Get to know our team!

(Listed Alphabetically)

Adrian Parra | Father & Community Engagement Coordinator

Alondra Vizcarra | Finance Manager

Angelica was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico where she imported goods from the United States and sold them in her family’s store. In 1997, Angelica moved to San José to join her family. She volunteered with Nuestra Casa in the Mayfair neighborhood, leading a women's group for over ten years to organize for health and education access. The women from these groups have gone on to become powerful decision-makers across San José. Angelica has been certified in a number of best practice and evidence based parenting programs, including the Family Development Credential from Cornell University and Santa Clara County’s Parent Project for K-8 parent leaders. She credits SOMOS' Universidad Popular de Mayfair as her main source of personal transformation: it is the place she learned to critically analyze systems, tap into her own power, and build strong relationships. Her personal mission is to support her community's liberation through leadership development.

Angelica Lujano | Program Director

Antonio was born in Bogotá, Colombia and grew up in Ciudad de México. He also lived in Jakarta, Indonesia & St Louis, Missouri before studying Business Management & Environmental Studies at Santa Clara University. SInce graduating, he has focused his career on supporting worker cooperatives in the South Bay first by incubating and launching one at Veggielution and now launching the La Esquina Coop Hub with SOMOS as its Manager. Antonio is deeply passionate about Worker Cooperatives and is excited to continue developing the ecosystem in the Mayfair Neighborhood. He is also passionate about Salsa Dancing & Djing, vintage cars, vinyl music swell as exploring food with friends.

Antonio Amore Rojas | La Esquina Manager

Ashley Guerrero was raised in the East Bay and became the first in her family to graduate from college, obtaining a B.A. in Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies and Public Administration from San José State University. Growing up in a mixed immigration status family, Ashley is passionate about policies that uplift her family and community.

Her professional journey began with the City of San José, as an intern for former Council member Magdalena Carrasco and later a Community Relations and Policy Aide for Council member Peter Ortiz in East San José. In these roles, Ashley has led community advocacy and organized cultural and educational events on topics like housing and animal welfare. Ashley has also worked as a Public Information Representative at Valley Water, guiding the community through the advanced recycled water treatment process at the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center.

In her free time, you can find Ashley drinking coffee, watching movies, making playlists, rock climbing, spending time with her dogs and cats, and volunteering as the Membership Director for the Silicon Valley Young Democrats.

Ashley Guerrero | Mayfair Coordinator, Jóvenes Activos

Brenda was born and raised in San Jose her entire life. Growing up with two Mexican migrant parents introduced her to the challenges her community faced. What she loves most about SOMOS is the authentic collaboration with community--- she believes that nobody should be left empty-handed, and all should be given the same educational opportunities to succeed.
She first got involved with SOMOS by participating in the parent workshops. The more she learned, the more she was impressed by the work being done, and in 2017 officially started working as a Maestra supporting SOMOS' programs.
She is currently studying for a degree in Early Childhood Education at San Jose City College, specializing in infants and toddlers. Brenda is passionate about helping families and parents thrive and achieve to make a difference in their home. Even the smallest action can make a difference in a family and child's life.

Brenda Garcia Lujano | Hubbard FRC Manager

Citlali was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco. At the age of 9 migrated to the United states with her family. Raised in the heart of East San José, she faced the harsh realities of housing, overcrowding, and landlord injustices from a young age. Immediately she felt the weight of powerlessness in her community. However, through her mother's involvement in SOMOS Mayfair, Citlali discovered a supportive community dedicated to empowering, and uplifting. Initially hesitant to step out of her comfort zone, Growing up Citlali was constantly encouraged by her mother to participate in various activities. As she witnessed her mother's tireless dedication to SOMOS and their community, she found herself inspired to follow in her footsteps. Each workshop attended and community event participated in became a stepping stone towards personal growth and empowerment. Through this, she unearthed a newfound courage and resilience, realizing that growth often lies beyond fear. Citlali emerged as a passionate advocate for her community. Now, a part of SOMOS Mayfair’s staff, her work is not just a profession but a heartfelt commitment—a continuation of a lifelong dream to empower and uplift her community. She is deeply grateful to her parents Juan Martinez and Norma Chavez, whose unwavering support made this journey possible. With inspiring mentors by her side, Citlali's dedication burns brighter than ever, inviting others to join in the mission of creating a community where every voice is heard and every dream is achievable.

Citlali Martinez | Vecinos Activos Coordinator

Claudia Cordero | FUERTES Network & Development Coordinator

Cristina Martinez | Maestra

Damaris bio: Damaris Estrada, an immigrant woman from Guatemala, has passionately and committed and dedicated more than 30 years of her life to community service, organizing and developing the leadership of women, men, and children through popular education in the pursuit of social and economic justice, personal healing, and the building of collective power.

Damaris Estrada | FUERTES Economic Justice Manager

Elizabeth Quezada | Community Navigator

Esmeralda is a first generation college student who was born and raised in San Jose. She is a recent graduate from the University of California, Irvine where she earned her Bachelors Degree in Anthropology. She is passionate about tackling inequity within her community in order to promote accessibility amongst vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.

