PPF Team

Executive Director

Julio is an award-winning HIV and LGBTQ+ public health leader, POZ Magazine HERO, and best-selling author with more than 25 years of experience leading mission-driven organizations and advancing health equity for communities disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS and related health disparities. A respected national voice for Latinx and BIPOC communities, Julio brings lived experience and cultural competency to every aspect of his leadership.

As a values-based executive, Julio is known for building resilient, high-performing teams; strengthening governance and infrastructure; and stewarding public and private resources with transparency and accountability. His leadership bridges community wisdom and systems-level strategy, advancing inclusive policies, equitable funding, and culturally responsive care across public health and nonprofit sectors.

A co-founder of two LGBTQIA+ community health centers in Newark, New Jersey, Julio has successfully raised and managed millions of dollars to expand prevention, care, and wellness initiatives. He is the author of Out of Space: Creating Safe Spaces in Unlikely Places and currently serves as Executive Director of the Pacific Pride Foundation, leading with integrity, compassion, and a deep commitment to equity, belonging, and collective liberation.

Contact Info:
(805) 963-3636 X109
Julio@pacificpridefoundation.org

Director of Programs

Deja Hartley serves as Director of Programs at Pacific Pride Foundation, where she leads community-centered initiatives focused on advancing health equity and improving access to affirming resources for LGBTQ+ people. Her work is grounded in addressing—and dismantling—the systemic barriers that disproportionately impact marginalized communities, with a particular focus on trans and gender-diverse individuals.

A trailblazing advocate and former county commissioner, Deja made history as the first openly transgender woman to serve on the San Diego County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. During her tenure, she championed meaningful policy and structural change, expanding representation and elevating the voices of communities too often excluded from decision-making spaces. This experience continues to inform her approach to leadership, advocacy, and program design.

As a proud transgender Latina, Deja brings lived experience, cultural insight, and resilience to her work. She is deeply committed to creating spaces where young people and community members feel seen, affirmed, and empowered to live authentically. Known for her confidence, warmth, and unmistakable presence, Deja is a respected leader, educator, and role model—especially for transgender women of color.

Through her leadership at Pacific Pride Foundation, Deja works to honor the legacy of LGBTQ+ elders while building a future rooted in dignity, equity, and collective care.

Contact Info:
(805) 963-3636 X169
deja@pacificpridefoundation.org

Senior Operations Manager

Carlos Mendez is a Santa Barbara–based Latinx LGBTQ+ leader whose work blends operations, education, creativity, and advocacy. As Senior Operations Manager at Pacific Pride Foundation, Carlos supports internal systems, program logistics, and leadership coordination—helping ensure LGBTQ+-affirming spaces operate with care, efficiency, and intention.

A graduate of CSU Channel Islands (BA) and Antioch University Santa Barbara (M.Ed.), Carlos has developed inclusive educational curricula inspired by The Skin You Live In and Mirror Face by Michael Tyler, with materials used in the Chicago Public School system. His background in education informs an operational approach rooted in accessibility, safety, and community trust.

Beyond his role at PPF, Carlos continues to uplift youth as a children’s aerial coach and through his drag persona, Angel D’Mon, connecting with families and educators through Story Time with Miss Angel and community performances. Deeply committed to LGBTQ+ advocacy, Carlos is passionate about creating spaces where people feel supported, celebrated, and empowered to thrive.

Contact Info:
(805) 963-3636 X101
Carlos@pacificpridefoundation.org

Donor Relations Manager

Born and raised in Santa Barbara, Fabiola is a proud daughter of Mexican immigrants whose lived experiences ground her deep commitment to community, equity, and social justice. Her connection to nonprofit work began as a teenager, when mentorship and opportunity through local organizations helped shape her understanding of collective care and community-driven change.

Since 2017, Fabiola has worked as a nonprofit fundraising professional, cultivating authentic relationships and mobilizing resources that sustain mission-focused programs and long-term impact. As Donor Relations Manager at Pacific Pride Foundation, she plays a key role in strengthening partnerships, stewarding donors with intention, and ensuring philanthropy is rooted in trust, transparency, and shared values.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies with a minor in Education from UCLA and pursued her Master’s degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies at CSUN. Her academic and professional work are deeply aligned, centering cultural awareness, education, and community empowerment.

A mother of two, Fabiola remains deeply invested in building inclusive, resilient communities where all families—and future generations—can thrive.

Contact Info:
(805) 963-3636 x106
Fabiola@pacificpridefoundation.org