Our Story
Built by the Valley, for the Valley.
We are a youth-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit rooted in Pacoima and the Northeast San Fernando Valley — organizing, educating, and building power one young person at a time.
How it started
V.I.V.A For the People was born in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, where young people saw their communities underrepresented, underserved, and overlooked. We started with a simple belief: that civic engagement and cultural pride are not separate things — they are the same fight.
What started as informal conversations about civic engagement and cultural pride grew into a structured organization dedicated to building power from the ground up. We started with voter registration drives, community workshops, and youth leadership circles — and we haven't stopped since.
Today, V.I.V.A operates across the Northeast San Fernando Valley as a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit, running programs in civic education, cultural arts, and youth leadership development. Every program, every event, every conversation is rooted in the same belief: our community deserves better, and we are the ones to build it.
What we stand for
Visionary
We imagine a future where our community holds real power and shapes the decisions that affect our lives.
Inclusive
We build spaces where everyone belongs — across race, class, gender, and background.
Vibrant
We celebrate our culture, our art, and our identity as sources of strength and resistance.
Accountable
We hold ourselves and our institutions accountable to the communities we serve.
"We believe every young person in our community deserves the tools, knowledge, and support to shape their own future — and ours."
Board of Directors
V.I.V.A is governed by a board of directors drawn from the communities we serve.
Logan Fisher
CEO & Co-Founder
Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Logan works at the intersection of labor, education, and public policy. Coordinator of Political Action and Mobilization at AFT Local 1521, pursuing a master in public policy at UCLA.
Ivan Nathan
Executive Director
Longtime activist in the San Fernando Valley and Greater Los Angeles area, organizing through DSA LA and AFT Local 1521. Pursuing a master in Philosophy at Cal State LA.
Sandy Soon Choi
CFO
Gustavo Martinez-Pelcastre
Director
Gustavo Martinez-Pelcastre brings years of experience in the non-profit sector to his work, driven by a deep commitment to immigrant rights and community empowerment. A first-generation college student, he is currently pursuing a Master in Global Politics at CSUN.
Juancarlos Farias
Director
A lifelong San Fernando Valley resident and Communication Studies student at CSUN, Juancarlos organizes through AFT 1521 and has advocated for community colleges in Sacramento.
Anahi Samaniego
Director of Community and Cultural Relations
Poet and activist recognized by the California State Senate for community service through spoken word. Psychology student at CSUN.
Lauren Whiting
Director
Sociology scholar and Assistive Technology Support Services Specialist focused on disability advocacy and inclusive community building.
Julio Del Carmen
Director
Viviana Lopez
Director
Kavi Suri
Director
Advocate for the unhoused and disenfranchised of Los Angeles with a master in political science. Focuses on financial insecurity, healthcare access, and land rights.