Latina History Day Los Angeles

Laura brought over a decade of congressional experience when she joined The Raben Group, having served as District Director, Legislative Counsel, and acting Chief of Staff to Congressman Xavier Becerra, former chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. As a top advisor in the capitol and district offices, Laura provided keen insight for navigating complex public policy challenges and delivering results. Laura received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California Law School. She maintains a personal commitment to community service by volunteering with advisory and fundraising committees to promote education and environmental sustainability and increase opportunities for underserved communities.

Leslie Lopez is the morning meteorologist for ABC7 Eyewitness News, providing weekday weather reports for the 4am, 5am, and 6am newscasts. Leslie joined ABC7 in 2016 and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Mississippi State University, where she studied broadcast meteorology. In addition, Leslie has also completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from UC Riverside. She is also certified as a broadcast meteorologist by Mississippi State University.

Heidi Rojas is a songwriter, artist, proud first-gen Latina, and Millennial mama of two toddlers based in Los Angeles. For a decade, Heidi lent her songwriting prowess to co-write hits with renowned artists including Little Mix, Cheryl Cole, Dove Cameron, Pitbull, and New Kids on the Block, among others. And in a beautiful twist of fate, she recently channeled her creativity into crafting her own empowerment anthems and soothing lullabies, championing the voices of Latines, women, and mothers worldwide. With over 30 million social media impressions and 7 singles out in the last year, Heidi’s music is becoming a beacon of strength and relatability for her growing community. In the coming year, Heidi is set to drop new music, launch an empowerment apparel line, and release her first published bilingual children’s book. You can find her at @heidirojasmusic on all social platforms.

Jocelyn Biga, a seasoned Makeup Artist based in New York, boasts over two decades of experience in the industry. She has played a pivotal role in diverse projects, including campaigns, video shoots, red-carpet events, and collaborations during New York Fashion Week. Specializing in complexion and eyes, Jocelyn, a self-taught bilingual artist, is a familiar face in the realms of beauty and entertainment.

Her artistic prowess has graced television segments for renowned platforms such as The Today Show, Univision, Telemundo, Sherri Shepherd Show, and The Food Network. Jocelyn has also served as the Key Artist for fashion designers Studio189, An Only Child, Sandy Liang, and Maria McManus, contributing to their distinctive looks. Her work has earned her features in prominent magazines and blogs, including Bridal Guide, Elle, Glamour, The Knot, WWD, Coveteur, Vogue, L’Officiel, Enews, Highsnobiety, Nylon, and TZR.

Jocelyn’s portfolio extends to notable campaigns with brands such as Adriana Castro, Spell & The Gypsy, An Only Child, Super Bowl, and Estee Lauder. As the Director of Global Pro Artistry, Jocelyn is on a mission to demystify the complexity often associated with makeup. Leveraging her straightforward expertise, she simplifies the ‘what to use’ and ‘how to use’ aspects, offering practical application tips and tricks that highlight the joy of makeup. Jocelyn consistently crafts memorable makeup looks, leaving a lasting impression on her clients. Her passion for artistry and her extensive knowledge of beauty ensure an unforgettable and enjoyable experience for all.

Advocate & Author, FIRST GEN

Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, bestselling author, founder, producer, and former White House aide to President Obama.

Alejandra’s award-winning memoir, FIRST GEN, examines the emotional toll of social mobility on those she refers to as “First and Onlys.” A national bestseller, FIRST GEN is the winner of the California Independent Booksellers Alliance (CALIBA) Golden Poppy Martin Cruz Smith Award, and was longlisted for the Outstanding Works of Literature Award for the First Year Experience. FIRST GEN is also the 2024 Opportunity Matters Book Club selection for the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE), a national book club for first-generation and low-income students at colleges and universities across the country.

Previously, Alejandra served in the Obama White House as the first White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media. She produced and appeared in the groundbreaking PBS documentary Inheritance, and founded the LATINOS & BRCA awareness initiative in partnership with Penn Medicine’s Basser Center for BRCA. Alejandra holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and graduated cum laude from USC. She currently sits on the boards of the California Community Foundation and Harvard’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy, and is a Senior Fellow at the USC Center on Communication Leadership and Policy.

Women’s Health Medical, Director AltaMed Health Services

Dr. Faustina Nevarez is the Medical Director of Women’s Health at AltaMed Health Services. Since coming AltaMed in 2019, she has dedicated herself to building AltaMed’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Service
across the Enterprise. Dr. Nevarez oversees our clinical and surgical OB/GYN services, Women’s Health quality initiatives, contracted laborist network and has been an active member of the Executive Physician Leadership and Executive Governance and Leadership Committees.

Under her leadership, AltaMed has hired 16 OB/GYN physicians, bringing the total Women’s Healthprovider team to 34. During this time, AltaMed also deployed the Pap and Mammography Registries for tracking and follow-up of abnormal results. In 2020, Dr. Nevarez worked with the Patient Access Team and helped initiate the COVID-19 response.

