CSA is thrilled to announce that two of our staff are being honored at The Mountain View Chamber of Commerce 30th Annual Celebration of Leaders & Athena Awards on May 16th, 2025. Earlene Minnis, Senior Nutrition Site Manager, will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award and Sarah Townsend-Handley, Development Associate, will be receiving the Young ATHENA Award.

Earlene has devoted over 30 years of distinguished service to the County of Santa Clara, where she has been a passionate advocate and leader in Senior Nutrition Programs. Throughout her career, Earlene has worked tirelessly to enhance the health, dignity, and well-being of older adults in the community by ensuring access to nutritious meals and supportive services. Her deep knowledge of senior services, combined with her unwavering commitment to public service, has made a lasting impact on countless lives. Earlene is recognized not only for her expertise and leadership, but also for her compassionate approach and dedication to improving the quality of life for the county’s aging population. Her legacy is one of care, service, and community empowerment.

Sarah Townsend-Handley, born and raised in Orange County, California, studied music education at Chapman University, where she graduated in 2022. After graduating, Sarah relocated to Mountain View, where she co-founded Musicians of Color Association (MoCA), a grassroots organization focused on radically supporting systemically marginalized communities through the arts. She employs revolutionary tools including storytelling and the creation of third spaces to foster healing, connection, and empowerment. Sarah actively applies a community-driven framework in all the organizations she engages with, fostering interconnectedness and interdependence.

Vaishali Bhagwat has been a dedicated CSA volunteer for 15 years, and this recognition is a small token of the immense gratitude we feel for her support at the senior nutrition site. Volunteers like her make our work possible, and we are so fortunate to have her on our team. 

“These wonderful women have been absolutely critical in carrying out CSA’s mission, with a particular focus on meeting the needs of vulnerable community members,” says CSA Executive Director Tom Myers. “And both Earlene and Sarah serve as role models of leadership for those working in social services and for everyone in this community.”