About The Founder
Ms. Diaz is the founder of CleanSlate Inc. and has recovered from issues of violence in her life. She has worked for over twenty years to end the cycle of violence among the poor. Her own life dictated that she develop this program to assist those who wanted change. The gang membership issue is far from the problem. It is the violence that each individual within the gang may perpetuate that is the issue. They have yet to figure out what is motivating them to respond to hurt and pain with violence. Retaliation is an expression that replace the tears and grief that should be part of the human emotional cycle. Once we get back in touch with our true humanity, violence becomes the last resort, not the first option. Violence and Rage are treated as a natural consequence of poverty, oppression and marginalization in our program. Anger and Rage can be useful if utilized to initiate change in our punishment based system. What we know is that those who have been affected by violence always see violence as an option.
We hope to introduce gang members and anyone affected by domestic violence or community violence to options that reflect the true intentions of the individual. Power and control does not hold on to anyone, it pushes them away. This issue of being in control is about fear and a feeling of powerlessness, Vulnerability is the true power and speaks to the humanity of our clients.
Board Members – Established 1995
CleanSlate is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization.
| Board Members:Chair Person – Sonia Sanchez, Community Advocate Vice Chair – Tom Eldridge, Business Owner 2nd Vice Chair – Arezou Yashoua, MFTI President – Marianne Diaz, Founding Director Vice President – Alfredo Estrada, Engineering Student Treasurer – Roxanne Garcia, Drug and Alcohol Counselor Secretary – Mallory Leitner, MFTI |
Members at large:
Megan Bearce, MFTI |
Office Staff
The office staff are volunteers who believe in the Clean Slate philosophy of support through understanding instead of punishment through incarceration. We have had candy drives to raise money for bandages and the clients themselves have purchased items to help. We are a labor of love and each volunteer should be commended for their dedication to this effort.