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & Mental Health Expert, CEO of Mayorga Psychotherapy Inc.

April Mayorga, LMFT, M.A. ClinPsy. is a Licensed psychotherapist, mental health expert and speaker from Los Angeles, California. April owns Mayorga Psychotherapy Inc., a multi-speciality clinical practice in Southern California. In her practice, April uses an integrative approach to treatment with specialities in mindfulness, relational attachment, and trauma focused cognitive orientations. In addition to her practice, she has extensive experience working in non-profit settings, specializing in HIV+ groups, LGBTQ+, Homelessness, Substance Use, Trauma, Grief, as well as Children and Families. She is also a University Adjunct Professor for clinical psychology graduate students. .

Vice President, Public Affairs | AltaMed Health Services

Christina Sanchez is the Vice President of Public Affairs at AltaMed Health Services.  Since joining AltaMed in 2021 she has built the Public Affairs department to lead the oversight of all multi-faceted public relations and media initiatives. She collaborates across the enterprise to understand offerings, target audiences and growth path to inform and develop multilingual public affairs strategies. AltaMed corporate social responsibility is also under her direction.

Prior to joining AltaMed, Christina was senior partner at the Milagro Strategy Group, a full service public affairs firm.  A two-time Emmy award winner and seasoned media and government affairs practitioner, Christina has over 25 years’ experience in broadcast media communications with an emphasis in Spanish language public affairs, social marketing, and project management.  During her career, Ms. Sanchez previously served 12 years as Public Affairs Director for Univision’s flagship station, KMEX-TV, Channel 34 the leading Spanish-language television station in the country where she was executive producer for high profile special productions and developed custom social marketing campaigns and promotions over multiple media distribution platforms.

Senior Vice President of Investments, Wells Fargo

Sylvia Guinan helps her clients gain confidence in their financial future. Financial confidence strains when we go through major transitions such as retirement, divorce, career change and loss of a spouse/partner. She specializes in helping people make well-informed key financial decisions. Sylvia is a Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo Advisors in Essex, Connecticut with over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. She takes a holistic approach to supporting client financial dreams. Sylvia has a Master of Business Administration from St. John’s University, is a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®), and an author and frequent speaker.

Multicultural Business Consultant + Author

Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda stands as a powerhouse in the realm of multicultural and bi-lingual business strategy. As a top-selling author and influential speaker with over a decade of experience in business development, community marketing, and communications, the Latina of Mexican and French descent has carved a unique path for herself.

Her groundbreaking work includes the first Spanglish business-launching book, “Jefa in Training: The Business Startup Toolkit for Entrepreneurial and Creative Women,” tailored for the next generation of Latina and Latine femme creative entrepreneurs. Ashley has transformed the journeys of startup founders, small business owners, solopreneurs, and creative entrepreneurs through her unparalleled expertise, propelling their businesses to remarkable heights.

CEO & CO-Founder, SUMA Wealth

Beatriz Acevedo is the CEO and cofounder of SUMA Wealth, a FinTech company dedicated to closing the wealth gap for U.S. Latinos. SUMA Wealth was founded in 2020 amid the disproportionate financial hardships faced by Latinos during the pandemic. The company’s vision is to bridge the wealth gap and foster financial inclusion within the Latino community. As founder & CEO of SUMA Wealth, Beatriz vision is ensuring Latinos have access to resources to build wealth. Beatriz believes that being represented in numbers is not enough and until Latinos have economic power they won’t have true power in this country. Beatriz Acevedo has been recognized as a trailblazing Latina entrepreneur, honored as the Inc’s Top 100 Female Founders and LinkedIn’s Top Voices to follow. Beatriz is consistently featured on Most Powerful Latinas lists for Alpha and Hispanic executives for her outstanding contributions to the Latino community and driving positive change in her community.

Founder & Managing Partner, Annaguey McCann LLP

Litigator and counselor Maribeth Annaguey advocates for businesses, entrepreneurs and prominent individuals when their companies are under threat, their reputations are at stake, and their livelihoods are at risk. Maribeth has fought for and protected clients
as wide ranging as real estate companies, hip hop artists, shareholders in business divorces and entertainment industry professionals. Whether prosecuting breach of contract claims, resolving high-stakes partnership disputes, defending employment claims or working with the media, Maribeth uses her 20 years of litigation strength to customize strategies that resolve each client’s unique matter and concerns.

As a founding partner of Annaguey McCann, Maribeth provides clients with a plan of action that extends beyond the familiar litigation manual, often preventing lawsuits from ever being filed.

