Board’s Roles
The Board will develop a strategic plan that ensures effective and ethical management of the organization, as well as establish fundraising goals that meet the needs of the communities Feisty Fellowships serves.
The Board’s roles are oversight, supervision, and planning as they relate to supporting and furthering the mission and vision of Feisty Fellowships.
The Board will meet quarterly to update and approve plans but will be available for additional items as needed for management purposes.
President – Leticia Garza
Leticia Garza is an educator and owner of EPIC Consulting. She currently works with school districts to improve family engagement through parent university programs and supports implementation of new educational programming throughout the community with local businesses and nonprofits.
Leticia has over 20 years of experience in the K-12 and college education systems, in the classroom and in management. She volunteers with local education and service organizations and community groups. Leticia is the founder and President of the board of Feisty Fellowships, is currently serving as Vice President on the board for Soroptimist International of Delano and as a director on the Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic board of directors. She is also a regular member of the Delano Chamber of Commerce, the Delano Community Alliance, and the Wasco Community Breakfast meetings.
Leticia was born and raised in the southern San Joaquin Valley and returned to Kern County after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts from University of California Santa Cruz and a Master of Arts in Education from University of Phoenix. She currently resides in Earlimart with her family.
Vice President – Rachelle Fast
Rachelle has been an educator for almost 20 years. She has seen first-hand the gaps in the education system and realizes that there is often times a community partner or non-profit organization with a possible fix for that gap. Rachelle desires to work with community leaders to help facilitate student engagement and in-depth learning. These experiences and desires makes Feisty Fellowship a perfect partner for Rachelle to continue the work she cares so deeply about.
Secretary – Irma Lancaster
Irma Cervantes Lancaster is a multi-award winning Journalist and Public Relations professional. She currently holds the position of Director of Strategic Communications for the School District of Lee County in SouthWest Florida, the 9th largest school district in the state and 32nd largest in the nation. She previously held the position of Public Information Officer for the Bakersfield City School district.
Lancaster has more than 20 years of professional communications, public relations, and media experience. Prior to BCSD, she served as the Multicultural Communications Manager at Bright House Networks. Prior to that, she served as the first bilingual public relations representative at California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). Before joining CSUB, Lancaster spent almost 14 years at Univision Communications working in production and news.
Lancaster is a member of several public relations and public administration affiliations including the Sunshine State Public Relations Association; and the National School Public Relations Association. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Feisty Fellowships and the YMCA in Bonita Springs, Fl. She has previously served as an officer on various community organization boards, including Links for Life, Latina Leaders of Kern County, the Bakersfield Women’s Business Conference, the CSUB Alumni Association, and the Women’s and Girls’ Fund. Lancaster has also worked as an adjunct member of the Communications Faculty at CSUB and the University of Phoenix.
Her professional accolades and community involvement were recognized in 2014 by Bakersfield Life Magazine where she was named one of Bakersfield’s “20 Under 40 to Watch,’ and by Garden Pathways, where she was recognized as one of 2015’s “Women with a Heart for Bakersfield.” Lancaster was also recognized as one of the 100 stars of Bakersfield College as part of their Centennial anniversary celebration.
Lancaster earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Public Administration from CSUB. She was born and raised in Delano, CA. She currently resides in Cape Coral, Florida.
Treasurer – Larissa Mitchell-Reid
Larissa Mitchell-Reid is our numbers person! Larissa owns In The Black Business Services. Her firm offers tax preparation, bookkeeping and small business startup consulting. She is a wife and mother of five handsome boys and one beautiful baby girl. Larissa has a passion for educating others on financial literacy and helping the average Joe/Jane understand the tax law and it’s implications. She joined Feisty because she loves Feisty’s mission and wanted to be a part of something giving back to the community in a big way. Larissa looks forward to helping as many families in her community as she can to provide a better future for us all!
Director – Maria Perez
Maria T. Perez is a Kindergarten teacher at Kern Avenue Elementary, as well as Mayor Pro-Tem, for her hometown city of McFarland, CA. She has over twenty years of experience in education both in the classroom and in administration. Maria holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, Bakersfield and an administrative credential from the University of La Verne. She is passionate about working with her students, their families, and the community.