T.E.A.M. Vacaville

Together Everyone Always Matters

ADULT BUDDY MANAGER, Candace Davina - I am a special needs mom of 3 and I have been with Team Vacaville since the beginning. My oldest started in the youth group and is now an alumni participant. I recently became a board member with Team Vacaville. I was the Vice President of North Bay Regional Center for one year and I am a special education paraeducator with the district. I’m dedicated and compassionate about serving the special needs community and in the future I would love to start an adult day program

TEEN BUDDY MANAGER, Angelica Vargas - Everyone calls me Angi! I have a case of Peter Pan Syndrome so I thought, “whats the best way to never grow up, get paid to play!” I grew up in Fresno and I’ve worked in the special needs field since I was 16, that is when I found my passion for working with people of all abilities! We all have needs and we all have gifts and when we work together anything is possible. I currently work 3 jobs in the special ed field and am a board member for a special needs non profit. I aspire to teach special ed preschool, obtain my BCBA, and my ultimate dream is to run my own non profit agency. My self care consist of the 15 minutes I get in the coffee line at Dutch bros and the hour a month I get doing my nails!

T.E.A.M. Vacaville Mission

TREASURER, Joanna Recinos - Bio Coming Soon 

BOARD ADVISOR & FOUNDER TEAM VACAVILLE, Christa Poe - I have always had a passion for special needs children.  As a child, I started learning basic Sign Language with the help of my grandmother, who was a special education teacher.  I served 10 years in the military and eventually got out with the rank of Staff Sergeant.  I have also been in the construction industry for about 23 years working as a project manager and estimator, building both residential and multi-million dollar commercial buildings.  I have held the position of President in several non-profit organizations, where my focus was inclusion, support, communication and fun.  I have three kids, two of them are now adults. and one is a teenager. I originally partnered with Erca Hurtado with Team Dixon with the hopes of creating a local program for my daughter to participate in that would allow her to have friends and do fun and meaningful events.  My disabled adult daughter has multiple disabilities and she has taught me so mush about how to support those with different abilities and needs. TEAM Vacaville will be a place where Together Everyone Always Matters

SECRETARY, Adriana Gabriel - I was raised in Solano County and I am a Special Needs mama. My passion for the Special Needs community started from a young age. I used to babysit my neighbor who had significant medical needs and then I went on to volunteer with Best Buddies in High School. I went to school at Solano Community College and earned my Associates in Human Services and I currently work in the Human Service field right here in Solano County. I believe in kindness. You never know what kind of life other’s walk and often times, most of us just need a kind interaction to keep going. Be that person for someone! With that being said, I hope I can bring a friendly face to TEAM Vacaville. I will always cheer your child on and support as I can! I like to think that I am approachable so please come chat with me! When I am not working, you’ll find me hanging out with my kid’s, checking out community events, baking (a huge passion of mine) and doing fun crafts with my kids at home - usually with an iced coffee in hand and fun seasonal earrings on! I’m so proud to be apart of TEAM Vacaville and I hope you always know that you matter! 

VICE PRESIDENT, Annie Ndama- I was raised in Solano County and have worked with children and adults with special needs since I was 16 years old. Becoming a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) in my early college years was the first time I was introduced to behavior therapy and ABA. Working in this field sparked my interest to learn more about the legal implications that influenced the disabled community. After a few years of being an RBT, I started working at a nonprofit that focused on supporting progressive policies in the state. One of those policy areas included disability rights. I later became the disability rights policy lead and had the privilege of advocating for some impactful legislation. I joined TEAM Vacaville in October 2021 as an adult volunteer and have since held the title of Social Media Manager, Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator, and now Vice President. There is an unexplainable joy that comes from being amongst everyone who takes a part in making TEAM Vacaville what it is! In my free time I enjoy dancing, being outdoors, and spending time with my dog!

TEAM Vacaville Board Members

PRESIDENT, Barbara Galyen - My love for the special needs community began when I was young, where serving and assisting in the special education classes in elementary school became a safe place. Little would I know that I would become a special needs parent with my oldest son, Austin. Austin's love for life and learning continues to inspire me, especially as he transitions into adulthood. We have been blessed to be a part of the Team Dixon and Team Vacaville communities since moving to Vacaville in 2015. I was immediately inspired by the community and relationships I witnessed evolve within my son and his peers. Professionally, I have worked within the special needs community for over 20 years- as a preschool teacher, paraprofessional and behavior specialist. I received my master's in clinical counseling, emphasizing the unique needs of special needs families. It is my belief that we can create an environment that allows our children to flourish and be seen, while developing peer relationships. I am thankful to serve this organization, with the continued support of my husband and three children along for the ride! 

The primary focus of Team Vacaville is to provide opportunities to children with special needs in the form of linking/partnering with organizations in Northern California, as well as offering events, recreational sports, and community activities exclusive to Team Vacaville. Our goal is also to provide a virtual and physical "meeting" place for families to share their struggles and victories with other parents who understand and relate.

T.E.A.M Vacaville believes that its the ABILITY that really matters with our children, and that by working together with other "buddies", family members, and community partners we can overcome some of the challenges special needs children face and break down the barriers that have limited the access to sports and community activities.