Maria del Rosario Biddenback
Professor
Associate Degree Nursing Program, Napa Valley College
Bay Area

Originally born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Maria del Rosario Biddenback was the first in her family to attend college. She is a Professor at Napa Valley College, where she mentors students through their PUENTE program. She has held leadership and management positions in the nursing profession and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing Practice.

Ernestina Carrillo 
Program Director
Community Behavioral Health Services, San Francisco Department of Public Health
Bay Area

Ernestina Carrillo is a Mexican-American born and raised in Texas. She is the first in her family to graduate from high school, college, and graduate school. She is now the program manager within the Community Behavioral Health Services of the San Francisco Department of Public Health and serves on the Board of Directors of Familias Unidas.

Graciela Castillo
Legislative Director
Assemblymember Jerry Hill
Northern California

A California native, Graciela Castillo grew up in Santa Ana and attended college at the University of Southern California, where she graduated with a degree in English and Communications. She currently serves as Legislative Director to Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair Jerry Hill. Since her arrival in Sacramento as an Assembly Fellow in 2003, Graciela has worked on a diverse array of policy issues, from protecting women’s access to birth control to helping cities expand their use of solar power. 

Patricia Castorena
Staff Attorney
Center for Employment Training
Bay Area

Patricia D. Castorena was born and raised in San Jose, California. She is a first generation college graduate from Santa Clara University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Sociology. She is a staff attorney with the Center for Employment Training's Immigration and Citizenship Program, and just recently initiated her term as Vice President of Program Development in the Executive Committee of the Latinas Coalition of Silicon Valley.

Beverly Correa
Managing Director
OBDC Small Business Finance
Bay Area

Beverly Correa was raised in Newark, NJ and was the first in her family to attend college. She studied International Relations and Latin American Studies at Boston University and earned her BA in Economics from Rutgers University. Ms. Correa is the Managing Director at OBDC Small Business Finance and has helped it grow to become one of the state's largest alternative small business lenders.

Lali De Aztlan
Vice-President
Guerra & Associates
Greater Los Angeles

A Latina from Coachella Valley, Lali De Aztlan attended UCLA for her undergrad and USC for her Master's in Business Administration, and is currently the Vice President of Business Development at Guerra & Associates. She is the co-founder and member of organizations such as, Democratic Women of the Desert and Graduate Women in Business, which cater to women politically, socially and economically. 

Delia de la Vara
Vice President, California Region
National Council of La Raza
Greater Los Angeles

Delia de la Vera earned a Bachelor of Arts in Regional Development, Latin America Studies and Spanish at the University of Arizona. She is the California Region Vice President for the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), and the Producer of the NCLR ALMA Awards.

Alma El Issa
Chief Marketing Officer
Parent Insititute for Quality Education (PIQE)
Central Valley

Alma El Issa, originally from Michioacan, Mexican, graduated from California State University, Fresno with a dual Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Chicano Studies, and a minor in Women Studies. She was the Executive Director at Parent Institute for Quality Education, and has most recently become their first Chief Marketing Officer.

Abigail Garcia
Educator
Green Dot Public Schools
Greater Los Angeles

Abigail Garcia graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. She earned a Master's degree in English and received her teaching credentials from Loyola Marymount University. She is a teacher at Animo Leadership Charter High School and is currently working on her 2nd Master's degree in Bilingual Education as well as her Administrative Credential at LMU.

Alejandra Garcia 
Central Valley

Alejandra Garcia first arrived in Bakersfield in 1994. She received her Associate of Arts degree in Communication from Bakersfield College and plan to transfer to California State Unversity, Bakersfield in the near future.

Susana Gonzalez
Chief of Staff 
City of Long Beach Councilmember Robert Garcia
Greater Los Angeles

Susana Gonzalez was born and raised in the border region of Tijuana-San Diego. She was the first in her family to complete an education beyond high school. Ms. Gonzalez received an A.A from Southwestern College, a B.S. in Business Administration from Cal State San Marcos and a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Cal State Long Beach. She is now the Chief of Staff for Councilmember Robert Garcia in Long Beach.

Cynthia Vanessa Guerrero
Principal
CG Consulting Group, Inc
Bay Area

Cynthia V. Guerrero earned a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a minor in English Literature from Mount St. Mary's College. She graduated with a Master's in Public Policy, Economics and International Relations from Pepperdine University. She is the Founding Principal of CG Consulting Group, Inc. and has experience in policy/politics and the investment securities industry. 

Maria Guadalupe Jaime
Deputy Director
Central Valley Children's Services Network
Central Valley

Lupe Jaime is a Deputy Director of Central Valley Children's Services Network, Fresno County's Resource and Referral Agency. She holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and a Master of Cross Cultural Education, as well as a Child Development Director's Permit. She is also an Infant & Toddler Special Projects Trainer for West Ed., and a Child Development Professor at Reedley City College.

