I have over 20 years of experience in public service. I started my career is an aide to LA City Councilmember Mike Hernandez while I was attending Occidental College full-time. I then moved onto serve as a policy advisor and community liaison to Mayor Richard Riordan, I led the successful business and community revitalization efforts associated with the Targeted Neighborhood Initiative, created community outreach programs to increase civic participation and co-founded the F.I.R.E. Academy, an afterschool program developed in partnership with the Community College District and LAUSD designed to provide at-risk youth school to career education. I also served as a Chief Deputy at LAUSD, where I worked with local nonprofits and First 5 LA to expand afterschool programs and early childhood education programs.
I also served for nearly 10 years as an executive with the California Association of Realtors (CAR). During that time, I helped create programs aimed at expanding and preserving homeownership for middle-class families, including helping deliver more than $75 million of workforce housing developments and creating the landmark Mortgage Protection Program, that protected thousands of families from losing their homes to foreclosure during the Great Recession.
Most recently, I served as Vice President on the Los Angeles City Board of Public Works. As Commissioner, I helped improve fiscal oversight, streamline operations, and improve services. I also spearheaded the creation of the city’s highly acclaimed Small Business Academy, which helps small, minority and women owned businesses compete for infrastructure and public works contracts, putting more resources back into our communities while creating good jobs.
Finally, I have served on the boards of various non-profit organizations including the North Valley YMCA, the Center for Powerful Public Schools, and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles among many others. I am also the founder and immediate past President of Latinas Lead California, an organization dedicated to the expanding the number of Latinas serving in elected office and appointed decision making roles.