Director, Global Pro Artistry, Estée Lauder

Jocelyn Biga, a seasoned Makeup Artist based in New York, boasts over two decades of experience in the industry. Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in diverse projects, including campaigns, video shoots, red carpet events, and collaborations during New York Fashion Week. Specializing in complexion and eyes, Jocelyn, a self-taught bilingual artist, is a familiar face in the realms of beauty and entertainment.

Her artistic prowess has graced television segments for renowned platforms such as The Today Show, Univision, Telemundo, Sherri Shepherd Show, and The Food Network. Jocelyn has also served as the Key Artist for fashion designers Studio189, An Only Child, Sandy Liang, and Maria McManus, contributing to their distinctive looks. Her work has earned her features in prominent magazines and blogs, including Bridal Guide, Elle, Glamour, The Knot, WWD, Coveteur, Vogue, L’Officiel, Enews, Highsnobiety, Nylon, and TZR.

Jocelyn’s portfolio extends to notable campaigns with brands such as Adriana Castro, Spell & The Gypsy, An Only Child, Super Bowl, and Estee Lauder. Currently, as the Director of Global Pro Artistry, Jocelyn is on a mission to demystify the complexity often associated with makeup.

Founder, Clara for Creators

Christen is the Founder of Clara for Creators, the ‘Glassdoor for Influencers’

An industry vet, Christen has over a decade of experience working with top content creators at companies like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.

News Anchor | Noticiero Telemundo 52

Sandra O’Neill is the News Anchor for Telemundo 52’s award-winning weekday morning newscasts, Noticiero Telemundo 52 a las 5 a.m. y 6 a.m. Telemundo 52 is Telemundo’s West Coast Flagship television station, delivering nearly 30 hours of local news and programming each week, more than any other Spanish-language station in Southern California, including breaking news coverage, up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, and entertainment.

O’Neill is a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of storytelling experience covering issues and significant events impacting the community.  Her storytelling has earned her notable recognitions from the Associated Press Television and Radio Association, an Edward R. Murrow award for production and five Emmy awards for coverage of the 10^th Anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, investigative reporting on consumer affairs, the 2015 San Bernardino massacre, live coverage of an unscheduled news event titled “Furia Por Justicia” surrounding the marches for social justice in 2020, and the live news special event titled “Kobe Por Siempre” covering the passing of basketball legend Kobe Bryant.

President & Chief Deputy of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation | Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation (GLA)

Kerry Franco is a distinguished leader with over 20 years in nonprofit management, student development, and philanthropy, currently serving as the President and Chief Deputy of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation at the Greater Los Angeles Education Foundation (GLA).

In her role, Kerry oversees strategic partnerships and innovative initiatives to support the Los Angeles County Office of Education and its 80 school districts. Her leadership at the Foundation reflects her dedication to creating impactful programs that contribute to student success and community development.

Prior to joining GLA, Kerry held the position of Senior Director of Development for the Office of Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.

Director of Community Transformation | Promesa Boyle Heights at Proyecto Pastoral

Azucena Hernandez, best known as Susy, was born in Mexico City, and raised in Los Angeles, California. Her passion for social justice developed through her lived experiences as an undocumented youth navigating the education system. Azucena has experience working with youth and families in the Boyle Heights and Koreatown communities, and has developed her experience working collectively with residents and nonprofit leaders.

Azucena is the Director of Community Transformation at Promesa Boyle Heights at Proyecto Pastoral*, focused on Organizing and Advocacy. There she leads system level advocacy and oversees program strategy, in the areas of Education, Early Learning, Immigration, and Healthy Environments. She supports school transformation through a Collective Impact Model with Community Schools, Wellness and family engagement at the center.

Policy Director | The Children’s Partnership

Angela M. Vázquez has spent nearly a decade in public policy, coalition-building, and activism on behalf of children and families. Her work has been centered on ensuring the well-being of marginalized youth from birth through young adulthood, especially as their life opportunities are impacted by their race/ethnicity, trauma, and poverty. Angela has spent the last decade in education and child welfare public policy, convening local and statewide education and child welfare stakeholders, facilitating policy development and implementation discussions for children in foster care as a Policy Analyst at Advancement Project and as the Associate Director for FosterEd California. Currently, Angela is a Policy Director at The Children’s Partnership, covering a portfolio that includes mental health and child well-being. In 2020, she was appointed to California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent body tasked with redrawing California’s elections boundaries that made historic efforts to preserve communities of interest and established a “gold standard in citizen-led redistricting.” In 2020, Angela became ill with COVID-19 and has since developed Long COVID – a condition marked by prolonged, disabling symptoms experienced by up to 1/3 of COVID-19 patients. Through several grassroots organizing efforts, including as President of Body Politic, a health justice organization and home to one of the first global Long COVID support groups, Angela is leveraging her skills in leading intersectional children’s well-being advocacy to advocate with and on behalf of other disabled people of color.

Senior Portfolio Manager | Ballmer Group

Gabriella Barbosa is the proud daughter of immigrants and has experience as a teacher, lawyer, policymaker, and advocate, all aimed at centering and improving the outcomes of children from historically marginalized communities in Los Angeles. She is currently part of the Los Angeles office of the Ballmer Group, where she supports organizations and leaders in Los Angeles County committed to improving the economic mobility of children and families. Most recently, she served as managing director of The Children’s Partnership, where she led the development, implementation and supervision of a multi-issue advocacy & policy agenda focused on advancing systemic changes that protect and promote the well-being of children from historically marginalized communities. Earlier in her career, she was a public interest attorney at Public Counsel, where she represented English Learner students and children in immigrant families; and a teacher at LAUSD, where she taught high school and adult school in Southeast Los Angeles and South Los Angeles. She received a B.A. in International Relations and Human Rights from Columbia University and a law degree from Columbia Law School.

President, Azure Development

Vanessa Delgado is the daughter of Mexican immigrants and grew up in Boyle Heights. She received her undergraduate education at Stanford University and then completed a Master of Public Administration at the University of Southern California. She began her career working for the cities of Pico Rivera, Anaheim, and Downey, in Economic Development. Vanessa also spent eleven years as the Director of Development for Primestor Development building shopping centers. Ms. Delgado is now the founder and President of Azure Development. Azure creates, designs, and builds exceptional affordable housing communities and commercial projects in California.

Vanessa pursued her passion for public service work and was elected to the City Council of the City of Montebello in November 2015. In 2018, she was elected to serve
as a State Senator for District 32 and completed a short-term. Senator (Ret.) Vanessa Delgado was appointed to the South Coast AQMD Governing Board in May 2019 and currently as the Agency’s first Latina Board Chair.  Ms. Delgado lives in Montebello with her daughter Isabella and their pets.

Regulatory Strategy and Policy Business Manager at Southern California Gas Company

Edith Moreno possesses 15 years of experience in the energy and environmental sector. For ten years, she has been with Sempra Energy’s regulated California utilities. Currently, she serves as a Regulatory Strategy and Policy Business Manager for Southern California Gas Company, where she is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of all policy and regulatory initiatives associated with the Angeles Link Project. The Angeles Link Project is SoCalGas’ proposal to build the nation’s largest clean, renewable hydrogen energy pipeline system. Before joining the Sempra Energy family, Edith worked for two major environmental consulting firms, supporting Clean Water Act regulatory compliance projects throughout Southern California. Edith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences and Hispanic Literature & Culture from Brown University and a Master of Arts in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Mount Saint Mary’s University.

Principal Manager, Customer Operations, Southern California Edison

Linda Morales has over 20 years experience at Southern California Edison, one of the nation’s largest electric utilities. She has a variety of experience – including air & climate policy, electrification customer programs, billing operations, regulatory case management, ethics & compliance, contract settlements, energy procurement, and wholesale energy market transactions. Linda also has extensive experience in project management, strategy and goal planning, policy advocacy, external engagement, ensuring compliance, and working with various state agencies. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from San Diego State University and an MBA from the University of La Verne.

She has a passion for leading, motivating and influencing teams to higher performance. She has a strong leadership philosophy that is focused on: (1) establishing organization and structure with a clear vision; (2) emphasizing the importance of regulatory and compliance in the energy industry; (3) providing service excellence; (4) having a growth mindset; and (5) fostering a values-oriented DNA in everything we pursue. Linda takes pride in cultivating a safe working environment and inspiring trust. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two teenage daughters, watching sports, shopping, going to the movies, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Lobbyist, KP Public Affairs and HOPE Board Chair

Vanessa Cajina is based in Sacramento and is a lobbyist with KP Public Affairs, with over 15 years of lobbying and advocacy experience in health and human services and the state budget. Vanessa has been with KP Public Affairs since 2012 and leads the firm’s health care practice. She also has extensive experience in public health, natural resources, including water, and planning and local government, and has carved out a specific niche representing clients with state budget needs. Prior to joining KP, Vanessa worked with nonprofit advocacy organizations to protect and promote critical health and human services programs, including the Western Center on Law and Poverty, the California Immigrant Policy Center, and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. Vanessa took on the office of HOPE Board Chair in January 2022, where she leads strategies to advance HOPE’s mission of ensuring economic and political parity for Latinas.

Director of Partnership Development and Strategic Engagement in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)

Ms. Bogin-Jordan is Director of Partnership Development and Strategic Engagement in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). She oversees LADWP’s strategic engagements, corporate external sponsorship program, organizational partnerships, internal program development and training programs to accomplish the major initiatives and institutional change. Ms. Bogin-Jordan serves as the elected President of the L.A. Water and Power Employees’ Retirement Plan’s seven-member Board of Administration. Ms. Bogin-Jordan is a wife and mother to three children.

