Board of Directors
Chelsea Rose Kurnick
she/her
Board Chair
Chelsea Rose Kurnick (she/her) is a queer bisexual originally from southern California. She has lived in Sonoma County since October 2017. She knew the area well before moving, as she worked in the wine industry for nearly 12 years. Chelsea spent four years doing public relations and digital marketing for a variety of Sonoma County tourism businesses and organizations, before turning to nonprofit development work. With Jessica Carroll, she co-founded the weekly Friday evening adult LGBTQIA+ peer support group. Chelsea joined the board of Positive Images in 2018.
Loq Berry
they/them
Vice Chair
Loq Berry (they/them) was born and raised in Sonoma County and first learned of Positive Images through their work with SRHS GSA program. After moving to San Francisco in 2005, Loq became part of the greater Bay Area Leather Community and brings that love to their queer community in Sonoma County. Dedicated to community, social justice and Equity, they have worked with the ACLU, Society of Janus and with multiple Sonoma County organizations during the 2017 Nuns and Tubbs fires and brings that experience to the Positive Images Board of Directors.
Sal Andropolulos
they/them
Member At-Large
Sal is a transgender individual and LGBTQIA+ community advocate in Sonoma County. They are dedicated to supporting and uplifting queer, trans, and gender expansive youth and families, and building connections within our LGBTQIA+ community. Sal is active in local efforts to create equitable, safe, and affirming school environments and communities for all through intersectional advocacy as part of the North Bay LGBTQI Families parent leadership group, and as a founding member of Petaluma TIDE. Sal has been involved with Positive Images since 2016, when they became a volunteer mentor. Their professional background includes law practice, legal editing, and working as a Congressional staffer.
Alexis Puerto-Holmes
she/her
Member At-Large
Alexis (she/her/hers) identifies as a Latina, Indigenous, Queer, woman, and community advocate from Oakland, California/Ohlone land. She studied Recreation Administration at Humboldt State University while working as a backpacking and water sport guide. Following college she worked for an LGBTQ youth center, Boy’s and Girls Club within Santa Rosa city schools, and has been loving her career working for Sonoma County Regional Parks for the past 4+ years. In addition to working for parks Alexis loves to stay busy and creates, and sells art through her business: ArtsyQueerLatina along with training dogs for Canine Constitutional.
Alexis loves supporting her LGBTQ+ community through participating in LGBTQ+ clubs, participating in LGBTQ Connection’s youth leadership cohort, and is a leader for GayDar, which creates events for LGBTQ+ individuals within Sonoma County. Furthermore, she began her own side project in 2020 collecting data and presenting nationally regarding information pertaining to how environmental educators can connect with their own LGBTQ+ community along with creating and leading annual programs such as: Hike with Pride and QT’s (Queer and Trans) in the Park.
She is excited to be a part of PI’s board as they are an agency, which supports her goal to be the person her younger self would have needed!
Jake Harpin
he/him
Secretary
Jake Harpin (he/him) is a white, pansexual, transgender man. Originally from Massachusetts, Jake has lived in Sonoma County since 2009. Jake works for the Sonoma County Human Services Department’s Upstream Investments Initiative as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Community Resilience Programs Contract Manager supporting an equitable pandemic recovery. He has worked extensively with non-profit agencies and has years of experience advocating for Sonoma County children and families, and adults with developmental disabilities. Outside of his professional life, Jake can be found in his kayak on the Russian River, toes in the sand at the coast, and/or hanging with his kids, partner, dogs and cat.
Jake is brand new to the board in 2022 and is excited to both be a part of PI’s growth and the inevitable growing pains.
Maxwell Pearl
he/him
Member At-Large
Maxwell Pearl received his B.A. in Natural Science and Mathematics from Bennington College and his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Case Western Reserve University. He was an HIV/AIDS educator and advocate in the 80s and 90s. Max taught at Hampshire College from 1989 through 1999, as Assistant and Associate Professor of Biology.
Max was a nationally recognized leader in the nonprofit technology field. He was a member of the boards of NTEN, the Nonprofit Technology Network, and of Aspiration. Max has worked with organizations focused on women’s rights, human rights, the environment, and internet freedom. He has been a leader in many non-profit, activist, and religious organizations.
Max has written many articles and reports for scholarly journals, educational and nonprofit audiences, and the public, and is also a multi-genre creative writer.
Sissix
Member At-Large
Javier Morales
He/Him/él
Member At-Large
Javier Morales identifies as a pansexual, Latino/Purépecha man and is originally from Southern California. He has a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University. He has worked in libraries for 10+ years, with a background focused on Adult & Youth Services, Business & Career Preparation, and has been a strong advocate for increasing queer focused resources and programs in libraries.
He moved to Sonoma County in 2019 to begin working for the Sonoma County Library. He is the current chair of the library’s Queer Advocacy Team and is part of the Here + Queer, Sonoma County digital archives project.
Alicia LeCompte
Member At-Large