RIL is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board sets the strategic vision for the agency, hires and supervises the Executive Director, and monitors RIL’s fiscal health and policy compliance. Each board member may serve a total of three consecutive two-year terms.
RIL is currently recruiting new board members! If you are passionate about independent living and are interested in serving on RIL’s Board, please email board@ril-sacramento.org and you will be provided with an application and more information about our process for recruiting and onboarding new board members.
If you would like to provide feedback to the board as a whole or to individual board members, please send an email to board@ril-sacramento.org.
Board of Directors Roster Effective January 2019
Helen O’Connell
Helen O’Connell has received services from RIL as a consumer since 2003 and was a participant in RIL’s Transitional Living Center (TLC). She was elected RIL Board Chair in 2019. Helen also currently serves as President of Disability Organizing Group For Initiating Total Equality (DOGFITE), the member-run disability rights advocacy group hosted at RIL. Helen…
Margaret Johnson
During her semi-retirement Margaret Johnson decided to return to her love of independent living centers. Thus she joined RIL’s Board in 2019. Her passion for independent living grew out of the early days of the IL movement and has never let go. She believes people with disabilities, no matter the disability, are important members of…
Jeff Tardaguila
Jeffery Tardaguila is a Sacramento native who has returned to Sacramento after 25 years in Los Angeles working in the computer industry. Upon returning to Sacramento, Jeffery engaged in his community by attending Regional Transit board meetings, thus beginning his decades long transportation advocacy work. In 2008 Jeffery began attending Sacramento City College and connected…
Kim Lathrop
Kim Lathrop was born without arms or legs and knows the ins and outs of living every day with a disability. She is planning to attend CSUS in the fall to study Political Science to one day create policies that will continue improving the lives of people with disabilities. Kim is proud to serve as…
Francisco Godoy
Francisco has been a consumer of RIL since 1988. He graduated from CSUS with a degree in Social Work. He is a member of the Sacramento County IHSS Advisory Board. Francisco is very passionate about issues such as affordable, accessible housing; advocacy for the severely disabled individuals and peer counseling at UC Davis Medical Center…
Eric Harris
Eric Harris, Member Eric Harris is currently a legislative advocate with Disability Rights California. Most recently he was a legislative advocate with the California State NAACP. Mr. Harris is from Sacramento and attended Christian Brothers High School. He played on a National Championship wheelchair basketball team in high school as a member of the Bay…