Chida Warren-Darby, Director of the Office of Boards and Commission

Born in Washington D.C. and raised in San Diego, Chida Warren-Darby is a second-generation Black newspaper publisher and media professional currently serving in Mayor Todd Gloria’s administration.

At the onset of the administration, Chida was appointed as the Deputy Director of Communications and then assumed the role of the Director of Boards and Commissions a year later. Before her role with Mayor Gloria, Chida founded a digital Black lifestyle publication covering life, politics, and the arts, which was birthed out of her role as Co-Publisher and Managing Editor of The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper. This 62-year-old family business serves as the city’s oldest and most prominent African American publication. For almost a decade in this capacity, out of the country’s nearly 200 Black newspapers, she was the youngest African American newspaper publisher concurrently functioning as the Black Press Association’s West Coast Region 5 President, which governed the African American newspaper publishers tied to the association on the west coast. 

While running the newspaper, Chida founded a non-profit organization that instructed school-aged girls on their image, communication skills, etiquette, educational development, and life lessons. During its summer and after-school program offerings, she and her team were able to reach girls locally by bringing awareness to the issue of sex trafficking in the Black community, drawing crowds of approximately 200 to 400 at sessions. Early in her career, Chida served in San Diego’s first Black Chamber of Commerce as the Executive Director. In that capacity, she created outlets and forums where economic issues affecting San Diego’s Black business community could be addressed. 

Currently, Chida serves on the boards of the United Nations Association of San Diego and Black San Diego and is the recipient of numerous awards and proclamations from Mayor Kevin Faulconer, the Secretary of State, the NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, the San Diego Urban League, and a host of others.

Rev. Gerald W. Brown, Executive Director of the Citizens Advisory Board on Police/Community Relations

Before joining the City of San Diego, Rev. Gerald W. Brown served as executive director of the United African American Ministerial Action Council (UAAMAC). UAAMAC is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt, faith base nonprofit organization committed to the construction of a “Beloved Community” of justice, equitable access to opportunities in the pursuit of happiness, education, health, family stability, economic development, peace and prosperity for all people. He previously served as the transitional case manager/chaplain for the San Diego Rescue Mission Men’s Center. Also, Rev. Brown is a founding member of the San Diego County District Attorney’s Interfaith Ministerial Advisory Board and a return lecturer.

In addition, Rev. Brown is the co-founder of Farm Chef 2 Home Plate, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to the transformation of the lives of homeless brothers and sisters through sporting activities and events. He leads the nationally-recognized Southeastern San Diego Cardiac Disparities Project, which engages faith organizations to create sustainable plans to protect heart health. He has organized and worked with local law enforcement agencies to provide safer communities by removing over 3,000 guns and other weapons off the streets of San Diego County through the UAAMAC’s Gift Card and Skateboards for Guns Program. This program has been internationally recognized in Great Britain, Germany and Austria.

As a retired U.S. marine of 22 years, he has traveled the world and experienced man’s humanity and inhumanity toward man. Those experiences have impassioned Rev. Brown to work toward improving the condition of his fellow man. He is currently serving as the co-chair of the San Diego Clean Air Coalition, a board member of the CSA of San Diego County (Fair Housing Agency) and the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice. Rev. Brown is a veteran community mediator for the National Conflict Resolution Center. He is a return lecturer at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Regional Leadership Institute on the history of the relationship between the African American community and law enforcement.

City of San Diego Citizens Advisory Board on Police/Community Relations

Pastor Jesus Sandoval, Executive Director of the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention

Pastor Jesus Sandoval was appointed executive director of the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention in 2018.

In 2003, Sandoval became the pastor of New Harvest Church. A former gang member himself, he began mentoring other gang members who witnessed his personal transformation and wanted it for themselves. As a community leader he continually encourages positive change and advocates for reunification for reformed gang members and their families.

In 2010, Pastor Sandoval became a gang mentoring trainer at Fred Finch Youth Center and learned the Wraparound Model and implementation. He used this knowledge to launch and lead a grassroots community Wraparound program in San Diego. In collaboration with the San Diego Police Department, the San Diego County Probation Department and several other community-based organizations, they provide community Wraparound services to youth on probation and their families. This model has become so successful it has expanded to Escondido.

He is currently developing additional programming to continue his support of healing and transformation for people whose lives have been impacted by the juvenile justice system.

City of San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention