Nominated by Senator Angelique Ashby

Rachel Rios is the Executive Director of La Familia Counseling Center, Inc. a community-based organization in Sacramento that offers a variety of programs and services to empower families and youth to succeed in their lives. La Familia is one of Sacramento’s Family Resource Centers and offers mental health services for children 0-21; they offer youth programs, health and wellness services, career, job and training opportunities and operate two centers serving the Sacramento area. In 2015 La Familia converted a closed elementary school into the Maple Neighborhood Center which provides a variety of programs and services and has been named an Envision Center by the Federal Housing and Urban Development and a Resiliency Hub by U.S. Homeland Security.

Over the last five years La Familia has been working on creating an Opportunity Center which is a multi-million-dollar facility offering job training, a health clinic, mental health services, and programs for children, youth and families. Ms. Rios has over 30 years of diverse experience working with youth and community issues. Prior to coming to La Familia Counseling Center, she had a career in Juvenile Justice serving as the Director of Juvenile Parole and then as the Director of The Department of Juvenile Justice. She also served as the Chair to California’s State Advisory Committee for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention until 2024 and is currently a Commissioner for the Sacramento Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Ms. Rios is a graduate of Sacramento State University with a degree in Criminal Justice. She has also completed the Women in Public Policy Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and the Non-Profit Leadership Program at the Harvard Kennedy School for Executive Education., as well as the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform Program at Georgetown University.

Nominated by Senator Sabrina Cervantes

Council Member Clarissa Cervantes is a mother and lifelong Riverside County resident who has devoted her career to empowering working families, fighting for social justice, and increasing participation in local, state, and national government.

Councilmember Cervantes was sworn in on July 13, 2021 for a 5 year term and is the first woman elected to represent Ward 2, the 2nd Latina and 2nd openly LGBTQ+ elected on the Riverside City Council. Making her election as Ward 2 City Councilmember a historic win for the City of Riverside.

She has delivered results by securing and approving millions of dollars and investments for Ward 2 and the city of Riverside through road repairs, new and improved libraries, affordable housing, parks and community center improvements, murals and neighborhood beautification, and beyond. She has also introduced and championed resolutions and local ordinances that have strengthened protections for immigrants and mixed-status families, and street vendors in the 12th largest city in California.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from California State University, Northridge and completed her Masters degree in Urban and Regional Planning from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Nominated by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel

Ana Karen Estrada (She/Her/Ella) is the Campaign Manager for California Environmental Voters, where she champions intersectional environmental policy that centers equity and justice. She also serves as a Los Angeles City Commissioner on the Commission on the Status of Women, appointed by Mayor Bass in May 2025. As one of the youngest commissioners, Ana is dedicated to advancing the commission’s mission to ensure the general welfare of women and girls in Los Angeles and to guarantee their full and equal participation in City government and civic engagement. A proud first-generation high school and college graduate, Ana earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Magna Cum Laude, from California State University, Northridge. Growing up in a working-class immigrant household in the San Fernando Valley as the eldest of four children, she has channeled her lived experience into powerful advocacy, not only for her community but also for the next generation of leaders who deserve to see themselves represented in every space. Ana is deeply passionate about creating opportunities for young people, particularly young women of color, and increasing representation across civic, political, and professional spaces. She has organized Youth Engagement Mixers for high school and college students, offering workshops on resumes, cover letters, and interviews, as well as free professional headshots to support internship and job applications. In February 2026, Ana served as a guest speaker for a virtual info session hosted by H.O.P.E. in partnership with the City of LA Mayor’s Office, sharing her experience as a commissioner to inspire other Latinas considering applying to boards and commissions. When the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrant families wreaked havoc in her community, Ana refused to stand by. Through the platforms she serves on and the networks she has built, she helped organize Know Your Rights Workshops to ensure immigrant communities had the information and tools to protect themselves and their families. She volunteered with Immigrants Are Los Angeles, delivering public comments before the County Board of Supervisors to urge the passage of resolutions providing financial support to families impacted by immigration raids and the devastating 2025 LA wildfires, many of whom were displaced and struggling to survive. She also made repeated trips to the City of San Fernando, where her father grew up, to urge city leaders to declare themselves a sanctuary city and to stand firmly in protection of their constituents and families. She serves on various boards, including Board Chair of Project Super Bloom, Membership Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, and a board member for the LA County Young Democrats.

Her organizing roots run deep, from her work as a Raíz Organizer for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles to her role as Senior Programs Coordinator for Alliance for a Better Community, and to her early civic service as a student representative for the Winnetka Neighborhood Council in 2019. Ana’s commitment to youth political activism has earned well-deserved recognition: she was named a Future History Latina Maker by H.O.P.E. (2023), Youth Activist of the Year by State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (2023), and received the California Enviro Voters’ Badass Green Award (2024). In everything she does, Ana strives to be the representation she once sought and to build the pathways she wishes had existed for her, for every young person in the San Fernando Valley and beyond.

Nominated by Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva

Genevieve Morelos is a Principal Consultant for the California Assembly Budget Committee where she crafts the State of California’s $348 billion annual budget as the lead on revenue and taxation, housing and homelessness, economic development, and other general government related issues. In that capacity she has crafted over 75 laws, including the reorganization of the state’s sales tax collection department, the reforming and expanding state’s housing and homelessness assistance program, the implementation of voter-approved recreational cannabis sales and licensing, and resolving the outcome of the court-ordered dissolution of local redevelopment agencies. Prior to the budget committee Genevieve worked as the Senior Legislative Analyst for San Diego Association of Governments and also served as a Senior Legislative Analyst at the League of California Cities. Genevieve Morelos studied political science at the University of California, Los Angeles and minored in social welfare and Spanish literature.

Nominated by Speaker of the Assembly Mia Bonta

Frankie Free Ramos is from Yauco, Puerto Rico, spent much of her childhood in San Diego, and has lived in the Bay Area since moving to Berkeley for undergraduate studies in the early 1990s. After obtaining a teaching credential and Masters in Teaching from the University of San Francisco, Frankie worked for over 10 years as a teacher and college counselor, and was a founding member of a radical small school in East Oakland. She earned a PhD from UC Berkeley in Education Leadership, Policy and Politics. Her scholarship and activism focus on community organizing, social movements, and decolonial and abolitionist praxis. She has been a longtime activist for the self-determination of Puerto Rico, freedom for political prisoners, and an end to privatization and the politics of austerity in education. She currently serves as the Director of Campaigns and Organizing at CURYJ (Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice), a community based organization in Oakland, CA working to end youth incarceration and unlock the leadership of young people to dream beyond bars.

Frankie is in a loving partnership and is raising three children with her partner. The family loves to enjoy the outdoors together and spread love in the world!

Nominated by Senator Lena Gonzalez

Kiki Lizárraga is Vice President of TELACU Industries. Kiki’s primary areas of responsibility include government and community relations that affect TELACU’s portfolio of subsidiaries in the fields of real estate development, financial services, construction, and construction management, as well as fundraising for TELACU’s flagship educational non-profit affiliate, the TELACU Education Foundation. Kiki also serves on the boards of the CA Hispanic Chambers of Commerce (CHCC), the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) and Latinas Lead, CA political action committee. Since 2025, Kiki has served as President of the newly formed Long Beach Latino Democratic Club. Mrs. Kiki Lizárraga is a fourth-generation LA County kid living in Long Beach, California with her husband, Dr. Stewart Stephens, and dog Zora. Kiki is passionate about community engagement, advocacy, economic prosperity, and education.

Nominated by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez

From the Bay Area, Brenda focused her research on characterizing a population of neurons in the posterior amygdala and their role in hormone release and behaviors related to reproduction. She was also heavily involved with several student organizations through leadership positions. Brenda has previously held various roles in teaching/science education through work and volunteer positions. Brenda earned a PhD in Molecular & Integrative Physiology from the University of Michigan and a BS in Physiology from San Francisco State University.

Nominated by Senator Suzette Valladares

Elizabeth “Liz” Becerra serves as the Mayor of Victorville, California, bringing deep roots, extensive local experience, and a steadfast commitment to the community she has called home since birth. With a career spanning over three decades in public service, Mayor Becerra deeply understands the infrastructure, operational, and community needs of Victorville.

Elected to the City Council and subsequently appointed Mayor, she has championed a platform focused on bolstering public safety, fostering economic development, and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. As a leader, she has been instrumental in promoting regional collaboration, exemplified by her support for the continued growth of the Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA). She is committed to transparency, proactive community engagement, and ensuring that Measure P funds are effectively used to improve local infrastructure and essential services.

Known as a “hometown girl” with a vision for the future, Mayor Becerra is focused on fighting for what is right for Victorville, reducing homelessness through proactive measures, and collaborating with local agencies to ensure a secure, thriving city.

Ellie’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to community upliftment were unmistakably evident in her response to the arson of the Pride Lifeguard Tower in Long Beach. She spearheaded the Safe Spaces Alliance Long Beach City initiative to establish safe spaces for the queer community, proving her leadership and commitment to safety and inclusivity.

Now, as the Executive Director of the LGBTQ Center of Long Beach and a pioneering former member of the LA County LGBTQ+ Commission, Ellie Perez stands as a pivotal figure advocating for comprehensive support and connectivity for LGBTQ residents. Her mantra, “You never lose what you give away,” symbolizes the endless cycle of generosity and community support that defines her work.

Nominated by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary

Project manager with over six years of experience across community organizing, advocacy, political campaigns, and public sector program management. Brings 4 years of designing and leading statewide and national community organizing fellowships to train the next generation of BIPOC organizers in multiethnic communities. Also serves as a commissioner for the Climate Emergency Mobilization Commission that advises the mayor and city council on equitable climate strategies.