Board of Directors
President of the Board
Frank Macias
Frank has called the Antelope Valley home since 2007. He holds an associate degree in Liberal Arts and Humanities from Antelope Valley College and is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology, with the goal of becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) to better support the local LGBTQ+ community.
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With over a decade of dedicated service, Frank has been a passionate advocate and leader within the LGBTQ+ community. From his early days as a youth leader with The Out Project to his current role as President of The OUTreach Center, his commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces has remained unwavering.
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Frank finds joy in organizing and participating in Pride festivals and is deeply honored to continue championing equality, visibility, and support for the LGBTQ+ community in his role as President.
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Vice-President of the Board
CJ Carreón-Bennett
CJ is a former graduate of Quartz Hill High School, where he actively participated in Student Government and was appointed Spirit Director for 2012. Afterward, CJ collaborated and volunteered his time on various production projects in Hollywood, CA. Shortly thereafter, he redirected his focus to his community in the Antelope Valley, where he has served on the board since 2018. CJ is employed as an LGBTQ+ Peer Navigator at Penny Lane Center, supporting youth in SPA 1, and is currently pursuing his B.A. in Psychology to further his passion for mental health. His extensive experience in community service and leadership, combined with his dedication to supporting the LGBTQ+ community, makes him an invaluable asset in his role as Vice-President.
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Email CJ@OUTreachcenterav.org
Treasurer to the Board
Collin Ray
Collin Ray is an experienced engineering professional with a passion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from Louisiana Tech University, and a Graduate Certificate of Study in Airworthiness Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He has experience as an Employee Resource Group chair, where he presented professional development programming and provided mentoring services. He also has experience with support groups and facilitating virtual and in person events. Collin leverages his mathematical expertise and experience with LGBTQ+ support and inclusion to serve as the Treasurer of The OUTreach Center. He is proud to call the Antelope Valley home and enthusiastically looks forward to further serving the local community.
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Secretary to the Board
Jazz Mitchell
Jazz is an experienced professional who works in the field of Public Health. Jazz graduated from Antelope Valley College with an Associate's Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences, and plans on pursuing her Bachelor's of Public Health. A resident of the Antelope Valley for over thirty years, Jazz recognizes the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the AV, and strives to build community partnerships to gain resources that support the mental, emotional and physical well-being of our diverse population. She's excited to serve as a board member and to build bridges that lead to equity, inclusion and visibility.
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Board Member at Large
Tere La Giusa
Tere (she, her, ella) has been a high school Spanish teacher in the Santa Clarita Valley for 35 years. She has been involved with The OUTreach Center since 2013 when she stumbled upon the Center’s inaugural LGBTQ & Straight Ally Prom. Along with her Gender and Sexuality Alliance club, she was able to sponsor Santa Clarita high school students in attending these proms until their end in 2018. She became a member of the Prom Planning Committee and joined the Board of Directors in 2017. She is currently a Member at Large after serving as Board Secretary for nearly 8 years. Tere holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish with a minor in Psychology from Brigham Young University. She has been a Santa Clarita Valley Gender and Sexuality Alliance club high school faculty advisor since 2003. In 2016 Tere received the Rolf/Uribe Models Of Pride Award for her work to advance LGBT+ visibility and youth support. Tere brings her passion for service to The OUTreach Center.
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Board Member at Large
Robert Benitez
Robert Benitez (he, him) is a queer arts administrator who centers a diverse public within the cultural and civic space. An Antelope Valley native, Benitez came of age as president of The Out Project, an LGBTQ+ youth and young adult group, a former program of The OUTreach Center. Benitez re-joined The OUTreach Center’s board of directors in 2023, after serving on the board from 2010 to 2016. Benitez holds a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, with a minor in art history, from the University of California, Riverside, an executive certificate in arts and culture strategy from the University of Pennsylvania, and certificate in diversity and inclusion from Cornell University.
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Board Member at Large
Erica Stith
Erica (she/her) moved to the Antelope Valley in 2012 from her hometown of Grand Forks, ND, to work for the NASA Airborne Science Program. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of North Dakota. She has been participating in programs at the OUTreach Center since 2021, shortly after coming out, and has been a program contact for the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Support Group since 2023. She has been a member of the Center's Board of Directors since 2024 and brings her technical knowledge to the Center's Technical Committee, and her passion for building community and diversity to all her work for the Center.
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