Tina Tyler-O’Shea is the Executive Director of Blue Zones Project® – Mendocino County. Community well-being has been the mission of her last 19 years of work in public health, serving youth, children, and families in partnership with community organizations and leaders to improve health conditions for low-income and vulnerable populations. Tina holds a Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University, which she attained in her mid-forties. She has a lived experience with marginalized and under-resourced communities and the impact that policies, systems, and the environment have on personal choice.

Tina is an athlete, a mother, grandmother, wife, sister, aunt, great aunt, and mentor, and loves the outdoors, fishing, gardening, cooking, and adventures.

My Power 9

If I had to choose just one Power 9®, it would be Purpose.

Return to Our Community

Michelle Hutchins serves as the Organization Lead for Blue Zones Project Mendocino County. She brings a strong background in education to the project. After completing several degrees at Humboldt State University, including a Bachelors in Art Education in 1991 and a Masters in Computers and Technology in Education in 2002, she began her career championing for substantial changes in education. After 24 years as a teacher, university instructor, principal, and superintendent of rural schools, she ran for and was elected to Mendocino County Superintendent of Schools in 2018. Since elected, Michelle has worked tirelessly to ensure all children experience a high-quality, personalized education preparing them to thrive in an ever-changing world.  

Michelle joined the Blue Zones Project in Mendocino County because she believes in the power of small changes to the physical environment that assist individuals to make healthier choices. During her work as County Superintendent, she initiated contact with the Blue Zones Project in hopes of having the county office of education become a certified worksite. Joining Blue Zones Project is a natural fit, as she says, “Helping communities embrace their potential is what drives my work. The Blue Zones Project uses practices steeped in research that improve the overall health and economy of a community. I am excited to add to this effort.”  Michelle owns a small ranch in Willits and raises goats with her husband and two children.

My Power 9

Her favorite Power 9 (this week) is Move Naturally. “Because of the season, all the things we do to prepare for the weather change is an opportunity to move the body in meaningful ways. Bring attention to your work!” 

Return to Our Community

Azucena Chavez-Huerta is the Engagement Lead at Blue Zones Project® – Mendocino County. Azucena’s background is working with Mendocino County Health and Human Services in the Community Wellness Program. Azucena has worked on the CalFresh Healthy Living Program, the Tobacco Control Program, Tobacco Retail License Program, and the Oral Health Program. For the past five years, she has dedicated her time building relationships with schools, social organizations, tribal communities, policymakers, and health organizations in Mendocino County. As a mother of three children, she understands the importance of nutrition and obesity prevention. Her work has focused on developing nutrition classes at schools, family resource centers, and after-school programs. Her passion is working with youth and families on living a healthy life with a focus on eating foods that nourish your body and being active. She has also worked to promote and help develop tobacco cessation programs by collaborating with social and health organizations in Mendocino County. 

My Power 9

My Power 9® is Family First.

Return to Our Community

Lucy Bartholomew’s passion for community enrichment and food sovereignty brought her to Mendocino County, briefly in 2013 and then permanently in 2015. Lucy believes that all people deserve access to safe, healthy, and fun spaces to play, appropriate places to live, and desirable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food that was grown or produced in a way that didn’t make anyone’s life worse.  

Lucy’s career has been dedicated to food justice, land access, placemaking, and health equity. She has worked as an Environmental Justice Educator, Farmer, Naturalist, Coordinator of a network of 60 community and school gardens, Manager of a county-wide farm-to-school program, Manager of a COVID-19 education and grant program, and Coordinator of a walk and bike accessibility program, among other roles. She holds a degree in Environmental Studies from the University of the Pacific and is an MPA Candidate at Sonoma State University.

Lucy lives in an intentional community devoted to self-sufficiency that inspires her to model the sustainable lifestyle she hopes will become commonplace. 

Return to Our Community

Michelle Duarte serves as the Senior Event & Office Specialist for Blue Zones Project® – Mendocino County. Raised here in Mendocino County, Michelle is excited to give back to her community by creating an environment where making the healthy choice is also the easy choice. 

Prior to joining Blue Zones Project, Michelle served as the Community Engagement and Coalition Coordinator for the Tobacco Prevention Program, supporting local tobacco prevention initiatives. She has also worked for Children and Family Services in Ventura County, and Northern Circle Indian Housing Authority managing the Rental and Emergency Assistance Programs for Native communities. For the past 10 years, Michelle has continued her journey by following her purpose of helping people to become happy, healthy individuals through a balanced lifestyle. 

My Power 9

My favorite of the Power 9® are Moving Naturally and Purpose. In my free time I enjoy hiking, painting, soccer, basketball, Zumba, cooking, and outdoor adventures with loved ones.

Return to Our Community