Keith Kelley
President & CEO
keithkelley@fwced.org

Keith is the founding executive and responsible for the operation, administration and financial management of the organization. Under his direction the organization has grown from one to eight employees that coordinate four programs. Keith is recognized both locally and nationally as a leader in community and economic development.

He is currently a Board member of the National Congress of Community Economic Development based in Washington , D.C. and of Collaborative Regional Initiative's Innovative Culture Committee. Keith's accomplishments were recently recognized as recipient of the NAACP-Fresno Chapter 2005 Image Award for economic development. Keith's community activities include African American Historical and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley, past President; Fresno Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Fresno, past Vice President. He has been tapped locally as the Community Co-Chair for the City of Fresno 's All-American City bids as well as part of Mayor Alan Autry's advisory committee.

Javier Aguirre
Operations Manager
javiera@fwced.org

Javier Aguirre graduated from Heritage College in Toppenish, Washington with a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration and is currently a candidate for a Masters in Education at American Intercontinental University. He intends to enroll for his Doctorate in Education before the end of this year.

• His experience includes being a lead Senior Staff Analyst with Fresno County Health and Human Services Administration where he orchestrated the design for the existing language access program to provide qualified interpreting services to non-English speaking consumers.
• He has designed multiple alternative curricula for working with farm workers and migrant students in traditional settings.
• He is also the author of Expanding Horizons: A Journey to Becoming a Skilled Language Interpreter, a training guide for developing bilingual staff into qualified language interpreters in response to Federal Civil Rights requirements.
• His extensive experience includes program administration in social work, private business, consulting, interpreter training in the medical field, community education and employment and training for youth and adults.
• He is a strong advocate of assisting bilingual populations to improve both their languages and becoming language interpreters.
• His passions include providing advocacy for at-risk populations, empowering communities and neighborhoods, and teaching classes to farm worker populations.
  
  

Candice A.C. Hill
Executive Assistant
candice@fwced.org

Candice A.C. Hill was born and raised, attended school, works and does business in West Fresno. 

• She received her certificate as a paralegal at MCed Career College and has worked at various law offices as a legal assistant.

• She has served her community in the areas of business growth and economic development as the Event Planner for the SJV Black Chamber of Commerce.
• She brings community service experience with her to FWCED, but most importantly a passion to give back to community organizations such as FWCED, that have invested in her success.
  
  

Javier Hernandez
Project Manager
javierh@fwced.org

Mr. Javier Hernandez was born in Fresno and raised in Parlier, CA. After graduating from high school, Mr. Hernandez moved to Keene, CA and did an internship with the United Farm Workers of America. There he received knowledge in business, computer programming and social programs serving under Cesar Chavez and the UFW Movement until 1989.

• In 1989, Mr. Hernandez moved to Fresno and began working with the National Farm Worker's Service Center, Inc. A non profit organization started by Robert F. Kennedy and Cesar Chavez to help low income families with social and economic issues.
• He started as a property supervisor managing affordable housing and worked his way to Vice President of Operations for the Housing Fund until 1999.
• In 1999, he joined another Real Estate Development firm that focused on affordable housing using Tax Credits, Bonds and other funds used to build quality, affordable apartments around the state of California.

He was raised by farm worker parents that were very involved with social and economic issues around their city. Being raised poor, working through barriers and eventually achieving many business successes, Mr. Hernandez promotes a strong ethic for using standard business practices and applies them to help low income families achieve their own wellness and success through housing and economic development.