Board Director, General Counsel, Salsify | Author of “Embrace the Power of You”

Tricia Montalvo Timm is a board director, venture investor, speaker and author. She is a first-generation Latina who rose through the ranks of Silicon Valley advising high-tech companies big and small, culminating in the sale of data analytics software company Looker to Google for $2.6 billion, Google’s fourth largest acquisition. She is one of the few Latinas to have attained the triple achievement of reaching the C-suite, joining the boardroom and cracking the venture capital ceiling. Tricia currently serves on the board of directors at Salsify, a top enterprise software company. She is also an advocate for women and girls and serves as a mentor, advisor and investor in female-founded companies.

With her new best-selling book, Embrace the Power of You, she hopes to inspire anyone who has ever felt like an “other” in the workplace to embrace their true selves, own their identity and achieve success and fulfillment in their life and career.

VP JEDI and Community Engagement | Jewish Federation – Greater LA

A community relations veteran, DEI and social impact expert, Mary has been at the forefront of fostering change across the public, private and nonprofit sector in Southern California for more than 25 years. Currently, Mary is Vice President of JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) and Community Engagement at The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Mary leads bridge building, community partnerships and leadership programs that convene community leaders from diverse racial, faith and cultural backgrounds in Los Angeles. She is a public speaker and published author whose expertise around intergroup coalitions has been sought out by government, interfaith and multicultural stakeholders.

Sr. Director of Cultural Affairs | Los Angeles Chargers

Liliana T. Pérez-Palacios inaugurated a role as the Sr. Director of Cultural Affairs for the Los Angeles Chargers and is responsible for building strategic partnerships within So. Cal’s dynamic and versatile economic, cultural and social sectors. In this role, she is responsible for managing community engagement, especially among the LA Chargers’ valued neighbors. Her priorities include driving cross-functional alignment of internal divisions to provide optimized benefits to sponsors and fans. Prior to joining the LA Chargers, Liliana made a career in public service, holding senior leadership roles in the office of 6 Speakers of the CA Assembly and the Office of the Governor. After almost 25 yrs in government, she became an acknowledged expert in creating multisector coalitions to advance legislation in support of local economies and public policy addressing pressing social issues. She is active with numerous organizations such as the Women in Sports and Events, LA, and serves in a leadership role as the Co-Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Equality California, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Right of L.A.; Bienestar Human Services; the Latino Equality Alliance and Conga Kids; She is respected in the political arena resulting in several Commission appointments such as the President of the El Pueblo de LA Historic Pk, the birthplace of L.A. including past appointments such as the Commission on the Status of Women for the City of LA and on LAUSD’s Redistricting Commission. Liliana is a proud caregiver to her 90 yrs young mother who is living with dementia.

News Anchor | Telemundo 52

Grecia Carrillo is the News Anchor for Telemundo 52’s award-winning weekday morning newscasts, Noticiero Telemundo 52 a las 5 a.m. y 6 a.m. Telemundo 52 is Telemundo’s West Coast Flagship television station, delivering nearly 30 hours of local news and programming each week, more than any other Spanish-language station in Southern California, including breaking news coverage, up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, and entertainment.

Carrillo is an award-winning journalist notably recognized with four San Francisco / Northern California Emmy Awards for best on-camera talent, daytime newscast anchor in a larger market and outstanding Spanish reporter for coverage of “Dia del Grito”.

Talent Mobility Manager, ESPN

Dayana Falcon grew up in Miami where the warmth and electric vibe of the city quickly grew on her at an early age. Being the first in her family to attend college as a Latina with Cuban roots, she chose The University of Florida. Dayana has been described as a pioneering, digital expert, visionary, connector, revenue driver, and change-maker and her greatest strength is her ability to network.

For a decade, Dayana has embodied the definition of #CareerFocused. Taking bold career moves by growing her toolkit with a unique set of visionary skills.

Falcon has worked alongside Fortune 500 Companies from The Walt Disney Company and Interpublic Group and acquired skills including Digital Media Marketing, Sales, Tech Savvy, and Analytics to fuel Growth Opportunities for ESPN with #FutureofWork Talent Management Strategies. In her Talent Mobility manager role at ESPN, she leverages emerging technology to elevate the employee experience for all.

Vice President, Inclusive Strategies Partnerships & Integration, The Walt Disney Company

Brenai De Haro is a visionary leader and currently serves as
Vice President, Inclusive Strategies, Partnerships & Integration
for The Walt Disney Company’s Enterprise Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) team. She uses her knowledge and experience in enabling a culture of belonging and authentic storytelling by influencing strategy, systems and relationships across Disney’s expanding, global businesses. As a senior leader on the DEI team, she also serves as a critical thought partner in enhancing Disney’s internal DEI policies and advising on best practices to support the company’s global workforce.

Prior to joining the DEI team, Brenai spent 13 years holding various roles leading Operations and Commercial Strategy across Disney. She has extensive experience specializing in business transformation, new product development, and leadership development.

Executive Director of Drama Development, 20th Television

Melissa Lora is an Executive Director in Drama Development at 20^th Television where she oversees the development of notable writers and showrunners including Ron Moore, Jac Schaeffer, Elgin James, Michael Waldron and Gina Rodriguez, among many others. Recently, she developed the pilot “Tracker” which received a series order from CBS and will premiere in 2024, and is responsible for a diverse slate of drama development projects across Disney platform, as well as for external streamers and networks.

She began her career assisting various producers and executives at Bad Robot Productions, led by JJ Abrams. During her time there, she assisted in the development and production of such projects as: “Westworld” for HBO, “Person of Interest” for CBS, “11/22/63” for Hulu, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Following her stint at Bad Robot, Melissa moved to Roy Lee’s company, Vertigo Entertainment, which specialized in adapting formats from Asia and horror, as a junior executive in Television where she set up multiple projects across various platforms through studio homes Warner Brothers Television and Sony Television.

Journalist- Race & Culture Unit, ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles

Anabel Munoz is a general assignment reporter for ABC7 Eyewitness News in Los Angeles. Anabel was born and raised in Los Angeles — a city she loves for its people, diversity, beauty and influence. She is a graduate of Biola University, where she majored in journalism and minored in biblical studies. Anabel came to ABC7 from Noticias MundoFOX 22, where she worked as an anchor and reporter. She began her career as a news assistant and assignment editor at KMEX Univision Los Angeles before reporting for Univision Palm Springs. Anabel is passionate about participating in community events, public affairs reporting, and sharing stories about the homeless and special needs community. She is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants and was compelled to become a journalist at an early age — Anabel believes in the power of journalism to inspire, change the world and be a voice for those most in need.

Superintendent/President | Palomar Community College District

Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey proudly serves as the Superintendent/President of Palomar Community College District.  As someone who started her post-secondary education at a community college, life has come full circle, providing her an opportunity to lead one of the largest single college districts in California.

Throughout her 25-year career in higher education, Dr. Rivera-Lacey remains steadfast in her commitment to student success, diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and accessibility.  Her commitment to social justice drives her passion for educational reform, and her research interests center on student access to educational opportunities, and student retention and completion for all students, with a special emphasis on serving underserved populations.

After preparing for transfer at MiraCosta College, Dr. Rivera-Lacey earned a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from California State University, San Marcos, and a master’s degree in Education, with an emphasis in multicultural counseling, from San Diego State University.  She then earned her Ph.D. in Education from the San Diego State/Claremont Graduate University joint doctoral program.

Chief Program Officer | Career Ladders Project

Based in Southern California, Naomi serves as the Chief Program Officer for Career Ladders Project. In her role she provides strategic leadership on dual enrollment including: legislative, regulatory and policy advising, legislative briefings, advising systems office in dual enrollment issues and content for professional development, organizational research agenda, and co-author of the Dual Enrollment Toolkit. She is the organizational lead for our work supporting the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office equitable dual enrollment expansion and provides strategic leadership for CLP including support for multiple K16 Collaboratives and CLP’s Ability to Benefit work, a policy opportunity to provide access to federal financial aid for adult college students without a high school diploma or equivalent. She is an adjunct professor of Education at Compton College. Previously she was the Career Pathways Director at El Camino College and served many years as a middle and high school teacher and principal. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy from Pepperdine in 2018, earned her MA in Teaching and Teacher Education (2005) and her BA in History (1996) and her Secondary Teacher Credential (1996) all from the University of Arizona.

Director of Southern California Partnerships & Engagement | Education Trust-West

Mayra Lara was born in Mexico and raised in Los Angeles where she is currently based. She began her career as a high school English teacher in LAUSD where she worked to create meaningful and lasting relationships with students and families. She carries her love for teaching and the young people with whom she worked to EdTrust-West. As the Director of Southern California Partnerships and Engagement, Mayra works to advance educational equity for students of color and low-income students in Los Angeles County and across Southern CA. Mayra holds a B.A. in English Literature and an M.A. in Social and Cultural Analysis of Education from California State University Long Beach. Mayra also holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University.

Senior Advisor for Social Innovation | Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom

Elena Chávez Quezada is Senior Advisor on Social Innovation for Governor Newsom, where
she spearheads the State’s partnerships with philanthropy to advance shared priorities. Prior to
her role in the Governor’s Office, Elena was Chief Impact Officer of End Poverty in California
(EPIC), an effort led by former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, and spent a decade in philanthropy, most recently as Vice President of Programs at the San Francisco Foundation. She also worked at the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and Tipping Point Community. Before her
time in philanthropy, Elena worked on policy and programs related to economic opportunity at
various nonprofits, including Single Stop USA and the Aspen Institute. Originally from New Mexico, Elena earned her Bachelor’s and Master of Public Policy degrees from Harvard University, and lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons.

