Manuel Chavez, joined the board after engaging with Coastal Corridor Alliance in 2023 by collaborating in community events, nature walks, and more. Committed to enhancing public parks and infrastructure in Westside Costa Mesa, Manuel advocates for partnerships with local organizations to support families and youth. Raised in Westside Costa Mesa, Manuel attended local public schools, including Estancia High School, where he became involved with the Save Our Youth (SOY) program. SOY is a non-profit supporting 7th-12th grade students in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Currently, he works as its Outreach and Programs Manager. He pursued higher education at UC Irvine, studying Political Science and Religious Studies. One of his most recent past accomplishments includes being Costa Mesa’s youngest elected Council member at the age of 23. He was then re-elected in 2022.