Sierra Schneider has made Santa Cruz County her chosen home for nearly 25 years. Sierra's career has been motivated equally by her care and love for the natural world and for the people in her community, and at different times in her career pathway she has embraced one or the other side of this coin through her work, sometimes both!
Sierra's early career was shaped by her personal experience attending residential camping programs as a kid, which ultimately led her to pursue holistic counseling psychology, specializing in adolescent mental health through mindfulness. Through teaching outdoor education and ropes courses at 5th and 6th grade Science Camp, managing K-12 STEM Programs at UC Santa Cruz, and completing a Master's in Holistic Counseling Psychology from John F. Kennedy University, Sierra has enacted her love of facilitating personal transformation in individuals and groups.
Sierra brings this love and appreciation for people and the natural environment into her work at United Way every day, as she meets folks throughout Santa Cruz County, connecting them with resources through the 211 Helpline, and working to support children and families as they face what life throws at them.
Sierra sits on the board of the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County, and is co-chair of Data Share Santa Cruz County steering committee.