Board of Directors
The Camp It Up, Inc. (CIU!) Board of Directors was created in 2008 and is the governing body with fiduciary responsibility for our nonprofit organization.
Representation matters. For youth and adult campers to see themselves reflected in the CIU! Leadership increases self-esteem, blooms pride, well-being, and a desire to increase their leadership. In 2023, our CIU! Leadership Team included: 100% LGBTQAI+ families; 100% LGBTQAI+ Camp Directors, Counselors-in-Training, Camp Counselors and Specialists; 67% BIPOC Camp Directors, 58% BIPOC Camp Staff; and 50% Non-binary, Gender Queer, Gender Nonconforming, and Transgender Camp Staff. Additionally, in 2024, members of our Bord of Directors include: 67% BIPOC, 83% LGBTQAI+, 100% are parents, 83% are parents of LGBTQAI+ youth, and 66% are parents of trans, non-binary, genderqueer, gender nonconforming, and/or gender expansive youth.
Our 2024 organizational Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) Goals include a minimum participation of:
- 60% BIPOC Campers, Leadership Team members, and Board of Director members
- 60% LGBTQAI+ Campers (prioritizing increasing the % LGBTQAI+ youth), Leadership Team members, and Board of Directors members
- 25% Camperships and first time Campers (prioritizing increasing % of BIPOC first timers).
With increasing threats and violence throughout the USA against BIPOC and LGBTQAI+ kids and their families, there is a tremendous need for the safe havens of our LGBTQAI+ family camps. The need for ones led by BIPOC LGBTQAI+ Boards of Directors, staff, and CITS, and where the campers are majority BIPOC is essential for so many with intersecting marginalized identities with often the least access. We feel safest amongst our own.
CIU! is in the midst of an exciting organizational developmental time. We seek Board leaders who are committed to our organization's vision, values, future, and the families we serve. CIU! is also committed to having a diverse Board with a BIPOC and LGBTQAI + majority in its members, as well as age, gender, and class diversity.
If you are interested in knowing more about applying to serve on the CIU! Board of Directors, please email our Board President at ciuboard22@gmail.com.
Current Board Members (click to view bios)
Joey Stevenson (she/her)
President Joey Stevenson (she/her) is a white queer femme mama in Oakland, CA. She has been a hairdresser since 2002 and a community organizer since the 90's. She has been self employed since 2006 and opened hersmall business in 2021. She spent almost two decades in San Francisco running programs for National Queers Arts Fest, ran the Lexington Club Memorial, and changed the route of the SF Dyke March in 2015. She served on the Board of Directors for SF pride 2015-2017. In 2018 she, her partner and their disabled infant were evicted from San Francisco and now call Oakland home. She is currently involved in the Integrated Schools movement and enjoys her community in East Oakland, microdosing queer joy, and the combination of queers, kids and nature.
Clark Graham (e/em/eir)
Treasurer Clark Graham loves rainbows, works as a special education teacher, and cherishes time with eir chosen family. E enjoys reading, needle arts, gardening, cooking and other creative ventures. E has lived happily in Sacramento with eir family since 2016 (growing by a few members since then). E hopes to find more opportunities to connect with queer community, which e found chance to do at Camp in 2019. Clark is eager to support in the continuation and growth of Camp It Up!
Celestina Pearl (she/her/meow)
Celestina Pearl is a queer femme dyke, mixed race Native Chicana, mama to a fierce trans teen, bruja, visual and performance artist, film maker, radical nurse, doula, gynecological teaching associate, former sex worker, kitty lover and outreach director at St James Infirmary. Camp It Up! started out as a really fun camp for both my kiddo and I where we knew we would be accepted and even celebrated for me being queer. This past year at camp we both felt celebrated for our queerness and my kiddo for his transness. I felt even more comfortable seeing more Black and Brown faces at camp. Having more representation from multiply marginalized folks is essential and benefits the whole community and ideally spreads out to the whole world. I'm proud as a queer Native Chicana, single mama to a trans kiddo to bring all that I am and all my experiences to the Camp It Up! Board and beautiful community. Thank you for the opportunity to be of service!
Lisa Gonzales was born and raised in Lake Oswego, Oregon, just outside of Portland. She currently lives in Wilsonville, Oregon with her husband, 3 kids (2 of whom are gender expansive), and an ancient dog. When not seeing clients in her practice as a lactation nurse, Lisa can be found driving kids to taekwondo, sewing, folding origami, or reading (probably non-fiction). After attending Camp It Up with her oldest daughter in the summer of 2022, Lisa knew she wanted to go beyond "camper" and take on a larger role. She wants to help more kids come to the place where she and her daughter were welcomed with love and complete acceptance.
John Dalal
Board Member Emeritus 