WELCOMING A NEW ADDITION TO OUR TEAM

Beth Hillman, Program Coordinator

Please welcome our new staff, Elizabeth Hillman. We are delighted to have her working for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County as our Program Coordinator. Beth is working at our after school programs in Santa Cruz and in Watsonville. She is focused on developing enrichment activities and assisting with homework help. Beth found us through her volunteer work with the Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center! Beth has had the privilege of working with youth before as an after-school liaison for the program Project Share. She is an alumnus of UC Santa Cruz as of 2022, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sociology at the age of 20.

SOLEDAD ARCIGA

Program Manager

Soledad Arciga has worked in the nonprofit sector serving families to meet their basic needs and supporting youth's development for over a decade. Through her university years, Soledad supported youth with scholastic competency by supporting them in raising reading achievement, and supporting them through math and reading programs designed to advance comprehension and appreciation. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Behavioral Science with a Minor in Justice Studies at San Jose State University in 2014, Soledad started supporting in the classroom as a teacher assistant for the local migrant community in Gilroy, CA. Shortly after, she supported autistic youth and their families with intervention services based on the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County. In 2021, Soledad supported families in need of rapid rehousing and homeless prevention services. Through all her work with youth and families, Soledad knew her passion stemmed from supporting youth while connecting to families and mentorship programs. 

In her time with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County, Soledad has supported the agency as a Case Manager and a Program Manager since 2016. Soledad has found passion in being of service to others while working to support youth and their families. She is returning to BBBS full time to continue supporting youth towards achieving their potential. 

CYNTHIA LUEDTKE

Development Manager

After moving to Santa Cruz ten years ago, Cynthia brings her many years of experience in the profession of banking, as well as her expertise in working with nonprofits and participation in community service in the Mountain View, Palo Alto and Los Altos area. A long-standing member of the Los Altos Rotary Club, Cynthia has acted in many capacities including Director of Youth Services at which time, a new and successful youth mentorship program came into being.  She is a Past President, past Asst Governor, and has travelled to other clubs in her District assisting with Strategic Planning for Clubs and has taken part in mentoring high school age entrepreneurs.  

Cynthia has served on various nonprofit boards and committees including the Day Worker Center of Mountain View, where she was instrumental in spearheading the successful fundraising and building of the Center, Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, and is a founding member of the Los Altos Community Foundation.

Cynthia has two adult children and enjoys hiking, golfing, bowling, reading, watercolor painting, and ocean kayaking among her many other interests.  

Gabriela Trigueiro

Executive Director

Gabriela Trigueiro, MPP,  joined Big Brothers Big Sisters of Santa Cruz County as its executive director in 2022. Gabriela is a proud fourth-generation Californian, whose grandparents immigrated as farmers in the Sacramento area. She is an entrepreneurial leader with a strong commitment to social justice. Her professional work has centered on promoting equity and increasing access to education, healthcare, and public transportation. Gabriela has also been a long-time immigration rights advocate for undocumented and mixed status families.  Prior to joining BBBS, Gabriela worked as a consultant for local businesses focused on finance and compliance and as a campaign consultant for politicians in the counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, Alameda and Contra Costa. 

She received her Masters of Public Policy from Mills College in Oakland, and has consulted for City of Oakland's Public Ethics Commission and for the Canal Alliance in Marin County. Gabriela also has a degree in Spanish Literature and Dance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and la Universidad de Sevilla. Gabriela began working in youth programming in 2003 and was staff for UW-Madison's College for Kids, a yearly summer program that began in 1979 bringing over 11,000 youth to campus for learning and exploration. Gabriela also worked in health and human services with University of New Mexico's Continuing Education. During this time, she was a company member and grant writer at the National Institute of Flamenco. Gabriela was a faculty member of Ballet Hispánico in New York City and in California, she has been an instructor for Arte Flamenco, Sacramento Ballet, San Francisco's ODC, Mission Cultural Center for the Arts, International Academy of Dance, and the Tannery Arts Center.

Gabriela is a volunteer for Gault Elementary School where her son attends kindergarten, and for the local chapter for Moms Demand Action (a part of Everytown for Gun Safety). Gabriela also serves as a City Commissioner for the Commission on Prevention of Violence Against Women and is on the fundraising committee for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte.