I grew up in the San Fernando Valley, a predominately Latine, working-class neighborhood in Los Angeles. My parents both immigrated from El Salvador at the precipice of the civil war and, like many other immigrants in the United States, worked hard to remake their lives here filled with love, safety and stability. Watching my parents work hard every day of their lives—my father as a bus driver and my mother as a custodian—instilled a strong moral compass where caring for each other was of the utmost importance.
My career has been driven by my values of honesty, equity, and communal care. For over 10 years I have worked and volunteered at various organizations that have touched on housing justice, health, and community healing. Most of my career has been in the housing justice space in Los Angeles, where poverty and homelessness are very visible yet contested. It is through my exposure to this work that I only further built on the values that my parents, my family, and my community instilled in me. I have come to realize that caring for those around us, especially those who are most vulnerable, isn’t just an act of compassion; it’s how we build healthier, more resilient communities for everyone.
I am fortunate now to work at AMRF where I have been gifted the space to dream of what a world could look like if community-led solutions are prioritized and trusted. At AMRF, we ensure that our community partners have the support they need to improve their communities by not only providing resources, but also providing spaces for celebration, joy, and rest.