Brandi Bluel was born in Red Bluff, CA, where she spent most of her youth until moving to Chico and Sacramento for College. She graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a BS in Sociology. Before becoming an employee, Ms. Bluel began work at Resources for Independent Living as an intern. As an employee she worked her way through all of the core programs at the center. When she left RIL in 2021, she was the Program Manager. Leaving was very difficult, as she had forged many relationships. However she felt the step-up to Grant Administrator for the Traumatic Brain Injury Program for the Department of Rehabilitation would be beneficial to her career path. Ms. Bluel is honored and excited to return to RIL as the Executive Director in 2022 to carry on the passion she has for the Independent Living Movement. In her spare time, she enjoys playing card and board games with her friends and family; traveling; trying new restaurants; going to concerts; and spending time with her two rescue dogs, Ireland and Zion.

I have always enjoyed working with people who wish to improve the quality of their life. Everyone who comes to RIL for service is looking for just that person who can assist them achieve their goals. Both as an IL Specialist for almost two months and as RIL’S Shelter Plus Care Case Manager for over a decade, many of RIL’s consumers have succeeded in finding and retaining their housing for over ten years. Some got their benefits approved, while others returned to work and were able to keep their benefits. I am fortunate to have the job that allows me to explore and provide available options for the consumer. I provide them with information, peer advising and ensure consumers are well informed so they can make an informed decision. Not every consumer achieves his or her goals and that’s o.k. too. I tell them that it’s important to accept the challenge and once we do this then it all unfolds one step at a time.

Angie was raised in Sacramento most of her life. She attended Sacramento City College and studied Journalism. She is an activist and an advocate for people in disadvantaged communities.

Angie became a volunteer at a community-based organization in July of 2019 where she recently became cadre to the cause of advocating for low-wage and unrecognized workers. In September, the organization Angie volunteers for was invited to participate in The Mayor’s Commission on Climate Change to represent the hard to reach communities where she met RIL’s Deputy Director April Wick. She just recently joined RIL in January of 2020 as the Personal Care Attendant Registry guru.

Angie’s hobbies are cooking, reading, learning new things and spending time with friends and family. She also hopes to go back to school to continue her education in the field of journalism and earn a degree.

Cory has been a consumer since 2012, and now maintains employment at RIL! Cory finds RIL to be very passionate about helping people with disabilities. With the help of RIL Cory secured housing and is now in charge of his own finances!

“RIL has been instrumental to me living independently with a disability.”

Joe Wilson is the Assistive Technology Coordinator at RIL and previous YLF delegate. He moved to Sacramento in 2010 and completed his Bachelors Degree in Communication Studies at California State University, Sacramento in 2016.

Joe discovered a passion for helping others through volunteering as a crisis counselor for the California Youth Crisis Line. Joe has an interest in writing and operates a blog to encourage others to step outside the comfort zone.

His goal is to one day travel the country as a life coach.

Rebekah was born in raised in California. She received her BA in Psychology through California State University, Northridge. She also completed most of her graduate studies at Grand Canyon University but put that on the backburner while raising her son. She has a passion for learning and plans to complete her graduate studies as a personal goal in the future. She has worked in the disabilities service field for over 14 years. Her passion to work in this field truly comes from growing up with a grandmother who was a special education teacher, Special Olympics volunteer, and Sunday school teacher for adults with developmental disabilities.

In 2008, she decided to move to Tucson, AZ where her brother lived. For almost 11 years she worked at Chapel Haven West, a program that provided residential, day programming, and supported living services for adults with developmental disabilities, empowering them to live independent and self-determined lives. There she was the Supported Living Program Manager. However, she always dreamed of moving back to CA. In 2019 she and her family made the move, and she became a Program Manager at an adult day program for United Cerebral Palsy of Sacramento and Northern CA. She is excited to continue her career with RIL and apply her knowledge, experience, and skills in her new position as the Program Manager. Seeing those we support having meaningful and engaged experiences everyday brings so much joy and fulfillment to her life.

Most of Rebekah’s spare time is spent with her family. Her and her family enjoy camping, building Lego sets, playing board games, taking road trips, and playing with their chihuahua dog named Izzy. One interesting fact about Rebekah is she is a huge Wonder Woman fan and has been collecting for over twenty years.

My credo and joy in life have been to serve under-represented populations by advocating for the socio-economic independence, equality, accessibility of services and housing for persons with disabilities.

I started working at RIL in February of 2021. I have learned so much more about Sacramento even though I have lived in Sacramento my whole life. I love helping people. Even pointing people in the right direction or to the right person is something I truly love doing.

I have over 5 years of customer service experience and about 4 years of office assistant experience. I have two Associate degrees, one in Social Science and one in Liberal Arts-both from American River College in Sacramento.

Hello, my name is Tony Vi and I am currently the Bookkeeper at RIL. Apart from being a Bookkeeper at RIL, I am also a YO! Volunteer at California Foundation for Independent Living Centers (CFILC).

I graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accountancy. Before attending California State University, Sacramento, I attended Sacramento City College and obtained two associates degree in Business Administration and Social Science.

As I attended in Sacramento City College, I joined the Business Club and took part in a leadership role which I became Vice President of Fundraising. When I transfer to California State University, Sacramento, I joined Accounting Society and became the Director of Information Systems. Moreover, I was also an Instructional Student Assistant for the College of Business which I helped tutor students in their Business Courses.

As a person with disability, I believe people with disabilities should have the freedom to make choices in order to achieve their goals and be able to live in communities where they aren’t discriminated.

In my free time when I’m not on the clock, I like to hang out with my friends and family.

Diana has worked for RIL since March 2018. Diana heard about RIL through a local caregivers’ union. RIL has helped Diana increase her job skills and she has picked up new tasks such as filing and copying. In her spare time Diana enjoys cooking, sports and being a caregiver to various people with disabilities.