Mission
Alchemist CDC's mission is to promote equitable development through smart growth and social justice.
Vision
A vibrant, equitable and diverse urban Sacramento
Why "Alchemist"?
Alchemy, the medieval science known for seeking to transmute, or transform base metals into gold, appealed to us because of Sacramento's history as a Gold Rush town and the idea of transformation. We saw an opportunity in Sacramento's rapid growth and active community to help nurture and transform neighborhoods into the community's vision. Our logo is a combination of the German alchemy symbol for gold and an Egyptian symbol for "village" or community.
Core Values
Vibrant: Neighborhoods are full of creative residents with the best
ideas for improving their communities – we are here to help develop and
educate residents as a way to strengthen communities
Equitable: Social justice in community development means that all residents should contribute to and benefit from economic and physical development in their neighborhoods – authority needs to be held accountable
Diverse: Community health is strengthened by having residents of diverse ethnicity, economic level, cultural background, age and interest
Urban Sacramento: The health and sustainability of the larger community depends on the health of urban centers, particularly redevelopment areas, and includes physical, economic and social development
Organizational History
Alchemist Community Development Corporation was founded in 2004 by three graduate students in the UC Davis Masters program in Community Development: Wendy Carter, Lisa Nelson and Chris Aguirre. As students in the field of community development and residents of downtown Sacramento, they were intrigued by the urban challenges and opportunities arising from the growth and development of the city. They felt that that all residents should have a voice in, and the opportunity to benefit from, community development in Sacramento. They also believed that the resources of the University could be shared to support the revival and preservation of the rich ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic diversity in Sacramento's historic and unique urban neighborhoods.
Staff and Board
Davida Douglas, Executive Director
Davida is Alchemist’s first and only employee. She runs our programs and
manages the day-to-day operations of the organization. Contact her for
quickest response to your inquiries. (916-204-8260 or
davida@alchemistcdc.org)
Board of Directors
Chris Aguirre, President
Chris Aguirre has been managing outreach projects and fundraising at
Valley Vision since 2006 after completing his master’s degree in
Community Development from U.C. Davis. His fields of study were
economic development, affordable housing, community participation, and
nonprofit organizations. Chris previously completed his B.A. in Ethnic
Studies from Sacramento State University. He worked previously as a
firefighter and squad boss for the US Forest Service, a graphic arts
assistant, a guest teacher and a financial services associate for
E*Trade Financial. Chris also completed internships with the Senate
Office of Research and the California Legislature’s Select Committee on
Economic Development. Chris is a native Sacramentan and grew up in
Orangevale.
Rachel Hollander, Secretary
MD, second-year Family & Community Medicine resident physician at
University of California, Davis in Sacramento.
Adriane Lepage (Treasurer), Valley Vision Fellow
Genevieve Deignan
Programs Director of Sacramento Food Bank and Family Services
Jamila Bebe Khan
M.S. Community and Regional Development. Social Marketing Intern, Making
Contact. Editorial Intern, Style Media Group.
Mary Helen Doherty
Mary Helen Doherty has a unique combination of experience with public
service agencies, community based services and volunteer organizations
in the health and social welfare field. She holds a Masters in Public
Administration from California State University, Sacramento, and
recently acquired a certificate in Fund Raising Management from Indiana
University Center on Philanthropy. She moved to Sacramento in the Fall
of 2005 and has been making connections with a variety of community
projects, as well as working as a resource development consultant for
non-profit organizations. She comes from a long line of Irish farmers
in Northern Illinois.
Noah Painter
District Director for District 7, office of Sacramento City
Councilmember Darrel Fong
Mariko Yoshihara, Political Director, California Employment
Lawyers Association
Mariko is a Bay area native. She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Summa Cum
Laude, in Psychology and Political Science from San Jose State University,
and a Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, from the University of California,
Hastings College of the Law. She was admitted to the California State Bar in
November, 2008. Mariko honed her public policy and advocacy skills as a
Legislative Aide to Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes and Assemlbymember Sandre
Swanson. She also worked as a policy consultant for the Assembly Committee
on Labor and Employment. While in law school, Mariko interned at the San
Francisco Human Rights Commission, Employment Discrimination Division, and
at the plaintiff side employment law firm of Rukin, Hyland, Doria & Tindall.
Mariko currently plays on a semi-professional soccer team, the Sacramento
Storm and is the president of the Sacramento Fem Dems.
Colin Bailey, Staff Attorney at Legal Services of Northern California, an antipoverty, legal aid nonprofit.