Maria Aguilar
ENCA Primary Contact for Northern California / Trainer

Maria Aguilar completed some master's level work at California State University , East Bay towards a Marriage Family Child Counseling Credential. She holds a BA in Psychology {Cal-State}. Mrs. Aguilar has been working in the Office of AIDS Administration (OAA), Alameda County Public Health since 1992. Currently as Director, Data and Quality Management, Ms. Aguilar works closely with Alameda County 's community planning body to identify the communities most impacted and at greatest risk for HIV infection to ensure that funding is directed to address their HIV service needs.

To balance administrative activities, her commitment to the community compels her to participate in health fairs and events throughout the entire county. In her positions at OAA she has been a member of statewide groups including, the California HIV Planning Group and the Latino Advisory Board, both advisory bodies to the State Office of AIDS. Maria has spearheaded several committees for the Bay Area National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. She is secretary for SalvaSIDA.

Prior to working at the Office of AIDS, Ms Aguilar had extensive experience in a variety of social service programs in Alameda County . These included: drug and alcohol programming, HIV prevention programs, senior day care services, health education coordination, mental health services, crisis counseling, and paralegal services. In her spare time Ms. Aguilar enjoys reading and traveling.

Luis E. Ciprez
ENCA Logistics Coordinator/ Trainer

Luis E. Ciprez was born in Colima, Mexico , and immigrated to the United States when he was fourteen years old. A few years later, he received his BA degree, with honors, in Psychology from San Francisco State University . As an undergraduate, Luis was the recipient of several academic awards including the Career Opportunities on Research –NIMH Award and held research internships at the Cesar Chavez Institute and The Trayectos Projects – UCSF / CAPS.

Currently, Luis is finishing his Masters of Social Work degree at California State University , East Bay , where he serves as the Co-chair for the Latino Social Workers. He completed his first year clinical internship at the San Mateo County Mental Health Conservatorship Investigation Unit and is now covering, for the summer, a Psychiatric Social Worker position at North County Mental Health Center in Daly City . He is also the 2006 logistics coordinator for the Bay Area Latino AIDS Awareness Day.

Luis is part of the San Mateo HIV Prevention Planning Committee and has served as a grant reviewer for the Horizons Foundation: HIV/AIDS Community Grants and the CDC's Special Emphasis Panel PS06-618: HIV Prevention Projects for Young Men of Color Who Have Sex with Men and Young Transgender Persons of Color.

In his free time, Luis volunteers and participates at Gente Latina de Ambiente, Hermanos de Luna y Sol, and has thought several classes on mental health and HIV/ AIDS in the Spanish speaking group “Viviendo Ahora” at ACRC. He enjoys traveling, reading, painting, dancing, yoga, and spending time with family and friends.

Josie Diaz
ENCA Primary Contact for Southern California / Trainer

Josie Diaz is the Program Manager for Working Wonders, a non-profit agency that provides services to women, children and families, affected, infected and at risk of HIV/AIDS and other health issues. She provides Prevention and Education services to community based organizations, schools, and individuals. Her duties also include HIV Counseling and testing. Prior to her current position, she was a health Educator for Desert AIDS Project and was co-owner of Double D Auto Repair in Cathedral City , along with her husband Jay.

Born in Artesia New Mexico and raised in Watsonville , California , Josie now lives with her husband in Cathedral City . She attended Palm Springs High School and College of the Desert where she received her LVN Certificate.

She is the proud mother of two great kids, Israel and Naomi and grandmother of 4 boys and 1 girl. Josie is the current Board President for the Boys &Girls Club of Cathedral City, is part of a grass roots committee working on the formation of a Youth task Force in Cathedral City and is also working with the Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce to form a Latino Business Committee that will represent the monolingual business owners in the chamber and most recently joined the African-American Chamber of Commerce in Palm Springs.

She was also a Board Member/Secretary of Coachella Valley Mexican American Chamber of Commerce, President of Coachella Chamber of Commerce, and Secretary for the State Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Jesus Moreno
ENCA Trainer

Maria Prieto
ENCA Trainer