President

Steve is a retired park manager from San Francisco with a passion for the environment, people, and systems.  After spending much of his career managing the impacts people have on public lands, combined with passion for systems that work, and curiosity for those that don't work, serving on the Safe Space board has provided a wonderful opportunity to make a positive difference. Working to alleviate the negative impacts social structures have on people has energized Steve in ways never predicted. He believes constraints are a pathway to creative problem solving: to be of service, the highest form of spirituality. 

Board Member

Rick Narad is professor of health services administration at CSU, Chico and is an attorney and disaster medical services responder. He has been a Safe Space volunteer since 2013, serving as a member of the Shelter Operations Team for eight years. He was a founding member of Safe Space and the Board, and served as Board President for several years. Rick’s dedication to Safe Space started with his belief that people shouldn’t sleep outside when it’s cold and wet. He is proud of how the organization has grown since its bare-bones start and looks forward to seeing its continued grown.

Treasurer

Georgeanne has been working with the unhoused community for nearly 20 years. She is an ordained minister and previously co-pastored an outdoor church, Worcester Fellowship, back in Massachusetts. Upon retiring and moving to California, she began to volunteer at The Jesus Center and other agencies supporting the unhoused community. She has been on the Board for four years

Secretary

Shannon Hester is a longtime Chico resident who raised her family here and enjoys watching it grow, continuing a deep, multigenerational connection to the Chico area. With a master’s degree in healthcare administration, Shannon has devoted her entire professional life to the healthcare field, with a focus on quality, compassion, and partnership in every aspect of care. She joined the Board in February 2025, guided by the conviction that every human being deserves a safe place to sleep, healthy food, and clean water. Shannon believes that strong communities are built through grassroots engagement and shared responsibility. She is committed to ensuring that Chico remains a place where all residents can enjoy clean, safe parks and waterways and where neighbors care for one another through direct involvement. Her service on the board reflects her belief that the only way to improve our community is to be actively involved in it.

Board Member

Sean is a Chico native who loves Chico for what it is and what it can be. He joined the Board in July 2025 to help with process and people management. He seeks to find a solution for those experiencing homelessness that treats them as the humans they are and gives them a path to stable living. His day job involves managing information security for a healthcare data processing company. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his partners and four dogs as well as cooking. You can usually spot him working from any number of local cafés. If you spot him out and about around town, say hi! He loves meeting new people.

Board Member

Amber moved to Chico a decade ago, trading the familiarity of the Bay Area to a more affordable and close-knit community, to raise her children. Similar to the guests at Safe Space, Amber has experienced housing instability most of her adult life and has struggled to keep a roof over her children’s head and food on the table. Her move to Chico provided space for her to go back to school and earn a bachelor’s in Political Science and Legal Studies. Her desire to serve Chico’s unhoused community stem from her own life experiences and commitment to justice. Amber has served justice-involved individuals for over 6 years and currently works as an analyst for the judicial branch of California, overseeing pretrial reform activities in the state. She brings with her to Safe Space experience analyzing policy, identifying challenges and relevant education and training needs, and bridging communications between stakeholders. Amber understands that she would not be where she is today without the support of safety nets built into our society and communities. She is committed to building a wider and stronger net for all people living on the planet to experience justice, dignity, and peace.

Board Member

Renee is a locally born and raised Valley resident who has built her personal and professional life in the community she proudly calls home. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and has spent the past 25 years working in the healthcare finance industry, strengthening systems that impact access to care and essential services. Her work has centered on accountability, equality, and expanding the social safety net — including supporting preventive care, behavioral health services, and working for individuals and families who might otherwise go without care. She joined the Board with the conviction that safety and dignity should never be conditional. In Chico, many members of the unhoused population face barriers to shelter when they cannot meet requirements imposed elsewhere. Renee believes every individual deserves access to a safe place to rest and compassionate support without exclusion. Her service reflects her belief that strong communities are built through active involvement, equitable and shared responsibility, ensuring Chico remains a place where neighbors care for one another and the most vulnerable are treated with dignity, respect and empathetic understanding.