Lilia Ledezma
Public Outreach Manager/Partner
Community Consultants Group
Bay Area

Lilia Ledezma is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Financial Administration from Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Campus Chihuahua. She has numerous civic affiliations, including being a founding member of the Latino Community Council of Redwood City. 

Dina Lomeli
Planning Technician
City of Fontana
Inland Empire

Dina Lomelia received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of California, Riverside. She interned for the City of Fontana's Economic Development Department, was later hired as a Development Services Representative, and was most recently promoted to the Planning Division.

Maria Lopez-Cisneros
Principal
Napa Valley Unified School District
Northern California

Maria Lopez-Cisneros was born in Jalisco, Mexico and moved to the USA at the age of 10. She is the first in her family to have graduated from a four-year university with a B.A., Master's and an Administrative Credential. She was a high school counselor (and basketball coach) for the Napa Valley Unified School District, where she later became an Assistant Principal for seven years, and most recently she is the Principal at Valley Oak High School.

Nereyda Maroot
Teacher
Fresno City College
Central Valley

Nereyda Maroot, a tenured professor of all levels of Spanish, specializes in classes for native speakers of Spanish at Fresno City College. She earned a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Spanish Literature at the California State University, Fresno. She was born, raised, and educated in Mexico. She has also studied and traveled in Chile and Spain.

Laura Peralta
Legislative Deputy
City of L.A. Councilman Bernard Parks
Orange County

Laura Pelalta is a native of Codoba, Argentina but grew up in Anaheim, CA and attended the University of California, Irvine where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Political Science. She graduated from USC's School of Policy, Planning, and Development with a Masters in Public Administration. She has worked for Congresswoman Lucille Royball-Allard and has interned at the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs under President Barack Obama. She currently works as Legislative Deputy for LA City Councilman Bernard Parks.

Emily Preciado-Fonseca
Advertising Manager, Multicultural Markets
Farmers Insurance
Greater Los Angeles

Emily Preciado-Fonseca earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with an emphasis in Media Management from San Diego State University. She is currently the Advertising Manager of Multicultural Marketing for Farmers Insurance.

Aracely Rodriguez
Binational Affairs/ Latino Engagement Initiative Manager
Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest
San Diego Area

Aracely Rodriguez serves a Binational Affairs and Latino Engagement Initiative Manager for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest. She received her B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University and is currently working on her last semester for her Doctorate in Human Sexuality from the Institute of Advanced Study in Human Sexuality in San Francisco.

Claudia Rodriguez
Esquire
The Law Offices of Claudia Rodriguez
Greater Los Angeles

Claudia Rodriguez was born and raised in Mexico City. She moved to the United States at age 18. After taking the GED and receiving her high school diploma, Ms. Rodriguez enrolled in a community college. She recieved her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts and transferred to Cal State Dominguez Hills, where she earned her B.A in Business Administration and Master's in Behavioral Science. She received her Juris Doctor degree in 2004 and passed the CA Bar Exam in 2006.

Erica Rosales
College Counselor
Greater Los Angeles

Erica Rosales is the founding teacher of Animo Leadership Charter High School, the first school in the Green Dot family. She is currently working as a consultant for three college access organizations: College Match, TELACU Upward Bound, and MOSTE.

Alejandra Sotelo-Solis
Vice Mayor, National City
Director, UC San Diego Community Law Project 
San Diego Area

Alejandra Sotelo-Solis was first elected to the National City Council in 2008 and is currently serving her 1st term as Councilmember/ Vice Major. She is also the Director of the UC San Diego Community Law Project. She is a member of the National City Kiwanis Club and the American Diabetes Association.

Victoria Breckwich Vasquez
Senior Manager, Community Health
City of Berkeley Public Health Division
Northern California

Victoria Breckwich Vasquez is a public health professional who received her Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where she assumed leadership positions with UC Berkeley's School of Public Health and with the City of Berkeley Public Health Division. She has served as a health educator for Children's Hospital, Kaiser Permanente, Health Net, and UC Berkeley but most recently founded a non-profit organization called SALUD Peru.

Danitza Villanueva
Publisher
Giving Back Magazine
San Diego Area

Danitza Villanueva was born in San Diego but grew up on both sides of the border. She is the first woman from her family to graduate from college. She has a degree in Fashion Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and a degree in Communications from San Diego Christian College. She now runs a successful bilingual binational magazine (Giving Back Magazine), and is the youngest member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Opera.

Lizzette Villegas
National Porgram Coordinator
MWH Americas, Inc.
Greater Los Angeles

Lizzette Villegas grew up in the City of Los Angeles and received a Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. She worked at the Early Academic Outreach Programs at UCLA and was most recently hired as the National Program Coordinator by MWH America's Inc.

Iris Zuñiga
Chief of Staff
Youth Policy Institute
Greater Los Angeles

Iris Zuniga was raised in Pacoima where she received her A.A. from Los Angeles Mission College and transferred to UCLA where she earned her B.A. in Sociology and Chicano Studies.  She earned her Masters of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge and is now the Chief of Staff for the Youth Policy Institute.