Board of Directors

Jay Tilghman is a Film and Digital Media Mentor for the MARZ Project, a core youth-centric program of the Ink People Center for the Arts. He is also acting director of the Eureka-Kamisu Sister City Association since 2013.

Brenda Pérez is an indigenous immigrant woman from Chalchicomula Mexico, guest in Wiyot land. She’s an accomplished author and Master in Latin American Studies, International Relations, and Social Policy, graduating at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). During Fall 2017, she was a guest researcher at the Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research at Humboldt State University. In 2018, she spearheaded the passage of the Humboldt County Sanctuary Law for Immigrants. She is the host of two bilingual radio shows and chief editor of the magazine, La Semilla which promotes immigrants rights. Brenda Pérez is currently the Executive Director of Centro del Pueblo. 

Patty Saito Hecht is one of the Founding Mothers of Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI). As a volunteer Healing Circle for Change facilitator with Tsuru for Solidarity, her Nikkei roots connection runs deep. She enjoys playing with Humboldt Taiko under its patient and generous leader Gary Ronne. 

Chris Cooper is the Director of Library Services for the County of Humboldt since November 2020. Chris got his first library job as a page with the Newport Beach Public Library when he was 16.  He started with HCL as Branch Manager of the Fortuna Library in 2001, earned a Master in Library Science from San Jose State in 2006 and served as Supervising Librarian for the Fortuna, Garberville and Rio Dell Libraries, from 2011-2015.  In 2015, he moved to Idaho to serve as the Director of the newly constructed, Nampa Public Library.  In 2017, Chris and his wife Susan decided to return to Humboldt County to be closer to family.  Before assuming his new role at HCL, he served as an Associate Faculty Librarian at College of the Redwoods, and as Assistant Director of Library Services for the Humboldt County Library.

Dr. Amy Moffat, is the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness, Research, and Accreditation at College of the Redwoods. She holds a doctorate in the social sciences, with an interdisciplinary focus on sociology, anthropology, and economics. In her role, she oversees institutional research, strategic planning, and accreditation processes to promote evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement across the college. Her professional expertise lies in organizational development, continuous improvement, and equitable student outcomes. Amy’s work reflects a deep commitment to the democratization of knowledge and the role of public institutions in fostering informed, engaged communities. Through her service on the Access Humboldt Board, she supports initiatives that enhance local access to information and strengthen civic participation through media and technology.

I grew up in Connecticut, and came to California to complete my registered dietitian degree and get a masters in public health at UC Berkeley. My husband and I moved to Humboldt so he could attend HSU. We loved the area so much, we stayed and raised our family. I worked most of my very fulfilling career at Redwood Coast Regional Center with individuals with developmental disabilities and those who support them. I have become very aware of the issues for those with disabilities, which now includes that of seniors and aging, as my husband spent his last years using a wheelchair to get around. Since his death, I have been able to get more involved in volunteer activities such as the League of Women Voters, my local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), helping at NCRT and the Clarke Museum, etc.  I have always enjoyed crafting (especially making soaps and other natural products), am very active in my church, love to spend time outdoors, and of course, love to visit with my children and grandchildren. I look forward to serving on the board of Access Humboldt as a representative of the LWVHC. 

Meredith Matthews currently serves as a Council Member with the City of Arcata, and the Executive Director of the Humboldt Lodging Alliance. She serves on the Cal Cities Housing, Economic and Community Development Policy Committee, and is currently the Vice Chair of Humboldt Local Agency Formation Commission.  Previously, she was the Executive Director of the Arcata Chamber of Commerce.

Mo Harper-Desir (She/They) is an organizer, visual artist and an arts & equity leader with 15+ years in grassroots advocacy, cultural strategy, and nonprofit development. Mo is the Co-Founder and Co-Board Chair of Black Humboldt, and one of Equity Arcata's Co-managers. Mo was honored as one of Humboldt’s Notable Women and has been recognized for their work in activating community safety and belonging across Northern California’s North Coast.