Pacific View & Encinitas Friends of the Arts.
The aging, former elementary school at the Pacific View site acquired by the City of Encinitas required a multimillion-dollar renovation to transform it into an arts and culture center. During Fall 2020, the City of Encinitas conducted a survey to confirm that this was what our community wants. Out of the 471 participants in the survey, 73.67% agreed. After waiting for a non-profit to set forward to activate the center, it was finally determined that the city would take over this responsibility and funds were allocated to make the site safe for occupancy. It was advocacy by Encinitas Friends of the Arts that worked to make this happen by preparing a vision document, performing public relation awareness and by constantly attending meetings to speaking out for need to move forward.
Now, Encinitas Friends of the Arts continues their support of Pacific View Arts Center with private fundraising, information dissemination, (for examples in calls for teachers and progress reports) and with continuing advocacy for the facility by the board members to be fully funded and staffed to reach excellence of this.
It is our belief that having an arts and culture center for Encinitas will define the cultural life of our community. At the heart of this new development is Art Education for all. We believe that prioritizing communal experiences and cross sector development with a strong need to encourage innovation will create a gathering place for both locals and cultural tourists.
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Pacific View Art & Culture Center Advisory Team
James Halliday
James Halliday is currently the Executive Director of A Reason To Survive (ARTS), a creative youth development nonprofit and community arts center located in National City, CA, serving youth and families across the South County region of San Diego. In previous roles, James was Regional Manager of Collective Shift / LRNG, an MacArthur Foundation-funded education technology platform focused on credentialing out-of-school learning; before that, he was Program Director for the Education Synergy Alliance, where he advanced excellence and equity in school districts across San Diego.
After graduating from Stanford, James completed graduate studies abroad, then worked as a journalist for a decade in Eastern Europe and Turkey. James is a serial social entrepreneur, and a founder of the Impact Hub Istanbul (2010-2014) and Impact Without Borders (in San Diego, 2015-18).
Deeply committed to civic service, James is a board member of the San Diego Regional Arts and Culture Coalition, the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation and YouthWill; between 2017-21, he sat on the City of San Diego’s Citizens Advisory Board on Police-Community Relations. As a fifth generation San Diegan, James is proud of the region’s rich, diverse history and mix of cultures -- and passionate about the role of arts and culture in fostering a welcoming, dynamic, and inclusive binational region.
When he‘s not working, he’s cooking and spending time with family. When he‘s not inside, he’s hiking or playing tennis. When he‘s not here, he’s across the border -- in Valle de Guadalupe or at a Xolos match.
Marineke Vandervort
Growing up in Solana Beach, Marineke Vandervort had ties to the Club before she became the CEO. In high school, she joined their swim team where she became an exemplary athlete, earning a scholarship to Colorado State University. While studying for her bachelor’s in Colorado, she returned to the Club every summer to teach swim and stay connected to the organization and its mission.
After graduating from college and a year abroad, she became the Club’s Aquatics Department Manager for five years. Her work ethic, passion for the cause, and commitment to the community impressed the CEO, and Marineke was promoted to HR Director. She worked full-time while attending UCSD at night and taking care of her two children, both under the age of five. She went on to earn her Professional Human Resources Management certificate from UCSD, her Non-Profit Management and Supervisory Skills certificate from Brandman University, and she completed the prestigious Harvard Business School Not-For-Profit Business Management Program. Her dedication has also earned her the Administrative Staff of the Year award by The Professional Association of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, where one BGC staff is chosen amongst 52,000 candidates.
Her 30+ years in the Clubs have greatly impacted Marineke’s role as Chief Executive Officer, which she assumed in 2015. Her belief in the power of community, her multi-faceted knowledge of the Club, and her commitment to the Club’s mission have guided her time as CEO. She has led the Clubs to improve their programming, serve more members, increase customer satisfaction and employee morale, enhance the Clubhouse and program experience, and improve fundraising efforts. She is committed to ensuring that the Club is a center for the community, innovation, and positive youth development.
Rachel D. White, MPA
Rachel is a Federal Employee, who serves her community in various ways. She is a Past President of the Encinitas Lions Club and a current Board member. Rachel also serves as a Board Member at Large for the Carlsbad Playreader Theater; and is a CADEM Appointed Delegate for the District 18 of the State of CA. Rachel is a Commissioner on the City of Oceanside‘s Housing Commission. As a member of North Coast Church in Vista, CA; Rachel is a volunteer leader within the church and a Project Leader for the church’s bi-annual county wide service project program. She is a member of the North County African American Women’s Association and North San Diego County NAACP. She is a published author and an advocate for the arts, education and the underserved in our community.
Previous volunteer service areas include: San Diego County Fire Dept CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), working music festivals locally and in Europe, motivational speaking, and mentoring.
Rachel loves to travel, spend time with family and friends; and enjoys sleeping in when able.