Meet the Team
Leadership
REYNA MONTOYA
FOUNDER + CEO + BOARD MEMBER
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She is Ashoka Fellow, Echoing Green Fellow, a Forbes: 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, and an ATHENA Young Professional recipient by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, among many other awards.
Reyna was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and migrated to Arizona after fleeing violence. She was raised in Mesa, Arizona. She is a DACAmented social entrepreneur, community organizer, educator, non-profit executive, and dancer. She won multiple national & global fellowships, which enabled her to start Aliento. Reyna is a first-generation college graduate and holds bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Transborder Studies, a Dance minor from Arizona State University, an M.Ed in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University, and an executive education certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. For over fifteen years she has engaged in local, statewide, and national platforms to advance justice for immigrant communities.
Under Reyna’s leadership, Aliento impacted over 70,000 people, educated close to 200,000 voters in the 2020, 2022, and 2024 elections, and strategically organized a non-partisan coalition that led to the passage of Prop. 308, advancing education equity through gaining in-state tuition rates for Dreamers in Arizona, and spearheaded the Aliento Votes Campaign to educate close to 100,000 voters.
Her contributions have earned her recognition from local to global contributors from #NBCLatino20 and the Muhammad Ali Center as the Humanitarian Recipient for Spirituality, 73rd Woman of the Year by Valley Leadership, Legends and Legacy Honoree by NCAA, Democracy Hero by I am a Voter, and a US Ambassador for the Teach for All Education in Emergencies System Leaders Summit in the Philippines, among many others. She hopes to continue to share her talents and skills with the community to co-create healing spaces, political change, and leadership development for our immigrant youth and mixed-status families. She serves as a member of Arizona State University Alumni Association board of directors and sits on many advisory boards. She enjoys going on long walks, hiking, exploring the beautiful state of Arizona, reading, and spending time with her fur babies!
JOSÉ PATIÑO
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION + EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
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José Patiño was born in Mexico and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He migrated to the U.S. with his family at the age of six. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and a master’s degree in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University.
José became involved in the immigrant rights and Dreamer movement in 2009. His early advocacy includes stopping a bus carrying undocumented immigrants set for deportation, interrupting President Obama’s 2014 immigration speech, and lobbying for the DREAM Act and comprehensive immigration reform. His activism has earned national recognition, with features in The Washington Post, The New York Times, BBC, MSNBC, NPR, Univision, Telemundo, and BuzzFeed. He has also been featured in the documentaries The Dream Is Now and Underwater Dreams.
As Vice President of Education & External Affairs at Aliento, José leads policy and advocacy efforts, including the successful campaign for Proposition 308, which secured in-state tuition and scholarship access for all Arizona students, regardless of immigration status.
Outside of his work, José enjoys hiking, taking walks with his dogs Bruno and Zoe, reading magical realism, and watching 1990s movies.
Leadership Roles
Board Member, Phoenix Union Foundation for Education
Board Member, Friends of Public Radio Arizona
Scholarship Committee Member, IME Becas – Mexican Consulate
Awards & Recognitions
2024 Phoenix Business Journal 40 Under 40
2024 & 2025 ASU 100
2024–25 Obama Foundation USA 100 Leader
2021 Teach For America Peter Jennings Award for Civic Leadership
ERICK GARCIA
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL + TECHNOLOGY
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Erick Garcia was born in Veracruz, Mexico, and has called Arizona home since 1997. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Arizona State University in 2011.
He knows firsthand what it means to graduate against all odds. In 2006, after the passage of Prop. 300 students like him, despite graduating from Arizona high schools, were reclassified as international students overnight. Thanks to the generosity of individuals who believed in their right to pursue higher education, he and many others were able to continue their studies and ultimately walk at graduation.
After becoming DACAmented in 2012 and adjusting his status in 2024 following a twenty-year wait, Erick chose to remain in the nonprofit sector. He is driven by a commitment to pay it forward, ensuring that students facing similar barriers have the chance to achieve their educational dreams.
At Aliento, Erick leads the organization’s digital and technology strategies, leveraging systems across departments to drive impact, support staff, and help students succeed in reaching their higher education goals.
SUSANA NAVA
SENIOR PEOPLE & OPERATIONS MANAGER
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As a dedicated and passionate professional, Susana "Susy" Nava brings a wealth of experience as a Sr. People & Operations Manager with close to two decades of managerial and auditing expertise. Her journey has been marked by resilience and a commitment to excellence, qualities that have driven her success in various roles.
She recently made the intentional decision to return to school to pursue her degree in Human Resources, further deepening her knowledge and expanding her ability to support inclusive, values-driven workplaces. With a strong foundation in operations and a people-centered approach, Susy is deeply committed to fostering organizational cultures where individuals and teams can thrive.
Susy's personal journey as a DACA recipient has fueled her passion for advocacy. Recognizing the need to stand up for herself and others in similar situations. She first became actively involved with Aliento in 2018 during their Vote4Dream campaign. Through this initiative, Susy worked tirelessly alongside others to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of Dreamers and immigrant families.
In 2019, Susy joined the Aliento team, bringing her passion for advocacy and community building to the forefront. She firmly believes in the power of community and that it is never too late to get involved and make a difference.
Team
ILEANA SALINAS
CULTIVA PROGRAM MANAGER
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Ileana Salinas is a mental health advocate, and singer-songwriter originally from Mexico City. She migrated to Phoenix, Arizona at 15, where she became active in immigrant justice efforts as a student at Arizona State University. Since earning her degree in Psychology, Ileana has supported advocacy for the DREAM Act and DACA, and led grassroots efforts in Arizona and Texas.
Her work blends community healing, education, and the arts. As the first Art & Healing Program Collaborator at Aliento, she helped shape bilingual programming for immigrant children, youth, and families. Inspired by her role as a singer at vigils and protests, she studied music at PVCC and ASU, exploring its therapeutic impact.
Currently the Cultiva Program Manager at Aliento, Ileana leads a team of 15+ facilitators, expanding arts and healing programming to schools across Arizona. She is passionate about using the arts to promote mental wellness in the community.
IVETTE SOSA
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIASION
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Ivette Sosa Barraza was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, and proudly celebrates and honors her Mexican culture. Ivette was the first in her family to pursue higher education. Her childhood experiences with SB1070 in Arizona inspired Ivette's academic and career path. In 2023, Ivette obtained her bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Transborder Studies, a Spanish Minor, and 2 Certificates in Socio-Legal Studies and Latino Politics and Policy from Barrett the Honors College at Arizona State University. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and wrote her honors thesis titled: "The Historical Win of Proposition 308: Analyzing the Strategies Used by Aliento To Attain In-State Tuition Access for Undocumented and DACAmented Students."
She began her involvement with Aliento at 16 as a fellow during Aliento's' Educated Arizona Future campaign for in-state tuition access for all. She continued spreading Aliento's mission at ASU with the goal of connecting impacted folks with resources and safe community spaces. As an activist who comes from a mixed-status family, she hopes to inspire others to share and embrace their stories. Ivette is a CHCI Alumna; she participated in the CHCI Congressional Internship Program in 2022, where she was placed in a Congressional office and cultivated her professional and leadership development.
Her favorite quote is, "They tried to bury us, they didn't know we were seeds," a Mexican proverb, which is a metaphor where the oppressed, the seeds, grow stronger despite the attacks of the oppressor. It's a statement on the importance of unity.
PRISCILA ROMERO
COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING COORDINATOR
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Priscila is a proud first-generation daughter of immigrants, born and raised in Mesa, Arizona. She earned dual degrees in Political Science and Spanish from Arizona State University, where her passion for advocacy and community-building took root. During her time at Arizona State University (ASU), Priscila served as Program Chair and later Co-Chair of Aliento @ASU, leading efforts to cultivate student leadership and raise awareness about Proposition 308. She was also part of the fourth cohort (21’-22’) of Arizona’s Future Fellowship, where she helped inform and engage college students about why fair access to education matters for all.
As Marketing & Communications Coordinator at Aliento, Priscila helps create space for immigrant families to be seen and heard. She believes in the power of stories to build empathy, shift perspectives, and drive change.