Director of the PPIC Higher Education Center and Senior Fellow | Public Policy Institute of California

Olga Rodriguez is director of the PPIC Higher Education Center and a senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute of California, where she holds the Thomas and Marilyn Sutton Chair in Higher Education Policy. As center director, she works with a team of researchers to identify programs and policies to help make the state’s higher education system more successful, equitable, and sustainable. Her own research focuses on college access and success among underserved students. Her recent work has examined statewide reforms to developmental education, English as a second language, dual enrollment, and assessment and placement systems in California’s community colleges.

Before joining PPIC, she was a postdoctoral research associate at the Community College Research Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her experience navigating California’s public K-16 educational pipeline as a first-generation college student informs and inspires her work. She holds a BA in economics/mathematics and Spanish from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MA and PhD in economics and education from Columbia University.

Senior Program Officer, Global Policy & Advocacy – North America Team | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Max Espinoza is a senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he focuses on building the political and public will for economic mobility and education reforms that close equity gaps in states across the United States. Max currently leads the foundation’s policy and advocacy efforts in California, and previously supported statewide foundation funded advocacy initiatives in Georgia and Kentucky.

Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Max was senior vice president of education programs and policy at Scholarship America, a national non-profit organization based in Minneapolis, MN, where he provided leadership for the organization’s education programs and established its policy, advocacy, and research agenda. Max began his career in California’s state capital, where he served for 14 years in various key roles, including as a senior advisor to legislative leadership and as an executive leader at the California Student Aid Commission.

Jovana Lara is currently weekday anchor for the 11am and 5pm and reports on solutions to community problems for Eyewitness News. Jovana was raised in Glendale after her family emigrated from Cuba when she was a small child. Since joining ABC7 Eyewitness News in 2000, Jovana has won four Emmys for her role as co-host on Vista L.A. As a reporter, Jovana has covered everything from breaking news including fires, crimes and natural disasters to in-depth feature stories. She’s traveled to Mexico and Guatemala to cover earthquakes, immigration, and the Pope’s visit as well as ongoing quality of life issues facing both Los Angeles and Mexico City. Jovana is also active on behalf of the station at many community events.

Executive Vice President and Enterprise Head of Hispanic/Latino Affairs, Wells Fargo

Promoted to executive vice president in commercial banking in January 2021 with nearly three decades of experience at Wells Fargo, Patty Juarez recently took on an additional position as the bank’s head of Hispanic/Latino affairs. In this newly created role, Juarez is responsible for building a Hispanic/Latino external engagement portfolio focused on national cultural engagement, executive recruitment, business development, and stakeholder relations.

In addition to her work at Wells Fargo, she is board development chair of the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Latinx Outreach Leadership Advisory Board at Delta Airlines, and on the advisory board of the Latino Donor Collaborative. Juárez, who has worked at Wells Fargo for more than 28 years, most recently served as director of diverse segments for commercial banking, a position she developed and grew to serve more than 5,000 clients.

Cindy currently serves as the senior director of public affairs and sustainability for The Coca-Cola Company. Prior to joining Coca-Cola, she worked in local, state, and federal government having served as chief of staff to a California State Assemblymember, district director to a member of Congress, and a public information officer for a local city in northern California. In addition to her work in public service, Cindy has a background in political campaign management and non-profit fundraising and marketing. In her spare time, Cindy is an avid runner and a food enthusiast.

Isa Ellis is a Senior Program Officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation focused on expanding access to equitable education and employment pathways that lead to economic opportunity and mobility for Black, Latino, and Indigenous students. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Isa was national vice president at the Boys & Girls Club of America (BGCA), launching the organization’s first national postsecondary and workforce development strategy. Isa’s background includes leading performance management and school turnaround at Chicago Public Schools, directing organizational growth at the Achievement Network, and brokering cross-sector partnerships as head of education and workforce at the Clinton Global Initiative; where she facilitated the organization’s largest education commitment of more than $600M in investments to increase equity in girls’ education, globally. Isa serves on the board and steering committee of Digital Promise, Workforce Matters, UNCF Pacific Northwest, and Inside Track.

Writer, Showrunner, Director of “Gentefied” and Writer of the Oscar-nominated “Flamin’ Hot”

Named one of the Top Latinas Changing the Game for Representation by Glamour Magazine, creator, director, writer, showrunner, and producer Linda Yvette Chávez has emerged in the entertainment industry as a powerful voice, bringing fearless, inclusive and impactful stories to the big and small screens. Also highlighted by Variety in their Comedy Impact Report alongside heavy hitters Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Tiffany Haddish, Chávez continues to break ceilings and has no plans to slow down anytime soon.

