MEET THE TEAM

Sarah Abrams (she/her)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sarah Abrams is a seasoned entrepreneur and has navigated through various industries with curiosity and creativity. As the Executive Director of The Starfish Connection she demonstrates her commitment to fostering community through giving and sharing her love of writing and storytelling.
Her journey as a serial entrepreneur underscores her versatility and passion to create products and services that serve her community. From launching a software startup to creating a floral and event company, and children’s toy store, Sarah has a history of innovation and adaptability. Her ventures not only showcase her creativity but also her knack for sustainable business practices.
Sarah has a gift for bringing creative ideas to fruition and creating functional business practices to scale those visions.
She was a founding board member of Carpinteria Dog Owners Group, a nonprofit dedicated to creating dog parks in Carpinteria for humans and K9’s to play together and was a regular volunteer for Carp Strong.
Sarah's personal life reflects her love of nature and family. Nestled in her home town of Summerland, amidst organic gardens, overlooking the sea and the channel islands, she lives life in balance with a full heart. She is a mom of two grown daughters and a couple four leggeds and shares her life with her partner Kevin. “I’m so happy. Nothing missing.”
sarah@thestarfishconnection.org
Leonor Reyes (she/her/ella)

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Leonor is a proud mama of three, a lover of all things nature and movement. She enjoys hiking, roller blading, ocean dips, and dancing. Leonor was born and raised in Santa Barbara with a large extended family. She is deeply grateful for her maternal grandmother (a mother of 12) who exemplified love, kindness and gratitude!
Leonor graduated from UC Santa Barbara and began her non-profit journey at Noah’s Anchorage Youth Crisis Shelter working with runaway and houseless transitional age youth. Leonor was the Program Director for the Teen Center in Isla Vista for almost 2 decades and instrumental in securing a donation for the new permanent facility serving youth, teens and families in Isla Vista which reopened as the St. George Youth Center in 2015. She has worn many hats and has a range of experience throughout her career, from program development, as a youth and family advocate, health educator, fund development, event planning, and community outreach just to name a few.
Leonor is passionate about the power of connections, the relationships we forge with those around us and the impact a simple hello, a hug or a listening ear can have on us. She is excited to connect with others and share ALL about the amazing vision of The Starfish Connection!
leonor@thestarfishconnection.org
Sophia Lake (she/her)

PROGRAM COORDINATOR
With a steadfast dedication to fostering inclusive communities, Sophia is an Environmental Studies graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), with a minor in Professional Writing emphasizing Civic Engagement. She first became involved in community work as a student leader at UCSB, focusing on projects like increasing COVID vaccine accessibility and education around prominent issues within Isla Vista.
After graduating, Sophia found her fit as a Recreation Coordinator at the Isla Vista Recreation and Park District where she focused on fostering belonging and engagement within diverse communities through recreation and large community events. By creating innovative programming and strong community partnerships, she introduced new events and initiatives with the goal of bringing people together and creating a sense of belonging for all community members.
Sophia’s commitment to inclusivity and community building is rooted in the idea that everyone has an important story to be heard. Continuously striving to make a positive impact, Sophia remains dedicated to creating welcoming spaces where everyone feels valued and included. She is excited to share all the amazing offerings of the Starfish Connection and continue to create spaces for community members to be heard and share their stories and life experiences.
In her personal life, you can find Sophia prioritizing time with friends and family, enjoying the sunshine on a hike or at the beach, or spending time with her black cat, Sebastian (it's always spooky season with him!).
sophia@thestarfishconnection.org
Virginia Benson Wigle (she/her)

FOUNDER
Virginia Benson Wigle is the founder of the Starfish Connection, the nonprofit organization whose mission is to make a difference, one life at a time by providing emergency gap grants to individuals and families facing sudden financial crises.
Virginia has passionately served in the nonprofit sector throughout Santa Barbara County for over thirty years. Before devoting her work full time to the Starfish Connection, Virginia spent twenty years at Planned Parenthood of Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo in varying positions from clinic staff to education, and administration, ultimately serving as Vice President of Education before retiring in 2015. She also served two terms on the California State legislative committee for Planned Parenthood affiliates in Sacramento.
Prior to working for Planned Parenthood, Virginia worked for the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center (currently known as Stand Together to End Sexual Assault), volunteered at the Shelter Services for Women (currently known as Domestic Violence Solutions), and served as an advocate to support sexual assault survivors at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s (UCSB) Women’s Center. She has served as a board member for the Carpinteria Lou Grant Parent/Child Workshop, Carpinteria Education Foundation, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), and Domestic Violence Solutions.
After Virginia retired in 2015, she planned to enjoy spending more time with her husband, John Wigle, but life had other plans. In 2017, John was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and passed away in 2018. Virginia and John had dreams about creating a nonprofit where shared life experiences and storytelling come together to help others feel connected. John believed that by making a difference for one, we can affect all. These guiding beliefs helped shape the mission of the Starfish Connection and Our Story Connection, its community storytelling project. It is through the Starfish Connection, and Our Story Connection that Virginia is fulfilling their dream, and honoring her beloved John.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Lindsay Soleimani (she/her/ella)

