Meet the new members of the SVBC team
Please join us in welcoming two talented community organizers, and an experienced administrator, to the Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition team. They’re here to help advance our shared mission, of building healthy and just communities across San Mateo and Santa Clara counties by making bicycling safe and accessible for everyone. We’re so glad to have you!
We are also saying goodbye to Shiloh Ballard, our executive director, who is leaving after eight busy years spent developing SVBC, for the well-deserved chance to pursue personal interests. We’re excited that our Board of Directors, after a nation-wide search, has chosen our deputy director Clarrissa Cabansagan as the new executive director. The transition is now underway toward formal handoff at the Silicon Valley Bike Summit on Aug. 24. See the announcement.
Meet the full team at the Silicon Valley Bike Summit in Mountain View on Aug. 24!
Katie Causey
Katie, a community organizer, was born and raised in the Bay Area and has volunteered with local nonprofits and community organizations since she was a teenager.
After several years of working in various local nonprofits and on political campaigns she began focusing on housing, working with tenants facing eviction and shaping policy and community engagement around Palo Alto's Housing Element.
Outside of her work at SVBC she enjoys taking public transit and raising her 35 house plants.
Mayra Pelagio
Prior to joining SVBC as a community organizer, Mayra was the Executive Director of Latinos United for a New America where she worked to accomplish the organization’s mission to help Latino immigrants take positive action to address the poverty-related challenges that have hit the Latino immigrant community.
At SVBC Mayra will advocate for safer streets and communities where everyone can feel safe walking and biking in their neighborhoods Mayra taps into her own experience of facing poverty, language barriers, and housing instability as she works to promote advocacy from East San Jose neighbors.
Mayra holds a B.S in Environmental Science and Management from UC Davis and has completed a master’s degree in environmental studies from San Jose State University.
Karen Schuler
Karen has a background in nonprofit management, having spent 20 years as Director of Finance and Human Resources for an independent Montessori school. Karen happily landed at SVBC,, as administrative associate in search of an encore career at an organization that promotes equity and sustainability.
Karen has engaged in social and environmental justice work since she was a teenager providing logistical support for her parents as they participated in non-violent civil disobedience to end the nuclear arms race. Karen is an animal lover and has volunteered at the local animal shelter and rescue organizations. In her free time, you can find her hiking through the woods or biking local trails.
The Silicon Valley Bike Summit, Aug. 24 in Mountain View, is the region’s largest gathering of active transportation leaders and organizers from government, the private sector, non-profits, and the general public. Connect, learn — and meet us there!