Our Team
The Yakima Pride Team
Yakima Pride fulfills its mission primarily through a volunteer team serving on the Board of Directors, the Production Team, or one of over 30 on-site volunteers with support from a small staff.
"There will not be a magic day when we wake up and it's now okay to express ourselves publicly. We make that day by doing things publicly until it’s simply the way things are."
— TAMMY BALDWIN // FIRST OPENLY GAY U.S. SENATOR
Providing governance and leadership.
Board of Directors
Yakima Pride is comprised of an all-volunteer group of community members who give of their time and talent to ensure Pride has diverse representation and good governance.
Founders
A group of volunteers comprised of community leaders from throughout the Yakima Valley — is the governing body for the organization. Its members determine Yakima Pride's mission and purposes, and they sustain the organization's vision.
The Yakima Pride Board of Directors has the ultimate authority over the organization's actions, including fiscal management and budget approval. Board members also establish the official policies that direct Yakima pride.
(She, Her, Hers)
CRISTINA ORTEGA
President
As a grassroots movement-builder based in central Washington, Cristina's work encompasses several projects such as U.S. Census, advocating for immigrant and farmworker issues and rights, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, and committed to working for LGBTQ+ equity. She is an experienced philanthropist and grant writer to fund various community-driven programs. Cristina remains an advocate for the most vulnerable and pulls her community up when most needed. #LaLuchaSigue
Email: cristina@yakimapride.org
(He, Him, His)
JOSHUA HASTINGS
Vice President
Born in Yakima, WA, Joshua Hastings grew up in Wapato, WA on the Yakama Indian Reservation. Joshua has always been a self motivator and autodidact. From an early high school job placement at the Heritage College, located in Toppenish, WA, in the Computer Science department. Having jumpstarted his career in information technology; Joshua spent 6 years at Microsoft training from the best. In 2003, he moved to Phoenix, AZ and helped to develop what is now called, "Geek Squad", at Best Buy. Then moving on to automotive technology giants such as Kelley Blue Book and AutoTrader.com. While working on his career in IT, he also started developing a taste for graphic design and integrated digital marketing (mass communications). In 2008, he started Arizona's largest LGBTQ+ movie social group called, The Phoenix Movie Bears, that ran for over 13 years. In 2017, he felt the need to make better memories with his family and his mother and just like that, he moved back home with his fiancé, Kaimu Peneku, to Yakima, WA.
Email: joshua@yakimapride.org
(He, Him, His)
KYLE CURTIS
Treasurer
Kyle Curtis grew up in White Swan, WA on the Yakama Indian Reservation. He later graduated from The University of Washington with a degree in Finance and American Indian Studies. Upon completing his education in Seattle, he spent three more years working for Liberty Mutual Insurance, located in Downtown Seattle, where he helped kick-off an employee resource group called Pride@Liberty.
Kyle always knew he wanted to return home to the Yakima Valley and did so in 2017. He continues to be engaged with the community and is a member of the Yakima Downtown Rotary Club. Kyle believes the Yakima Valley is a diverse place, with many different walks of life, and Yakima Pride helps to bring the community together. In Kyle’s free time, he enjoys traveling, drinks with friends, and playing with his miniature dachshund, Pickles.
(He, Him, His)
ANDREW PENEKU
Secretary
Email: andrew@yakimapride.org
Leadership
Yakima Pride's board members are a unique and diverse group of courageous, hardworking and talented people who combine strong professional skills with a passion for equality and justice for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. No higher caliber of committed volunteers exists. Yakima Pride's boards make policy, manage finances and coordinate volunteer involvement for the organization. They sustain Yakima Pride's vision and raise awareness about the mission of Yakima Pride.
Production Team
Our experienced Production Team consists of a core group of volunteers and a small staff that is skilled and passionate about the work of Yakima Pride, in support of the LGBTQ+ community. They commit their time, year-round, to ensure the programs, events and activities are produced successfully and professionally.
Emeritus
ANDY WITHROW
(He, Him, His)
Vice President
2018-2019
ROXANNE MARIE
(She, Her, Hers)
Director of Entertainment
2018-2019
NICK TAKAHASHI
(They, Them, Theirs)
Director of Events & Entertainment
2019
FELIPE FLORES
(He, Him, His)
Director of Philanthropy
2019
NOEMI SANCHEZ
(They, Them, Theirs) - Director of Outreach, Board Member
2019