General Meeting

Speakers
         Natalie Bowman
         Sandra Vargas

Speakers Bios
Sandra Vargas and Natalie Bowman first met while volunteering through ABCD’s Love Your Block, a community development initiative of the City of Lodi and the Lodi Chamber of Commerce. Their partnership began not in a boardroom, but in the community, working side by side to make East Lodi a better place. What started as a shared commitment to service has grown into nearly a decade of collaboration, demonstrating the power of two people united by a common purpose.

Joining them  is Jade, Natalie’s faithful service dog and partner, whose quiet presence is a reminder that community support comes in many forms.

Together, Sandra and Natalie have brought dance, art, and community pride to East Lodi through projects such as the “Soy Lodi” Mural on Lodi Avenue, Little Libraries, and the skate park art grant. They have helped nonprofits and grassroots organizations launch and strengthen their work by providing guidance on organizational development, sponsorships, and corporate formalities, including support for A New Lodi. They have also empowered residents by organizing legal workshops and distributing educational materials that help community members better understand their rights.

In addition to volunteering with Partners in Community (PIC), Natalie Bowman is an attorney with Bowman Law Practice (BLP), where she focuses on estate planning and civil litigation. Sandra Vargas also works at BLP while serving as President of the Greater Lodi Area Democrats (GLAD) and Vice Chair of the Chicano Latino Caucus of the California Democratic Party.

Sandra is the founder of Central Valley Arts and Culture, a nonprofit dedicated to using the arts as a catalyst for community engagement and education. Natalie played a key role in helping the organization obtain its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, allowing its work and impact to grow throughout the region.

Sandra is also the founder of Conchas with the Community, an initiative that helped bridge the gap between the Lodi Police Department, the Lodi Fire Department, and East Lodi’s Spanish-speaking community. Through this effort, she worked alongside the Lodi Police Department to establish the city’s first Citizens’ Police Academy in Spanish, creating greater access to civic engagement and strengthening trust between residents and public safety agencies.

Today, Sandra, Natalie, and Jade represent what can happen when people choose to serve first. Their partnership is built on the belief that art can inspire, education can empower, and collaboration can transform communities. Together, they continue to invest their time, talents, and professional expertise into creating a stronger, more connected Lodi, and they are honored to share their journey and vision with you.