My name is Sam Gomez (pronouns they/them) and I proudly identify as queer, non-binary and Latinx. I was born and raised in Salinas, California and have always appreciated the community in this beautiful rural city. I started off as a volunteer for The Epicenter in August of 2015 and now hold the title of Deputy Director. I graduated from Cal State Monterey Bay in Spring of 2017 with a BA in Collaborative Health and Human Services and was inspired to utilize my education and experience to serve my community. My belief is that youth are the heart of Salinas and have the potential to lead our city into a brighter future. I am thankful for this opportunity to directly make changes in this system to better serve our communities. Much love and light! Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light” – Albus Dumbledore
