The Santa Barbara Education Foundation has elected Isis Castañeda to its Board of Directors. Castañeda has worked with teens, young adults and their families in the Santa Barbara area since 1997. She is currently the project coordinator for the Isla Vista Coalition for Healthy Communities.
A graduate of Santa Barbara High School and Santa Barbara City College, Castañeda earned a bachelor of arts in liberal studies from Antioch University. She also holds certifications in emotional intelligence, restorative justice, team building experiential education, and as an instructor for youth mental health first aid and teen mental health first aid.
Castañeda was also previously the staff advisor for the Santa Barbara Youth Council. She developed and continues to facilitate several parent support groups and a youth group through the Mental Wellness Center.
In 2018, Castañeda established her own business, Creating Connections, which facilitates teen and parent groups, community outreach, training, life coaching, public speaking and organizing events.
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation promotes private support of Santa Barbara’s public education system, serving some 15,000 students in 22 schools. For more information, visit www.santabarbaraeducation.org.