Meet Our Team

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

alejandro@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez is a first-generation Chicano, social entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to advancing the cultural and creative economy of California’s Inland Empire. Currently serving as the Executive Director of Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, Alejandro has held diverse roles throughout his career, from 6th-grade educator to Research and Evaluation Analyst at First 5 San Bernardino, and Program Director at El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center. He is also the co-founder and former Executive Director of the nonprofit Lifting Our Stories, rooted in his hometown of San Bernardino. 

Recognized as one of the 30 Most Influential Leaders Under 30 in California’s 50th Assembly District, Alejandro champions the arts as a means to bridge cultural and social divides, amplifying underrepresented voices to inspire systemic change and inclusive economic development. In his current role, his leadership focuses on ensuring a thriving arts and culture ecosystem, leveraging the arts to find innovative and inclusive solutions to San Bernardino's most pressing challenges.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

ulises@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Ulises Rodriguez is a dedicated artist, cultural organizer, and advocate for the arts, committed to fostering creative spaces and uplifting communities across the Inland Empire. Originally from Mexico, he immigrated to the U.S. in 2000 and has spent over a decade advancing arts education, nonprofit management, and cultural programming. As the Associate Director of Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County, he gets to play a key role in supporting artists, developing community-driven initiatives, and expanding access to artistic opportunities.

His commitment to social justice and cultural preservation is reflected in his work as a musician, performer, and organizer. He is the Co-Founder of Mucho Gusto Fest, Co-Founder, Composer, and Lead Singer of El Santo Golpe, Chair VP of the San Bernardino Arts Association (SBAA), and Partner at Division 9 Gallery. His experience includes organizing major cultural festivals such as MUCHO GUSTO FEST, Riverside Day of the Dead, and the annual celebration of The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture. Through his leadership, Ulises continues to advocate for vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable arts communities in San Bernardino County and beyond.

PROGRAMS DIRECTOR

willis@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Willis Salomon is a visual artist, photographer, and creative based in the Inland Empire and Los Angeles areas. He grew up in the IE area but has also spent time in Hawai’i. He studied Visual Communications from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles.

Prior to the Arts Connection, he spent his time in Los Angeles in commercial fashion, doing art direction, photography, wardrobe styling and set design. As well as a visual display artist in various retail locations.

Currently he is a freelance photographer, with a focus on fashion and product, as well as food and bev. And also consults for social media marketing for small businesses. If he’s not out exploring in the outdoors, he is working on his personal art practice which involves art installation and photography.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

hannah@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Hannah Velasco is a multidisciplinary artist whose journey into the arts began in middle school as merely a hobby. However, throughout high school, her paintings won awards in small competitions, consistently securing 3rd place and above. Upon her graduation she decided to pursue film and movies, which led her to The Garcia Center for the Arts. Hannah rekindled her passion for studio arts in 2021 by launching her own business called, Art by Hannah. In 2022, Arts Connection’s program, Arts Avenue, opened the doors for her to teach painting to students in the San Bernardino County School District. Watching the student’s excitement and hearing their stories ignited a passion in Hannah to reach beyond the schools.

Her ambition is to bridge communities through art, and through her involvement in art markets she feels she’s in the perfect position to reach her goal. This vibrant community of vendors and artists has become a cherished part of her journey, offering not just a platform for her work but a source of inspiration. Hannah Velasco stands as a testament to the power of art to unify and inspire.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR & CONTENT CREATOR

crystal@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Crystal Sepúlveda is an arts administrator, cultural producer, and community-centered programmer dedicated to fostering equitable and transformative arts initiatives. She serves as the Program Coordinator and Content Creator at Arts Connection - the Arts Council of San Bernardino, where she develops programs that support artists, expand arts access, and cultivate community engagement. Previously, she worked at the Museum of Latin American Art, leading initiatives like the Summer Sabor & Spirits Series and the Afro-Latinx Festival.

With over a decade of experience in higher education, Sepúlveda has served on the faculty of several dance departments, including UC Riverside and La Universidad de Sagrado Corazón, where she developed curricula that examine dance as a tool for activism and collective liberation. In addition to her work in arts administration and education, Sepúlveda is an interdisciplinary artist whose site-responsive and performance-based practice explores counter-narratives of place and land. Her work has been presented nationally and internationally, including at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Highways Performance Space, dança em foco Festival Internacional, and Centre Dürrenmatt, among others.

ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

dre@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Andrea “Dre” Bonales (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Rialto, California, with a primary focus on animation, film, and 35mm photography. She currently serves as the Arts Education Program Coordinator at Arts Connection, where she is dedicated to expanding arts education access to the community and creating career pathways for professional artists. Through her work, Dre advocates for the transformative power of the arts as she believes it builds community and enriches everyday life.

Dre is pursuing a B.F.A. in Entertainment Art & Animation at California State University, Fullerton. Her creative mission centers on supporting storytelling through digital media, with a special emphasis on fictional world-building. Through her involvement in Arts Connection’s Inland Film Festival, Dre is honored to uplift and celebrate the community that continually inspires and empowers her.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

bianca@artsconnectionnetwork.org

Bianca Gomez is a multimedia artist and creative organizer dedicated to uplifting communities through the arts. Passionate about fostering connection and creativity, Bianca believes in the power of art to bring people together, inspire change, and create safe spaces for expression. Through their work, they support creatives and cultivate opportunities for communities to thrive through shared artistic experiences.