As the CEO of HOPE for 23 years, Helen Iris Torres has strategically built a Latina leadership and advocacy infrastructure in California, composed of thousands of civically engaged Latina leaders serving in elected and appointed office, as business, philanthropic and community leaders. She has created robust pathways to leadership for Latinas in high school to Latinas across the United States, resulting in over 1,600 leadership positions being filled by Latinas. Helen was raised by a single mother outside of Detroit, Michigan. She is a first-generation college graduate. Her passion to fight for women’s rights stems from witnessing the sexual and racial discrimination her mother faced daily.

Jennifer Medina, National Fellow, is an award-winning national political reporter at the New York Times. In her two decades at the New York Times, she has written extensively about politics, education, immigration, poverty, and violence. Her work has recently focused on chronicling Latino voters as a political force. She is currently working on a book tracing modern Latino politics and identity in America, exploring how bruising battles beginning in the 1990s shaped a tenuous collective identity and contributed to the rising influence of Latino voters.

Julián Castro serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Latino Community Foundation, the nation’s largest Latino-serving foundation.

Julián’s deep commitment to the future of this nation is woven into his DNA. Raised by his mother, Rosie Castro, a civil rights and Chicana activist, and his grandmother, Victoria Castro, on the west side of San Antonio, Texas, Julian grew up with a profound understanding of what it meant to love and serve the community.  Inspired by a legacy of leaders working to safeguard our democracy and strengthen the community, Julian has dedicated his life to public service.

Julián was elected to the San Antonio City Council in 2001 at age 26, then was elected Mayor of San Antonio in 2009. Julian, the youngest mayor of a Top 50 American city at the time, revitalized and transformed San Antonio into one of the country’s leading economies. In 2014, President Barack Obama appointed Julián U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, where he served until the end of the Obama administration.

In 2020, Julián ran for the Democratic nomination for President.

Julián earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. His memoir, An Unlikely Journey: Waking Up From My American Dream, was published by Little Brown in 2018.

Julian is the proud father of a daughter, Carina, and a son, Cristián. Julián’s brother Joaquin currently represents Texas’ 20th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. Julian loves spending time and traveling with his family in his free time.

Beatriz Acevedo is the CEO and Co-Founder of SUMA Wealth, a FinTech company dedicated to
closing the wealth gap for U.S. Latinos. SUMA Wealth was founded in 2020 amid the
disproportionate financial hardships faced by Latinos during the pandemic. The company’s
vision is to bridge the wealth gap and foster financial inclusion within the Latino community. As
founder & CEO of SUMA Wealth, Beatriz’s vision is to ensure Latinos have access to resources to
build wealth. Beatriz believes that being represented in numbers is not enough and until Latinos
have economic power, they won’t have true power in this country. Beatriz Acevedo has been
recognized as a trailblazing Latina entrepreneur, honored as the Inc’s Top 100 Female Founders
and LinkedIn’s Top Voices to follow. Beatriz is consistently featured on Most Powerful Latinas
lists for Alpha and Hispanic executives for her outstanding contributions to the Latino community
and driving positive change in her community.

JAINA will next be seen in the independent feature THE LONG GAME alongside Dennis Quaid and Jay Hernandez. The film recently premiered at the 2023 SXSW film festival and will be released wide on April 12th.

She is best known for being handpicked by Shonda Rhimes to lead the long-running ABC series STATION 19. The role was developed specifically for her after she wrapped her 2-year run on Fox’s ROSEWOOD, in which she played the co-lead opposite Morris Chestnut. Other TV credits include the USA series SHOOTER and the Amazon series THE AFTER.

A proud Puerto Rican American, JAINA devotes much of her time to supporting the Latin community. Chief Justice Sonia Sotomayor personally asked her to voice her audiobook, The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor.

Vanessa Cajina is based in Sacramento and is a lobbyist with KP Public Affairs, with over 15 years of lobbying and advocacy experience in health and human services and the state budget. Vanessa has been with KP Public Affairs since 2012 and leads the firm’s health care practice. She also has extensive experience in public health, natural resources, including water, and planning and local government, and has carved out a specific niche representing clients with state budget needs. Prior to joining KP, Vanessa worked with nonprofit advocacy organizations to protect and promote critical health and human services programs, including the Western Center on Law and Poverty, the California Immigrant Policy Center, and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. Vanessa took on the office of HOPE Board Chair in January 2022, where she leads strategies to advance HOPE’s mission of ensuring economic and political parity for Latinas.

Laura brought over a decade of congressional experience when she joined The Raben Group, having served as District Director, Legislative Counsel, and acting Chief of Staff to Congressman Xavier Becerra, former chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. As a top advisor in both the capitol and district offices, Laura provided keen insight for navigating complex public policy challenges and delivering results. Laura received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Southern California Law School. She maintains a personal commitment to community service by volunteering with advisory and fundraising committees working to promote education and environmental sustainability, as well as increase opportunities for underserved communities.