Emily Diễm Trần is a Queer, second-generation Vietnamese American and the eldest of three children. She's passionate about improving aging services, with certifications in nursing and elderly care administration. Emily has a BS in Gerontology with Distinction and a Minor in Asian Studies. She serves on several advisory and leadership boards. Her core values of intentionality, mindfulness, and inclusion, have become her driving force in promoting healthcare justice and creating a more equitable and fair healthcare system for older adults. Her Vietnamese-American heritage influences her perspective on inequality, community building, and civic duty issues. She currently is the Management Analyst who oversees the “healthy and age-friendly initiatives” for the city of Chula Vista.

Rachel Lehnert was born and raised in San Diego and remains passionate about supporting her community to age well. She has a decade of experience in the field of aging which includes but not limited to care management, elder abuse investigations, crisis intervention, outreach and education, and program development and management. Rachel holds a Bachelor of Social Work from San Diego State University and is pursuing a Master of Science in Aging and Dementia Studies from Texas State University. Currently, Rachel is an Aging Program Specialist with the County of San Diego Aging & Independence Services where she oversees initiatives and programs related to dementia/brain health and fall prevention.  Rachel is committed to transforming society’s perception of aging- it's not about "them", it's about all of us. She believes that aging should not be viewed as a challenge but rather a shared experience and everyone, regardless of diagnosis and age, should have opportunities to feel empowered, respected and valued. 

Alex is a retired professor of European and world history whose areas of research and publication were (and still are) social movements and the history of cartography. He received his Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine, and was (and still is) active in the anti-war movement, union-building, and community organizing around issues of land use and social and environmental justice, especially with regard to older adults. A member of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), Alex was President of the California Conference of the AAUP from 2016 to 2018. He currently serves as a Board Member of the Eastern Area Communities Planning Committee and the El Cerrito Community Council.

Preston Chipps has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UCLA and a Master of Science in Counselor Education from SDSU. He is a retired career counselor and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. He is passionate about advocating for mental, physical, and financial health in our pursuit of happiness.