San Diego American Indian Youth Center - Contact

San Diego American Indian Youth Center
2560 1st Avenue, Suite 103
San Diego, CA 92103
Tel: (619) 531-1938

Staff Biography:

Christopher Scott (Youth & Family Services Coordinator)

My name is Christopher Scott. I am a tribal member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, and a descendant of the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians and the Mayo people. My great-grandparents are Clementine Rodriguez Calac from La Jolla and Jose Moro Calac from Rincon, and parents to my grandmother, Leonidas Grace Calac. My grandfather, Charles Henry Muñoz is Mayo Indian. My mother, Virginia Muñoz-Scott, is a tribal elder of Rincon.

I was born and raised in the San Diego area, where I was brought up with my Native traditions. I am a father of two children, the grandfather of eight grandchildren, great-grandfather to one, and I have many family members who have been leaders in the Native community. Prior to my work with Native people, I was an executive in Corporate America as a drug store manager in the Bay Area, and I managed the #1 retailer in the world. Today, I work with the San Diego American Indian Health Center/Youth Center with Outreach/Public Relations and as the Youth & Family Services Coordinator. This has allowed me the opportunity to work with my Native community, and introduced me to grass dancing and gourd dancing. I also sit on several different committees in the HIV community, where I represent Native American people. HIV education and outreach is very important to me, as a way to promote healthy mind, body, and spirit living amongst Native people.

Daniel Domaguin, MSW (Youth Center Therapist/Health & Fitness Educator)

Good morning, I'm Daniel Domaguin. I was raised in the South Bay by my first-generation Ilokano immigrant parents and extended family from Pangasinan Province, the Philippines. Although I'm a SoCal boy at heart, I decided to escape to the tundra of the Midwest for my higher education. I earned my Bachelors of Arts from Oberlin College, a small liberal arts school outside of Cleveland, OH, and my Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan. Throughout my higher education experience, my passion was working with and serving communities of color and other un(der)served peoples. I was intimately involved with activism and educational activities on-campus, and youth development (including tutoring, project coordination, leadership training and mentoring) off-campus.

I'm overjoyed to continue my work with the next generation of leaders here at the Youth Center. I serve as the Youth Center Therapist, providing crisis intervention, individual/family/group counseling and other behavioral health services as needed. I also teach a weekly gung fu/self defense class, lead Health Circle discussions, and cook healthy Wednesday night dinners. If you haven't joined us for these and the plethora of other activities we provide at the Youth Center, I hope you can come for an intake and be a part of our family soon!

Erica Charley (Youth Counselor/Administrative Assistant)

Yáát'ééh! Gamu! Hello! My name is Erica Charley and I am one of the Youth Counselors here at SDAIHYC. Being a Youth Counselor has been one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had! I'm so blessed to be a part of this Youth Center with my amazing co-workers and phenomenal youth who come to the center everyday! I am a senior at San Diego State University and am Navajo and Hualapai from Arizona! My hobbies include going to concerts, listening to music, watching sports, playing volleyball and doodling!

Gabriel Mendoza (Youth Counselor)

Hello, my name is Gabriel Mendoza and I was born in Oakland, California. I am half Mexican, half Cuban and was raised in San Diego. I am a Youth Counselor that is currently enrolled in San Diego City College. I plan on transferring to SDSU to pursue my major in child development and earn a Masters in Special Education. Eventually, I would like to become an owner of a tutoring business that gives every family a tutor that can work with any child whether it is special education or just regular math. Then, the next-door over would be my own martial arts school. I am a blue belt student under the Clark Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu team. Through working at this wonderful Youth Center, I have learned the joy of teaching and enlightening the youth of our Native and urban community.

Joe Tyon (Youth Counselor/Outreach Specialist)

Hello everyone, my name is Joe Tyon. I am Oglala Lakota Sioux from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. I have been working with Native American communities for the last ten years, both on and off the reservation. I am proud to be alcohol and drug free. I try to balance the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of my life, and I respect people from all walks of life. I am a determined positive person and my passion is working with and helping the youth and my Native people. I've worked in the urban setting as a mentor and tutor for Native American youth, helping provide support and guidance to them. I have also been very active with the youth on the reservation. I've coached boys basketball at Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota, and coached coed basketball and softball teams on the Sycuan Reservation through the Intertribal Sports Program.

I am very happy and honored to be a Youth Counselor/Outreach Specialist at the San Diego American Indian Health Youth Center. I am very thankful and grateful for the opportunity to continue working with the youth and the great staff here at the Youth Center. I will continue doing work that makes a difference in the lives of the American Indian youth because I believe that a true leader always puts their people first.

Daniella Robles (Cleaning Specialist)

Hello everyone, my name is Daniella Robles and I was born here in good ole' San Diego, California. I am part Puerto Rican, French, Mexican, and Native American. I am the Cleaning Specialist here at the Youth Center. I am currently enrolled in San Diego City College then plan on transferring to SDSU to pursue my major in Ethnic Studies. My goal is to become a firefighter. Along with being a Cleaning Specialist, I am also a youth member who participates in activities and serves as a mentor, helping the youth with tutoring, organizing or other assistance needed around the Youth Center. I have been an employee since late November '09 and I am so thankful that I got a position and I hope to grow more and more each day I walk into the San Diego American Indian Health/Youth Center.

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