About Diversity Collective Ventura County

About Us

Diversity Collective is a community-based 501(c)3 nonprofit governed by a volunteer board of directors and volunteer advisory board. Our mission is providing advocacy, visibility, safety, and wellness for the  LGBTQ+ community. We do this work via our community resource center, programs, and community-building events.

Our Vision is A Ventura County community where LGBTQ+ individuals, inclusive of all intersecting identities, have immediate access to needed services, are celebrated, and treated with equity and respect.

Our Values are:

DCVC Values

Diversity Collective Ventura County is the proud home of support groups such as Little Unicorns,  the Rainbow Umbrella Program that focuses on youth 13 to 23, our men's group OutSpoken, and our book club, the Pride Nook. We are also home to our HIV and AIDS Education and Prevention Program. We host Ventura County Pride, AIDS Walk Ventura, the Diversity Gala, Pride Prom Ventura, and many other events and activities weekly, monthly and yearly. All proceeds raised through our fundraising efforts go to fund our community resource center, programs, and events.

Diverse Rainbow Diverse Inclusive Accepting Welcoming Safe Space For Everyone

News & Updates

Free HIV & STI Screening

September 13, 2023 |

Upcoming Testing Day: September 18th Do you know your HIV status? To learn your status and schedule…

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Little Unicorns – Sat 8/26

August 21, 2023 |

Now that the storm has passed and the sun is shining again, let’s get together for some 3D…

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Ventura County Pride logo

Ventura County Pride Week!

August 7, 2023 | ,

We’re celebrating celebrating Ventura County Pride with a week of events leading up to Pride on Saturday,…

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VC Pride 2023 – Sat, August 19

July 9, 2023 | , ,

Ventura County Pride is coming to Plaza Park in Ventura Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 11am –…

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Big Pride Weekend

June 19, 2023 | ,

There are multiple Pride fests in Ventura County this weekend. Come join us at a celebration near…

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Free HIV Screenings at Pride

June 19, 2023 | , ,

Join Diversity Collective at Oxnard Pride on Saturday, June 24th at Plaza Park in Oxnard. Our Diversity…

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SEE ALL NEWS & UPDATES

Community Resource Center

Our Community Resource Center provides a safe space for the LGBTQIA community of Ventura County. Our staff and volunteers support the health and wellness of the most marginalized, advocate for equality and justice through civic engagement, and work to build a culturally rich community through various groups and classes. At the Diversity Collective Community Resource Center, we strengthen, support, and connect our LGBTQIA community. Together we all thrive.

General Office Hours

10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Weekdays  |  CALL US  |  GET DIRECTIONS

Community Resource Center logo
CRC PARTNERS
RESOURCES
DCVC SPONSORED ORGANIZATIONS

Upcoming Meetings & Events

View Calendar

SEE ALL EVENTS

Meet Our Team

Board of Directors

Head shot of Roand Catabona
Roland
Catabona
President
him/him/his

Roland Catabona

Roland Catabona relocated back to his hometown Oxnard in 2015, after working his way up in Community and Business Banking for over 18 years. During his corporate career, he volunteered his time with LGBT+ Centers and events in San Diego, Palm Springs, and San Francisco. He was excited to find DCVC and immediately started to get involved with the center’s major events throughout the years. He served as co-chair for AIDS Walk Ventura 2019 and co-chair for fundraising and vendors for Ventura County Pride 2019.

He also brings awareness of HIV/AIDS in our community by participating alongside his partner, riding their bikes in AIDS LifeCycle 2018 & 2019. They would love to grow the Ventura County region of cyclists and roadies!

Leveraging his experience in financial services and his passion to help others succeed and grow, he and his team educate individuals, families, and business owners to create a strong financial foundation by focusing on increasing cash flow, reducing debt, protecting those that are most valuable to you, college funding, long-term savings, and estate planning. He continually builds a team with World Financial Group and Transamerica Financial Advisors.

You can also find Roland on his yoga mat. He is a certified Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga instructor.

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Head shot of Luis Andrade
Luis
Andrade
Vice-President
him/him/his

Luis Andrade

Luis Andrade is a full-time employee with Bank of America as a Testing Specialist for the Enterprise Independent Testing (EIT) team under Global Risk Management (GRM). His career with Bank of America began in 2004, after 14 years in the banking and mortgage industry.

Additionally, Luis serves on the leadership team of the Bank of America Southern California LGBT+ Pride Chapter as the Events Lead. He is also involved with Bank of America’s MSAG (Military Support and Assistance Group) and HOLA (Hispanic/Latino Organization for Leadership and Advancement) employee networks.

Luis recently joined the Board of Directors of Diversity Collective Ventura County and continues engaging in networking and volunteering opportunities that encourage others to help enrich and develop their local communities.

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Head shot of Patricia Logan
Patricia
Logan
Treasurer
she/her/hers

Patricia Logan

Patricia Logan is an ally, advocate, and mom. She has also been a long time supporter and volunteer throughout Ventura County. Her passion for human rights has driven her to dedicate time to The Human Rights Campaign, Project Understanding, and Alzheimer's Association. Her volunteer work with Alzheimer's Association is in dedication to her mother.

