Los Angeles, California, United States
I am a children’s rights lawyer with nearly two decades of experience advancing equal opportunity through advocacy, policy, education, research, and philanthropy. Throughout my career, I have worked to improve outcomes for children and youth across public education, health, and economic mobility. As the first generation of my family born and raised in Los Angeles to parents from Mexico, I advocate for the rights of children, youth, and families who have historically faced systemic marginalization. My work is driven by the belief that every child deserves access to the experiences, resources, relationships, and opportunities that enable them to achieve their dreams and thrive.
Ballmer Group is committed to improving economic mobility for children and families in the United States, funding leaders and organizations whose work reduces and eliminates systemic inequities and reshapes and creates opportunity for children and families from historically marginalized communities. We focus on multiple impact areas and systems that impact economic mobility, including early learning, K-12 education, mental health, and college and career pathways.
Led a statewide advocacy agenda to protect and promote the well-being of children from historically marginalized communities across multiple issue areas including health, mental health, immigration, and economic stability through public policy advocacy, research, and community engagement. Led development of TCP's policy, budget, and legislative advocacy priorities with policy and community engagement teams. Oversaw advocacy strategy, policy campaigns, research efforts, and partnerships. Designed and drafted legislation and advocacy campaigns, and authored community-centered and data-driven policy briefs and fact sheets. Managed and mentored TCP's advocacy team in developing and executing campaign strategies to advance policy and budget priorities.
Led the development and implementation of ABC’s public policy and advocacy agenda. Researched, designed, and advocated for equitable laws, policies, and practices that create opportunity for, uplift, and activate the Latinx community using community-centered policy-making process. Authored and created campaigns for annual policy and legislative agenda. Co-led the creation and coordination of the English Learner consortium.
Served as lead author of policies that addressed systemic barriers to student success and increased access to equal educational opportunity for historically marginalized students. Analyzed legal and policy implications of school board actions. Researched local, state and federal education laws and policies. Authored school board policy briefs and resolutions that center justice, equity, and community. Developed a community-centered policy-making strategy for advancing policy goals that support students, families, teachers, and community members of LA School Board District 5.
Designed and led an advocacy program in the Education Rights Unit within the Children's Rights Project focused on advocating for equal educational opportunities on behalf of children from immigrant families in California, including those classified as English Learners and those with special education needs, that closed the opportunity gap and improved academic outcomes using four advocacy tools: (1) direct legal representation, (2) collaborative community education, (3) impact litigation and (4) policy and legislative advocacy. Project sponsored by Morrison & Foerster LLP.