Staff

Nicholas (Nico) Wright (he/him), director
Nico worked for many years at Casa de los Amigos, a Quaker Peace Center in Mexico City, where he practiced Hospitality, and worked to build community and receive groups and guests into Friends’ peacework. Nico is a member of Mexico City Friends Meeting. His daughter Agnita is a junior at San Lorenzo Valley High School.

Nico Wright

Ben Hofvendahl (he/him), Maintenance Technician
Ben’s experience in forestry, construction, fire mitigation and permaculture will make him an excellent Maintenance Technician. He is married to Thistle (they/them) and they have a daughter Emmylou and a son Robin. Thistle and Ben were wed in the Redwood Circle at Quaker Center in 2022.

Emmylou, Ben & Thistle

Cindy Bangs is Quaker Center’s Office and Hospitality Manager. She has lived in Hawaii, New Mexico, California and elsewhere, and prior to QC, lived and worked at the Dharma Treasure Meditation Retreat Center in Cochise, Arizona. Cindy enjoys helping care for the groups, guests and animals here, and she brings Buddhist sensibilities and experience to Quaker Center.

Cindy

Carlos Angulo (he/him), Maintenance Assistant
Carlos grew up in Santa Cruz and is interested in communication, music, dance, movement, and good food. He lives in Lompico.

Carlos

The Wilson Fishers returned to their home in Vermont in 2022 after three years as co-directors. Bob and Susan say, “It has been a truly dramatic and rewarding three years for us in the Santa Cruz mountains. We are so happy to have met, worked with and befriended so many Western, Eastern, Central and International Friends!”

Bob & Susan

After five years as the indomitable QC Maintenance Technician, Jesse Keesaw and his wife Michelle have decided to take their growing family (Malaya, Quinn and ­­­­­­­­Callum) and move on to a new chapter in their lives. We miss them already.

Some of the Keesaw Family