Board of Directors

The California PAL Board of Directors is made up of Police Officers and Civilians that are usually also PAL directors for local PAL member chapters. This dedicated group of men and women help to steer California PAL in the right direction so that we can better serve our membership and bring forth valuable programs that benefit PAL youth from all around the state.

The current 2007/2008 Board of Directors are:

Mr. Terrel Harrison - Oxnard PAL
Board President

Terrel "Tee" Harrison, executive director of Oxnard PAL near Los Angeles, joined the California PAL Board of Directors in March 2002. He has worked with at-risk youth in the city of Oxnard for over 16 years, helping to establish eight youth athletic programs and three educational programs at Oxnard PAL. Over 125 children visit Oxnard PAL programs each day. Teen dances are offered at the Oxnard PAL center 14 times per year with up to 900 teens attending. Harrison has devoted his life to youth and has a deep concern for all youth and their interests. He was instrumental in developing a Mobile Skate Park used by Oxnard PAL so that local youth would have a place to skateboard. He developed a "youth master plan" for the City of Oxnard that will utilize Oxnard PAL and other organizations to keep youth out of trouble. Harrison believes if a good atmosphere is created for children, they can accomplish anything. Harrison earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cal State Northridge in 1993. In his leisure time, Harrison is at the fitness center or coaching a youth sporting event. He also serves as a member of the National PAL Board of Directors representing the west coast as Region 1 Chairman.

Ms. Barbara E. Bonilla - Redwood City PAL
Vice President

Barbara Bonilla was elected to the California PAL Board in March 2004. She is the Director of Development and Operations at Redwood City PAL, where her background in development, operations, and non-profit management serve her well. She successfully managed a $4.5 million capital campaign to fund a new 15,000-square-foot PAL Community Center that opened in June 2004. Prior to joining Redwood City PAL, Bonilla worked for several cities and YMCAs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University where she majored in Recreation Administration and minored in Business. She is currently enrolled in the graduate program in Public Administration at California State University, Hayward.

Officer Noah Jones - Los Banos PAL
Secretary

Officer Noah Jones, the Executive Director of Los Banos PAL brings over five year of PAL experience to California PAL and under his leadership has ensured that Los Banos PAL is one of the premier PAL chapters throughout the state of California. Noah is dedicated to helping youth and he has ensured the success of Los Banos PAL's Girls Softball League ,which is one of the premier PAL youth softball leagues throughout the state, with his hard work and dedication. Noah is always ready to help out his fellow PAL directors with his expert knowledge and experieince and has become a valuable asset to the California PAL Board of Directors. Noah is married and has two children.

Mr. Al De Vos - Monterey County PAL
Tresurer

Al De Vos, the Executive Director of Monterey County PAL, was elected to the California PAL Board of Directors in October of 2005. Monterey County PAL which serves youth throughout Monterey County, particularly in the northern area of the county. As Executive Director Al has successfully raised over $700,000 through grants and helped to secure fifty acres to be developed into accessible open space with trails and playing fields. When asked what role education has played in his success Al says, "My BS and MS degree studies provided a mix of useful expertise in Business Management, Research Design and Exercise Sciences. I learned to create and manage a large corporate department and filling the role of the Executive Director of a PAL program is very similar. Al is also a member of California State University Monterey Bay's Community Advisory Board.

Officer Glenda Brooks - LAPD Hollenbeck PAL
Director

Glenda has been a police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department for over ten years and has exclusively worked in the East Los Angeles area for eight of those years. She was assigned as the PAL Officer for the LAPD Hollenbeck PAL in 1999 and began working with local area families to start a youth soccer league in the Boyle Heights area to deter youth from joining gangs and using drugs. Since the league was started in year 2000, approximately 450 youth have participated annually. Glenda then became the Executive Director for Hollenbeck PAL in 2003 and her dedication has allowed the Hollenbeck PAL program to serve over 900 youth annually with various sports and other intervention programs. She has also started many educational based programs at the PAL. Glenda is married and has three sons, ages 30, 29, and 27, and two grandsons ages 5 and 3.

Officer Adrian Gutierrez - Santa Barbara PAL
Director

Adrian is the current PAL officer for the highly successful Santa Barbara PAL and brings extensive law enforcement experieince dealing with at-risk youth and gangs to his position. As a PAL officer over the past three years, Adrian has been instrumental in expanding Santa Barbara PAL throughout the community and has been a mentor for many. Adrian has been able to bring his experience and expertise to California PAL as a member of the Board of Directors. Adrian is married and has one daughter, aged 16.

Ms. Connie Cervantes - LASD Youth Foundation
Director

Connie is currently working as the Youth Program Coordinator for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Youth Foundation at the L.A. County Sheriff's Headquarters in Monterey Park, CA. In her position, she helps to coordinate youth programs and events at the eleven Los Angeles County Sheriff PAL programs, also know as Youth Activity Leagues (YAL). These programs, located at various Sheriff's substations throughout the county, all have assigned deputies that Connie assists to ensure that their youth programs are running smoothly. Connie as been involved with the YAL programs over the past eight years and has helped to create the Sheriff's Youth Foundation as the non-profit arm of the L.A.County Sheriff's department. Connie also coordinates YAL meetings and helps to create helpful policies and guidelines so that the YAL programs will run uniformly throughout the county. Thanks to Connie's assistance and diligence, over 10,000 youth have been served but all eleven YAL programs and other programs are now starting up with her assistance to serve even more kids.