CHAIR
I am a compassionate caretaker for my friends, family and my community. I love to laugh, and I love to love. I am a passionate protector of those around me and I want nothing but the best for everyone (well, maybe not everyone).
My husband and sons are the most important things to me, my heart belongs to them – and, if we are being honest – being a wife and mother are the hardest jobs I have ever had. In my professional life I secure funding to ensure health equity along the Central Coast. I spend most of my days talking and strategizing on how to get those in need, what they need. I am a professional connector – I love to talk to people and listen to their passions and their stories. Telling stories is incredibly important to connect with others. I am so fortunate to be on the Board of The Starfish connection – this is just another way for me to help people connect with one another.
Alana Griffin

TREASURER
Alana Griffin is a tax professional, working with individuals and small business owners within Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Los Angeles Counties. As an Enrolled Agent, with her Masters in Taxation, she provides tax preparation, tax planning, and tax resolution services to her clients. She is a dedicated tax professional with a passion for empowering women to achieve financial success. Alana has built a reputation providing expert tax guidance while creating a supportive and inclusive environment for her clients. Understanding the unique challenges that women face when it comes to managing their finances, Alana is committed to helping women navigate the complexities of the tax system while minimizing their tax burdens. Whether you're a small business owner, a working professional, or a stay-at-home mom, Alana's personalized approach ensures that you receive tailored solutions that meet your specific needs.
Rocio Pacheco

SECRETARY
Rocio was born and raised in Santa Barbara. She graduated from San Francisco State University in 2018 and began her career in education where she worked with youth and families. She currently works at the Mental Wellness Center and offers mental health education to students, families, schools and organizations. She has a passion for helping make resources and opportunities inclusive and accessible for all.
In her free time, she likes spending time in nature and enjoys being active. As a former long distance runner, she now enjoys hiking, biking and yoga.
Isis Castaneda (she/her/ella)

DIRECTOR
Isis has been working with teens, young adults, and their families in the Santa Barbara area since 1997. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at Antioch University of Santa Barbara and is certified 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. Isis established her business, Creating Connections in 2016 with a solid history of facilitating teen and parent groups, community outreach, trainings, public speaking, and organizing events.
Leslie Jain (she/her)

DIRECTOR
Leslie holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology from Cal State Northridge, with a focus on inclusion and diversity. Her interest in intersectionality showcases her awareness of complex social issues and her desire to promote equity and justice. She is currently pursuing her masters degree in social work.
Leslie is an experienced grant writer and ESL instructor and created of a food pantry for the Conejo Valley during the pandemic.
Her multicultural background and experience in a cross-cultural marriage enrich her perspective and enable her to foster deeper connections in diverse settings.
Leslie's passion for music, travel, cooking, and cultural exchange highlights her vibrant personality and zest for life.

ADVISORY BOARD

Marybeth Carty (she/her)

Marybeth Carty is the executive director of the Natalie Orfalea Foundation and she also worked for the Carpinteria Unified School District for nine years administering grant-funded educational programs. She serves on the Santa Barbara County Board of Education representing Trustee Area 1.
She is a board member and past president of Partners in Education and Vice Chair of the Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse’s Fighting Back Mentor Program Task Force. She serves on the board of the Carpinteria Children’s Project, chairs the Carpinteria Woman’s Club and the steering committee for Hospice of Santa Barbara’s Compassionate Care of Carpinteria Initiative, and is on the advisory board for the Lynda Fairly Carpinteria Arts Center and the 93013 Fund.
Her accolades include Pacific Coast Business Times’s Top 50 Women in Business, Fighting Back Mentor of the Year, Community Hero Recognition from former County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone, and Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s Woman of Inspiration.
David Selberg (he/him)

David is a Santa Barbara native and UCSB alum, and has been active in the non-profit community since 1991. He filled multiple roles with Pacific Pride Foundation (PPF), the Central Coast’s LGBTQ+ and HIV/AIDS organization. At PPF, after starting a county-wide food pantry for people living with HIV/AIDS, he went on to serve as program director, communications director, and finally as the executive director for eight years.
David also was the program director at Transition House for a number of years. In addition to his professional work, David volunteered for 12 years with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) working with high needs children in the foster care system. He was elected to the statewide HIV Working Group in addition to serving as a board member for a number of local non-profits.
David has a personal connection to the work of Hospice of Santa Barbara through his good friend Gail Rink, who nurtured HSB into the full-fledged organization it is today while she served as its executive director. David has served as HSB’s chief executive officer since 2015. During this time, he has helped facilitate HSB’s higher profile, expansion of programs, and various community partnerships.
In his spare time, David enjoys time in the desert, traveling, and spending time with friends.
Laura Capps (she/her)

Supervisor Capps has devoted her career to public service, serving as a White House speechwriter for President Clinton, a communications director on John Kerry’s presidential campaign, an advisor in the United States Senate to Senator Edward Kennedy, and part of Al Gore’s climate change organization.
For the past six years, she has served on the Santa Barbara Unified District School District board of trustees; here, she led the charge from the board to create a more sustainably powered school district. Capps has deep roots in Santa Barbara County, specifically the district she is now serving. The Supervisor was born at Cottage Hospital and spent her early years in Goleta before her family moved to Santa Barbara.
Capps previously served on the Santa Barbara County Commission for Women, as President of the Community Environmental Council, and on the Board of Trustees for her alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley. She has a Masters from the London School of Economics.