Ana Luisa Moran Ahern, Interim Executive Director

Originally from Washington, DC, Ana Luisa spent part of her childhood in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. In 2004, she returned to Honduras to co-found the Organization for Youth Empowerment (OYE), which provides education, leadership training, and capacity building to low-income children and young adults. She also worked in a marine protected area off the north coast of Honduras training Garifuna youth in eco-tourism practices.

She holds a BA in art history and photography from Barnard College and studied socio-economics at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands and the Center for Development Studies in Trivandrum, India. She completed a master’s degree in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation from Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego, and spent a year there as a researcher in a genetics lab on a collaborative project with the Gulf of California Marine Program monitoring fish spawning activity in a marine protected area.

Ada Recinos, Impact & Engagement Director

Ada was born and raised in Los Angeles to parents who emigrated from El Salvador. She moved to Richmond after graduating from UCSC with a degree in Global Information and Social Enterprise Studies. Before joining EcoViva as the Communications and Outreach Manager, she was the Financial Sustainability Director for Prospera, an organization that partners with entrepreneurial Latinas to build cooperatives.

She currently serves as a Richmond City Councilor and was appointed on September 5, 2017, after serving nearly two years as a Human Rights and Human Relations Commissioner. She is an Alumna of the Congressional Hunger Center Emerson Fellowship, Hispanics in Philanthropy Next Generation Latino Leadership and NALCAB Colegio programs. Ada’s work has centered around organizing immigrants, renters, and women to advocate for their rights & progressive legislation.  Her hobbies include playing extremely difficult sudoku, trying new foods and traveling.

Douglas Chica, Consulting Program & Policy Manager

A resident of San Hilario, El Salvador, Douglas first became involved in the Mangrove Association’s youth program when he was 18 years old. He went on to earn a degree in Social Work with a specialization in Local Development from the Salvadoran Lutheran University while continuing to take an active role in community affairs.

He has worked with youth groups, community development associations, cooperatives, and local Salvadoran NGOs designing and managing social, economic, and cultural projects in the Lower Lempa and Bay of Jiquilisco region. In addition to working as an on-the-ground consultant for EcoViva, Douglas is currently serving on the municipal council of Jiquilisco for the 2015-2018 term.

Connie Rogers, Development & Administrative Assistant

Connie fell in love with Central America and its people while traveling there during college and on subsequent visits to the region. After moving to the Bay Area, she developed a strong interest in environmental sustainability while doing volunteer work for several Bay Area environmental nonprofits. Prior to joining EcoViva, Connie worked as a database manager and developer at local nonprofits and in the private sector.

Connie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from New College of California in San Francisco. She recently began working towards a Certificate in Nonprofit Management at California State University, East Bay.

Luis Flores, Bookkeeper