Valerie Allums

Valerie Allums joined the Advisory Board to act as a community spokesperson. She spends a significant amount of her time working in West Oakland, and she feels an obligation to ensure that the credit union will not lose sight of the community’s needs as it continues to grow. Prior to joining the board, Valerie actively participated in PEOPLE’S outreach walks, car sales, and volunteer income tax assistance site while serving as a tireless advocate for the credit union. Her career includes work on public health issues in West Oakland.

Ollie Arnold

Ollie Arnold brings extensive community building experience from her professional work as a Housing Outreach Coordinator with Eden Information and Referral. With Eden I&R, she develops and manages outreach to property managers, leads media campaigns, and develops housing seminars.

Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard is Deputy Director of Lending for Northern California Community Loan Fund (NCCLF).  She worked as a Loan Associate upon joining NCCLF in 1998, and was the Program Manager of the Nonprofit Space Capital Fund during the program’s inception and first year of operation in addition to serving as Senior Loan Officer/Special Projects.  Prior to joining NCCLF, Catherine completed a two-year housing development internship at the Community and Economic Development Agency of the City of Oakland. Catherine also held a staff position at the Coalition for Nonprofit Housing Development in Washington, D.C

Peggy Jen

Peggy Jen is Senior Housing Program Officer with Bay Area Local Initiatives Support Corporation. She assembles the financial resources necessary to implement comprehensive neighborhood development strategies which benefit low-income people and communities throughout the Bay Area.

Salvador Menjivar

Salvador Menjivar is the Executive Director of OneCalifornia Foundation. He has been in positions of leadership in the private and nonprofit sectors for over fifteen years. While attending school in New York he helped launch an import-export company brokering and selling organic foods from Latin America. He has also directed political campaigns on behalf of the California Democratic Party. Most recently he served as Executive Director of Hamilton Family Center in San Francisco. Salvador has also served on governmental commissions in the Cities of San Francisco and Berkeley. He has volunteered his time on many Boards of Directors in the Bay Area -including the Mission Area Federal Credit Union, as President and Treasurer.

Byron Phillips

Byron Phillips the Chair of the Advisory Board.  Most recently serving as a loan officer for the Low Income Investment Fund, he works to revitalize low-income urban communities. Byron brings a strong background in banking and financial services to PEOPLE’S.

Carole Wagner

Carole Wagner is a Certified Credit Counselor with 17 years of experience in credit counseling related to debt management, credit card issues, medical issues and home buying.

Alton Wilson

Alton Wilson is a customer service representative at the Best Western Airport Inn & Suites. Alton, a lifelong West Oakland resident, attended Laney College. As the board’s only West Oakland resident, Alton serves as a strong voice for the low-income members of his community. In addition to his work with PEOPLE’S, Alton has been active in many other community organizations, including volunteering at the Oakland Airport information booth and his church as well as serving at-risk Oakland residents in the Allan Temple anger management program. Alton has been an active board member, participating at PEOPLE’S VITA site and taking part in outreach walks and tabling events. He has served as a board member since 2003 and is active on PEOPLE’S outreach committee.