Esmeralda Yepez-Espinoza | Administrative Operations Manager

Fernando Rivera was born in Mexico City but raised in San Jose since the age of 4. Growing up in the east side of San Jose Fernando witnessed a lot of barriers that his community must go through and made him want to make a difference. He also saw many success stories in the community that made him want to share with people in and outside of our community. He is excited to be able to make a difference by telling the stories of our community in hope to engage them more. Outside of work he enjoys watching sports, his favorite being soccer which he enjoys playing and watching. His teams being Club America and FC Barcelona. He is also a big fan of hip-hop/rap and r&b.

Fernando Rivera | Communications & Donor Relations Manager

Hazel was born in the Philippines and immigrated to Sunnyvale, CA with her parents when she was 10 years old. Hazel comes to SOMOS with experience in finance, human resources, and operations. Prior to working at SOMOS Mayfair, she worked as a Finance & Administrative Manager with one of our non-profit partner organizations. Hazel graduated from Keller Graduate School of Management with a Master’s in Business Administration. She is very excited to be a part of an organization that supports and works with the community.

Hazel Marie Atayan | Director of Finance and Operations

I was born in Michoacan, Mexico, and raised in Guanajuato before immigrating with my family to San Jose CA at the age of four. As a proud first-generation college student, I earned my bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in sociology from Texas State University. I am passionate about bringing positive change to the families we work with and out in the community by working closely with them, learning their stories, building trust, connection, and being as much support to them as I can be. When I am not working I like spending time at the beach or out in nature.

Hilary Rivera | Community Navigator

Ismerai Saavedra | Community Navigator

Janelle was born and raised in San Jose. She attended San Jose State University to study Child Development, receiving her Bachelor's in December 2020. Working with children is one of her biggest passions-- it brings her joy to see the development of children.

Janelle Garcia | PC+ Home Visitor

Jessica grew up in San Jose and has lived here for 34 years. She studied advertising with a minor in photojournalism at San Jose State, and decided to pursue a higher education by obtaining a Master’s degree in human development at Pacific Oaks College. She was drawn to SOMOS’ advocacy work around social justice and social change, and loves empowering leaders in the community. Jessica is a certified trainer for both Strengthening Families and Parent Cafes. Her passions include Aztec dancing, scrapbooking, and volunteering as a catechist at her local church.

Jessica Moctezuma | PC+ Home Visitor

Jessica grew up on the Eastside of San Jose. She’s passionate about helping her community succeed and prosper, and is proud to help whether it’s in big or small ways. Her favorite part of her job is working with children and seeing Mayfair empowered.

Jessica Trejo | SOMOS FRC Family Advocate

Jocelyn was born in Orange County, her parents moved to San Jose when she was 5 years old. Growing up as the eldest child had its perks and challenges. Jocelyn was the translator of the family as her parents were Spanish speaking immigrants. She quickly adopted the language, leading her to an education her parents never had. She grew up in the East San Jose, where her mother loved the involvement with the community, as well as attending all workshops. She even attended the Marchas in 2006. Looking back, Jocelyn fell in love with SOMOS Mayfair and is eager to learn more about the community, and become part of it again, reconnecting is so special to her.

Jocelyn Serna | Finance Coordinator

Juliana Ayala was born and raised in Watsonville, CA. Her parents were farm workers from Michoacan, Mexico who immigrated to the United States for a better future for their family and children.
She earned a certificate in Early Childhood Education at San Jose’s Center for Employment Training in 2008, and went on to work as a preschool teacher for 9 years at the San Juan Bautista Child Development Center. She enjoys working with preschoolers and her passion and dedication for children led her to other opportunities in Early Childhood Education. From 2017 to 2018 she opened her own home daycare, teaching and guiding young children preparing for preschool.
In 2019 she worked as a Substitute Teacher for Special Education in both the Alum Rock and Milpitas School Districts. She joined SOMOS Mayfair in 2019 as part of *La Escuelita* Team, gaining the knowledge and experience that helped her transition to her current role serving families as Early Learning Specialist for Parent Child+.

Juliana Ayala | Maestra

Liz was born and raised in Durango, Mexico. She migrated to the United States at the age of 9 and has been living in San Jose ever since. She’s currently pursuing a degree in Early Child Development, specializing in Infants and Toddlers, at SJCC. She wasn’t familiar with SOMOS before working here, but quickly learned what amazing work was taking place and was excited to get even more involved. Since joining the team, she has been inspired to serve as a resource for her community and their families. She is very passionate about making a difference in children's lives and helping them build resilience within their families and communities, and believes La Escuelita is a great space to do that.

Liz Salas | Early Learning Supervisor

Lizbeth grew up in San Jose as a first-generation latina. She received a double Bachelors from UC Santa Cruz in Sociology and Art. She believes in empowering the community so that they can overcome barriers.