Patricia joined the Board of Directors at Diversity Collective Ventura County in December of 2018. Patricia has served on several DCVC committees; AIDS Walk, DCVC Gala, and Ventura County Pride. 

As a mom, she has witnessed the effects of discrimination and injustice on her queer child. This has been her call to action to work for equality for all living beings. 

In her free time, you will find PK grounding herself in plant life, listening to favorite podcasts, (Reply All & My Favorite Murder) spending time in the bay area with family checking out what all the third wave coffee shops have to offer.

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DCVC Headshot
Unique
Dowtin
Secretary
she/her/hers

Unique Dowtin

Unique Dowtin is a library professional and filmmaker. Her work in several public library systems fostered her sense of community, advocacy, and lifelong learning. Currently, she is a Library Assistant at The Getty.

Since moving to Ventura in 2018. Unique has volunteered for several local LGBTQIA+ organizations and events including AIDSWalk, Ventura Pride, and Loud & Queer. She is excited and delighted to serve on the board of DCVC.

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AJ
Holmes
Director
he/him/his

AJ Holmes

AJ Holmes is a business owner and photographer now proudly based in Ventura County.  Originally from Tennessee, AJ moved to California for work in 2020 and has since sought to be a more active member of the community.  A lover of travel, AJ has road-tripped to 47 states and enjoys spending time outdoors by hiking, camping, and biking whenever possible.  In his spare time he also enjoys baking and trying new restaurants and bars.  
 
With a background in non-profit work and political work and experience as an LGBT Caucus Representative with the Society for Photographic Education, AJ is committed to promoting inclusion and support for his queer siblings everywhere.
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Tie
Gutierrez
Director
they/she/ella

Tie Gutierrez

Tie identifies as a queer Chicana and plant lover. They are excited to join the board with 14+ years Tech Industry experience as an HR leader, DEI program curator, event planner & local Academic Partner. Tie is known for fostering innovative safe spaces for inclusive community conversations & healing. In the last 3-4 years their passion has driven them to specifically focus outside the workplace and on safe equitable experiences, representation and diversity for BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ communities. They actively build out & direct programming related to the facilitation of wellness offerings in community and on campus, support within the arts community, student/small business mentorship and serve as a local politics advocate/committee member throughout Ventura County.

Tie describes herself as a Ventura County native, raised in Oxnard by her mother “Mama Connie”, a longtime community advocate. In 1997 their family was provided secure housing and relocated to Thousands Oaks by Habitat for Humanity. Tie loves the community, county and is learning how to wholeheartedly exist in the city they live in and their life experience motivates the work they have sought out.

You can find Tie pursuing wellness at the beach, hiking, camping or road-tripping with their favorite human and son Zaiah (he/they) who is never more than a few feet away! They are a packaged deal and you will rarely find one without the other. (Or at least for now, while mom can still pull off being cool)

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Staff Directory

Tess Allen
Executive Director
she/her/hers

Tess Allen

Tess Allen has worked in the non-profit sector for over 15 years. She has worked in development and fundraising, as well as administratively for organizations in Ventura and Los Angeles. She is also proficient in fundraising events. Being able to serve the LGBTQ community is what drives her to continue growing with Diversity Collective Ventura County. Although not a Ventura native, Tess and her family have lived there for 9 years and consider it home. Tess has a love of art and writing and enjoys dabbling in both. She started a small project at Diversity Collective’s Community Resource center with painted rocks, displaying hope, inclusion, and love for anyone who needs a reminder. When she is not at the Community Resource Center, you can find her in her study, working on a new idea or project.

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Edgar Euan
Community Outreach Coordinator
he/him/his

Edgar Euan

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Andrea Robles
Office Coordinator
she/her/hers

Andrea Robles

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Michael Schouten
Youth Programs Coordinator
he/him/his

Michael Schouten

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Meet Our Sponsors

Our sponsors help to fund programs and events that promote diversity through education-focused community outreach, which will allow the development of programs that will eventually translate into greater mental and physical wellness for the LGBT community.

Interested in partnering with us?

LEARN MORE!

Contact Us

Please contact us via phone, mail, or email using the form below. To get involved by volunteering, sponsoring or donating to the Diversity Collective, please check out our Get Involved page.

805.644.LGBT (5428)

info@diversitycollective.org

2471 Portola Road Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93003
Please call for drop-in hours

For a free rapid HIV test at our new Community Resource Center call our confidential line:

805.665.3193

We do what we do, because of you.

Diversity Collective of Ventura County is able to help our community because of our incredible network of supporters including sponsors, donors and volunteers. Without you all, we would not exist. If the Diversity Collective has made an impact on your life, or in the life of someone you love, consider supporting our case in whatever way you are able. We sincerely appreciate you.

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Thank You to Our Partners & Sponsors