feel welcome and safe. She is a Solano County resident who loves reading personal growth and finance books.
Breanna Stewart, Project Assistant
One of two project assistants at Solano Center, Breanna is first point of contact for clients and visitors. A lifelong Solano resident and mother of two, Breanna brings empathy and compassion to her work and is dedicated to supporting her community and empowering others. In her free time, Breanna enjoys outings with her children.
Lori Frank’s legacy
Lori Frank was a dedicated volunteer who spent many years helping Solano County survivors and families before her passing in 2021. We are proud to support the event she organized, now called the Annual Lori Frank Memorial Health Fair in her honor. The Health Fair brings together community residents with dozens of organizations providing information, entertainment, vaccinations, and free dental care. Read about last year’s Health Fair here.
Family Justice Centers – Contra Costa and Solano
The Family Justice Center Solano is part of the Family Justice Center, which also has four locations providing navigation, programs and co-located services for survivors and their families in Contra Costa County. Visit the Contra Costa Family Justice Center site.
Relationships with partner organizations are at the heart of the Family Justice Center’s work to connect families seeking safety and healing with compassionate and convenient resources. We invite you to join us in providing services to families impacted by intimate partner violence. We’re stronger together!