Lizbeth Leon Beltran | Resource Development Manager

Lorena Mendoza | Administration Operations Coordinator

Maria Alvarado | Maestra

Maria Ramirez | Maestra

Maria-Guadalupe Urquiza-Speaks was born and raised in Michoacan, Mexico. She immigrated with her family to the United States at 15: her parents had a dream of a better life and education for her and her brother. They left everything behind to start a new life, but soon experienced the pain and struggle of being an immigrant in this country.
She found SOMOS Mayfair in 2009 when she joined a women’s support group. She was at the lowest moment of her life, without any dreams and in isolation from her community. Through SOMOS, she learned to dream again and recognize her worth, leadership and talents. Maria became a Promotora and went on to lead the women’s support group for 3 years, helping others discover their power and welcoming them into community. Maria continued her leadership, eventually joining staff as a Coordinator who developed leadership across residents and parents and facilitated workshops on early education and child development.
In 2019, she went back to college to continue her education, but stayed involved with SOMOS as a Board Member. In 2022, she graduated from Pacific Oaks College with a bachelor’s degree in human development and in 2022 transitioned back to SOMOS staff to continue advocating for the world she wants to see for her children and future generations.

Maria Urquiza Speaks | UPM and Learning Manager

Michelle Ortega | Jovenes Activos Coordinator

Nayeli was born in Oaxaca, México but has been in the Bay Area as a DREAMer since she was 5. She first got involved with SOMOS as a program participant, and quickly grew in her own leadership as a facilitator and mentor, before being brought onto st… — Nayeli was born in Oaxaca, México but has been in the Bay Area as a DREAMer since she was 5. She first got involved with SOMOS as a program participant, and quickly grew in her own leadership as a facilitator and mentor, before being brought onto staff. She fell in love with the way SOMOS engages with and empowers community, and holds space for their knowledge, skills, and passions.
She’s proud to be in this movement and is committed to advancing the common good of families and children. In her role at SOMOS, she works alongside her community to identify root causes of systemic oppression and build transformative solutions that lead to sustainable change.
Nayeli is the mother of three wonderful children, and is an advocate for two-way dual language and immersive education. In her free time, she enjoys hiking.

Nayeli Sedano | Alternative Community Strengthening Manager

Nelly was born and raised in San Lorenzo Octeyuco, Mexico. At the age of seventeen she immigrated to the United States with her father to seek educational and economic opportunities. She has been facilitating, mentoring, and leading within the SOMOS… — Nelly was born and raised in San Lorenzo Octeyuco, Mexico. At the age of seventeen she immigrated to the United States with her father to seek educational and economic opportunities. She has been facilitating, mentoring, and leading within the SOMOS collective for over 10 years.
She was a part of the first generation of *Promotoras* who went through SOMOS’ leadership pipeline. Feeling empowered by the social justice education she received through SOMOS and the *Universidad Popular de Mayfair*, she began facilitating support groups and workshops to connect her community to resources and knowledge (covering a wide range of topics including women’s issues, early literacy, students’ special needs, and immigration). She was a core part of the team that brought *Vecinos Activos* to life, and helped organize families across backyards in Mayfair. She also helped envision SOMOS’ mobile libraries, to increase literacy in Mayfair.

Most recently, she has helped build up SOMOS Fuertes both as a program assistant, and now a Coordinator. In this position, she develops curriculum, utilizes popular education, and facilitates professional development workshops for her peers. This aligns with her deep passion for creating alternative models to challenge existing systems.

Knowing firsthand that transformation is possible, Nelly is committed to empowering her community, making knowledge more accessible, and organizing to address inequalities. She continues her learning through both community institutions (like SOMOS Mayfair) and local colleges where she focuses on social justice curriculum.

Nelly Blas | Director of Economic Justice and Learning

Olivia Navarro is a seasoned organizer and labor leader with over 20 years of experience advancing economic and racial justice across San José. A proud daughter of immigrants and a lifelong advocate for working families, Olivia has built a career grounded in grassroots power, policy impact, and deep community trust.

Her organizing journey began in the 1990s, and since then, she has become a respected voice in San José’s civic and political landscape. Olivia currently serves on the California Democratic Party Executive Board, is Vice Chair of the Chicano/Latino Caucus, and leads as Chair of the Movimiento Democratic Coalition. From 2016 to 2024, she served as the District 6 Neighborhoods Commissioner and was appointed to the Measure T Oversight Committee—helping steward a $650 million infrastructure bond she helped pass as Field Director.

Whether co-developing a COVID-19 Pop-Up Vaccine Clinic to serve Spanish-speaking families or mobilizing citywide campaigns for housing justice and labor protections, Olivia centers community voice in every initiative. Her work spans public relations, human resources, and political consulting, including leadership development, organizing coalitions, and helping elect progressive champions who reflect the communities they serve.

Olivia’s leadership has been recognized by trusted figures across the nation, including former Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressman Ro Khanna, and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta. She is an alumna of Emerge California and the APALI Civic Leadership Institute and holds a California Property and Casualty Insurance License.

At her core, Olivia leads with integrity, cultural humility, and an unwavering belief that organized communities are powerful communities. She is also a devoted mother of three, born and raised in San José , now raising her own family in the same city she proudly serves.

Olivia Navarro | Community Organizing Director