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

Risk Reduction Specialist

Divinity Espinosa is a Santa Barbara–based administrator, performer, and community advocate with a strong foundation in healthcare administration, nonprofit work, and public health outreach. A graduate of Santa Barbara City College with a degree in Business Administration, they bring a detail-oriented, people-centered approach to their work.

As Risk Reduction Specialist at Pacific Pride Foundation, Divinity leads harm reduction initiatives centered on community health, dignity, and accessibility. Their work includes distributing safer-use supplies, providing fentanyl test strips, supporting overdose prevention efforts, and connecting individuals to essential health and social services. They also lead outreach and education efforts that reduce stigma and increase awareness around substance use and public health resources.

Divinity’s broader experience spans administrative coordination, compliance support, and community engagement, with a consistent focus on equity and access. Beyond their professional role, they are an active performer and cultural contributor in the Santa Barbara arts scene. As a queer Latinx artist, they have performed across the California Central Coast, including the Santa Barbara Pride Festival.

Grounded in collaboration and care, Divinity is passionate about creating inclusive, community-driven spaces—bringing together administrative expertise and creative expression to support and uplift others.

Contact Info:
(805) 963-3636 x029
divinity@pacificpridefoundation.org

Donor Relations Manager

DeeJay Johnson is a dynamic leader, performer, and certified life and health coach with over 17 years of experience spanning higher education, coaching, and community engagement. Holding a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, DeeJay has built a career centered on empowering individuals, developing leaders, and fostering inclusive environments where people can thrive.

As Donor Relations Manager at Pacific Pride Foundation, DeeJay leads special fundraising initiatives and cultivates meaningful sponsorship opportunities that deepen community investment and support the organization’s mission. Their approach is rooted in relationship-building, authenticity, and creating pathways for collective impact.

Alongside their professional work, DeeJay has spent 17 years as a professional performer known as Vivian Storm, using artistry as a vehicle for connection, expression, and joy. Passionate about community, DeeJay is known for cultivating spaces that center healing, liberation, authenticity, and celebration—bringing that same spirit into their work at PPF.

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