All photography provided by Jonathan Vicksburg
founder
Ms. Diaz is the founder of CleanSlate Inc. and has recovered from issues of violence in her life. She has worked for over twenty years to end the cycle of violence among the poor. Her own life dictated that she develop this program to assist those who wanted change. The gang membership issue is far from the problem. It is the violence that each individual within the gang may perpetuate that is the issue. They have yet to figure out what is motivating them to respond to hurt and pain with violence. Retaliation is an expression that replace the tears and grief that should be part of the human emotional cycle. Once we get back in touch with our true humanity, violence becomes the last resort, not the first option. Violence and Rage are treated as a natural consequence of poverty, oppression and marginalization in our program. Anger and Rage can be useful if utilized to initiate change in our punishment based system. What we know is that those who have been affected by violence always see violence as an option.
“We hope to introduce gang members and anyone affected by domestic violence or community violence to options that reflect the true intentions of the individual. Power and control does not hold on to anyone, it pushes them away. This issue of being in control is about fear and a feeling of powerlessness, Vulnerability is the true power and speaks to the humanity of our clients”
Board members - established 1995
Board Members:
Chair Person – Sonia Sanchez, Community Advocate
Vice Chair – Tom Eldridge, Business Owner
2nd Vice Chair – Arezou Yashoua, MFTI
President – Marianne Diaz, Founding Director
Vice President – Alfredo Estrada, Engineering Student
Treasurer – Roxanne Garcia, Drug and Alcohol Counselor
Secretary – Mallory Leitner, MFTI
Members at large:
Megan Bearce, MFTI
Alfred Renteria, CPA
Desmonette Hazly, Ph.D.
Danny Flores, Long Beach Health and
Human Services,
Stephanie Fields, MFT
Larry Zucker, LCSW
Elisa Ramirez, Domestic Violence
Prevention Specialist
Domingo Sanchez, UCLA Manager
Office & clinic Staff
The CleanSlate staff, are volunteers who believe in the goal of providing service to the community while using empathy as clients receive treatment and support.
Marianne Diaz, Founding Director
Roxanne Garcia, Administrative Director
Diane Castro, Administrative Support
Tina Espinosa, Front Desk Manager
Justin Garcia, Intake Staff
Alfredo Estrada, Sr. Intake Staff
Ana Huerta, Sr. Medical Assistant/Laser Tech
Michael Manzo, Sr. Counselor/Laser Tech
Anthony Baca, Sr. Laser Tech/Medical Assistant
Sylvia Gooden, Medical Support/Client support