“I am inspired by people who give back—people who volunteer their time and their talent for the good of others,” says Kathy Witkowicki, founder of the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance and the Sonoma Speaker Series.
It turns out Witkowicki, 70, is a bit of an inspiration herself—as her contributions to the community have earned her the 2024 Sonoma County Woman of the Year award, an honor presented annually by 3rd District state Sen. Bill Dodd (D-Napa).
A self-described “Jersey girl”—she moved from the East Coast to Sonoma in 1979—Witkowicki initially wanted to go into teaching after graduating high school in 1972. But after seeing her friends struggle to find employment with their teaching credentials she set her sights on nursing. That passion for health and human services were the first steps for Witkowicki on the path to establishing her first nonprofit organization.
In 1996, Witkowicki founded the nonprofit Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance—previously known as the Stand By Me Mentoring Program—with a mission to provide at-risk youth one-on-one mentoring. Witkowicki served as the executive director for 19 years, eventually stepped down in 2015. She still serves a board member.
Witkowicki went on to co-found the Sonoma Speaker Series in the fall of 2016. According to its website, the interview-style conversations are an attempt to foster civic engagement and community education. Speakers from a variety of professional backgrounds—politics, art, celebrity, sports, science, etc.—are featured throughout the series. Past speakers have included former U.S. Congresswoman Jackie Speier, New York Times columnist David Brooks, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jared Diamond and San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner, to name a few. Check out the wide array of speakers at sonomaspeakerseries.com.
Who are among your favorite Speaker Series guests?
San Francisco 49er team captain Fred Warner is definitely one of my favorite speakers. He was gracious, humble and engaging. Just an incredible young man who is not only a great role model and champion on the field, but off the field as well.
Who’s been an audience favorite?
Judging by the amount of time it took for tickets to sell out—58 minutes—I would have to say that Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr was a fan favorite. And close behind—four hours—was New York Times columnist and author David Brooks.
Share one memory that stands out from your nearly 20 years leading the Mentoring Alliance.
Perhaps it was the feeling I had after making my first mentor-mentee match back in 1996. I’m proud to say that 28 years later, Howard and Matt are still in each other’s lives.
Were you keen on moving to Sonoma from New Jersey?
It was not my choice. I came kicking and screaming because I do not like change. I decided I would give it one year and, if I didn’t like it, I was going back. My trepidation lasted two weeks. I loved the weather, loved my new neighbors, loved the sense of community, loved the wine and fell in love with Sonoma. I missed my East Coast family, but no, I’m never going back—and I’m never leaving Sonoma.
You’ve got five grandkids, ages 1 to 8—what do you do with that crew?!
I cheer them on at their sports games and I’m a fan in the audience at their theater performances. During the summer months our swimming pool gets a lot of activity. And when they spend the night, I love to read them their favorite books and tell them stories about my own crazy childhood.
Name a movie you could watch on repeat.
I love to laugh, so it would definitely be a comedy. Bridesmaids comes to mind. I just remember that movie making me laugh out loud from start to finish. As we know, laughter IS the best medicine!
If you were a non-human animal, which would it be?
I would be an elephant! After going on a safari and learning so much about wild animals, my absolute favorite were the elephants. They are a very social species, always traveling in herds. They are considered some of the best parents in the animal kingdom, fiercely nurturing and protective, not only of their own young but to all of the calves in the herd. They are also very smart, very loyal and they never forget! And after reading The Elephant Whisperer, I love them even more.
Any recommendations for local wine tasting?
I love showing off some of my favorite places to visitors from the East Coast. I like to stay local and support the wineries that are not only beautiful and welcoming but also those that have lent their support to my nonprofits over the years. Cline [Cellars] and Jacuzzi [Family Winery], owned and operated by the very generous Cline family, definitely fall into that category. When out and about wine tasting, it’s also very convenient that they are located directly across the street from each other.
