Our Team

Rafael Avendaño

Executive Director

Rafael brings over twenty years of public service and more than a decade of nonprofit management experience to his work. For the past nine years, he has served on councils, boards, and advisory bodies, and as Executive Director of RWCT, he leads a unified community agenda focused on strengthening schools, families, and the broader Redwood City and North Fair Oaks region. At the heart of his work is a deep belief that with the right community, youth, and government support, families can achieve their dreams.

Known for his passion, mentorship, and rare ability to connect with people of all ages, Rafael has helped both children and adults discover their confidence and potential. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Management with a specialization in Human Resources from Colorado State University, and a Master's in Organization and Leadership from the University of San Francisco.

Outside of work, Rafael is deeply rooted in his community volunteering across Redwood City, North Fair Oaks, and East Palo Alto, and serving on the boards of three local nonprofits. When he's not giving back, he can be found with his family, at church, or out cycling across California.

Elisa G. Chavez

Manager of Partnerships and Strategy

Elisa G. Chavez graduated from UC Riverside in June of 2020 where she received a degree in Economics. She is passionate about empowering the youth to create change in their communities. Throughout her high school and college career, Elisa dedicated her time to community service. She has participated in the planning of the OYE (Orgullo Y Educacion) Youth Conference where she was also the Master of Ceremonies. In 2016, where she was named the Youth of the Year for the Redwood City Boys & Girls Club. She helped promote the importance of higher education with the Latino Union club at UCR. Elisa’s enthusiasm in helping create change in the community, energy, and eagerness to learn will help her succeed in her role.

Elisa brings in her past experiences working in the community and her eagerness to help youth succeed in their goals. She is passionate to create collaborative spaces to catalyze systems change.

Benjamin Juarez-Garcia

Public Relations Specialist

Benjamin Juarez-Garcia is a first-generation Mexican immigrant who moved to the Bay Area when he was six years old. From a young age, he regularly attended local protests for immigrant rights in San Jose, which sparked an interest in social justice. Benjamin attended Cañada College and later transferred to San Francisco State University, where he studied American Politics. While in college, Benjamin discovered his love for political science and engaged in research, where he studied the effects of politics in marginalized communities. Benjamin has experience working for SF Rising, an organization that is a part of a larger coalition named Power Action California. There, he continued his fight for social change by focusing on community engagement in the San Francisco area. He is particularly interested in combatting the school-to-prison pipeline and improving access to higher education within the Latinx community. At Redwood City Together, he primarily works with the Promotores, assisting them with community outreach and youth development.

Kelly Clavel

Community Development Policy Analyst

Kelly is a recent graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science. She is passionate about educational equity, especially for minority students in inner-city districts. She authored an honors thesis about how Trump-era policies affect Latinx students' classroom experiences in urban areas. She hopes to devote her career to working in policy-making spaces. She has worked as a policy intern at a non-profit law firm on their education team, where she analyzed policy and often helped as a Spanish translator. She has also worked as a research assistant for Stanford's Graduate School of Education and for Stanford's Political Psychology Research Group. Kelly also worked at an immigrant rights nonprofit in Downtown Los Angeles during the peak of the COVID pandemic, where she helped distribute state government relief aid for undocumented individuals.

She works closely with Welcoming Redwood City, engaging in community outreach initiatives, and conducting community-based research at Stanford's John Gardner Center.ent.

Ivana Rodriguez Arias

Safe Routes to School Coordinator

Ivana Rodriguez Arias is a first-generation college graduate from San José State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Child and Adolescent Development. She is a community-focused professional dedicated to advancing educational equity, strengthening community partnerships, and creating opportunities that support the well-being of students, youth, and families. Her work has consistently focused on expanding access to resources and opportunities while fostering stronger connections within underserved communities.  During her time at San José State University, she also led and contributed to campus wellness efforts through Women Wellness, helping build a supportive community focused on empowerment, connection, and informed decision-making around personal well-being.

Today, Ivana serves as the Safe Routes to School Program Specialist at Redwood City Together, where she collaborates with schools, community organizations, and local partners to implement initiatives that promote student safety, health, and accessibility. Through community engagement, education, and partnership-building, she helps create environments that encourage active transportation and support healthier, safer communities for children and families.