Stay Connected

Board Circle Vice President, Bear Root Resource Center

Mexicana de Guanajuato 

From Valle de Santiago, antigua aldea P'urhépecha de Camémbaro

I was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and moved to Napa County when I was 1 year-old. I earned my Bachelor’s in Latin American and Latino Studies from UC Santa Cruz, and also earned my Juris Doctor (JD) law degree from Penn State University. I am a fierce advocate for our (im)migrant community and have been passionate about human rights and dignity migration for decades. Since 2010, I have been an active member of local legal service agencies to support immigrants seeking immigration relief. In 2011, I received recognition from La Raza Centro Legal, “For leadership in advocating for undocumented students’ rights,” and in 2013 I was awarded the Emerging Leader Award by the Chicana Latina Foundation. While in law school I also received “Public Interest Advocate” recognition.

I am proud to be a Senior Staff Attorney at the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (iiba, Napa).  At IIBA, I provide free or low-cost immigration law services, advocacy, and community education for remedies including family-based, humanitarian, and naturalization.

I am excited to be a part of the Bear Root Resource Center Board Circle, because it's important to me to be part of a collective of persons who recognize the intersectionality of issues and can show up for one another as we advocate to restore balance.  I recognize the inequity within current legal and social systems that from their inception have separated people by race, nationality, economics, and so much more.  I trust in the mission, purpose, and vision of the Bear Root Resource Center to provide for the space to build the network of shared resources to help us bring about the necessary shifts.