In her free time, she loves discovering new coffee shops and reading novels.
RUDY CARTAGENA
STUDENT CLUBS & HUBS COORDINATOR
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Rudy is a proud Arizona creative and community advocate with deep roots in elevating the voices of immigrant and first-generation students. Born and raised in Arizona, he discovered his passion for storytelling and advocacy through filmmaking and grassroots organizing. Rudy earned a B.S. in Business Administration from the USC Marshall School of Business and a B.A. in Cinematic Arts from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he honed both his creative and organizational skills.
He has experience leading teams and mobilizing communities, including serving as a team lead during Aliento’s Vote No on Prop 314 campaign, where he coordinated outreach and engagement efforts. Rudy has also directed and produced multimedia projects that connect Arizona artists and communities, helping to highlight underrepresented stories and perspectives.
As Student Clubs & Hubs Coordinator at Aliento, Rudy helps empower immigrant and first-generation students to organize, lead, and create meaningful change on their campuses. He believes in the power of authentic storytelling and community-building to inspire resilience, shift perspectives, and build a more inclusive Arizona.
In his free time, Rudy enjoys collaborating with local artists, scouting locations for upcoming shoots, and exploring Arizona’s coffee shops for creative inspiration.
CHRISTIAN MUÑOZ
EDUCATION COORDINATOR
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Christian Muñoz is a mission-driven education and policy professional committed to advancing equity for immigrant and first-generation communities. In high school and through college, he developed an awareness of how deeply policy decisions shape the everyday lives of families. That lived experience continues to guide his work at the intersection of education access, advocacy, and systems change.
Christian graduated from Regis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, where his academic focus centered on immigration policy reform and human rights. During college, he gained national-level experience through internships with the White House, the U.S. House of Representatives through the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, and the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network. Across these roles, he supported policy research, candidate vetting, legal access initiatives, and community-centered advocacy efforts, developing a strong understanding of both grassroots impact and institutional decision-making. Professionally, Christian has worked with the Denver Scholarship Foundation as a Program Advisor, supporting first-generation and low-income students as they navigate college access, postsecondary transitions, and early career pathways.
Outside of work, Christian enjoys spending time with family and friends and exploring new cities. He values staying active and prioritizing wellness, and he has a strong appreciation for music and storytelling. Christian is excited to continue advancing immigrant justice and educational equity alongside the Aliento community.
Board of Directors
FELIX GARCIA IBAÑEZ
BOARD CHAIR
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Felix is a Senior Manager in the Finance Managed Services group with Ernst & Young LLP (EY), a professional services firm with more than 365,000 people in over 150 countries. EY serves clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals across all sectors, through four service lines: Assurance, Consulting, Strategy and Transactions, and Tax.
For the last sixteen years, Felix has served clients in a variety of industries, including technology, mining, and consumer products. He has significant experience in complex global engagements and various technical accounting and financial reporting matters. Felix has worked extensively with public companies headquartered in Arizona as well as engagement teams in South America, Europe, and Asia. He is currently serving clients in various transformation initiatives to reduce costs and improve the quality of financial data.
Felix has demonstrated a strong commitment to education and supporting the next generation of accounting professionals through his service on the Accounting Advisory Board at Grand Canyon University. He also served as the Executive Sponsor and Chair of EY Phoenix Latino Professional Network and as a Board Member in the Phoenix Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America. Through these roles, Felix worked with students and young professionals to identify career opportunities, promote professional development, and volunteer for community outreach programs and charities.
He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Public Accounting and Finance from Tec de Monterrey. He is a certified public accountant in Arizona and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Felix lives in Arizona with his wife, Erika, and their two children, Diego and Mateo. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the great outdoors and traveling across Arizona.
VANESSA VALENZUELA ERICKSON
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Vanessa Valenzuela Erickson is the Founder and Principal Consultant of San Miguel Consulting, where she advises organizations across the energy, sustainability, mobility, and healthcare sectors on people operations, organizational strategy, and executive leadership. She also serves as a Fractional Chief of Staff at private and non-profit organizations and previously held senior roles in HR, operations, and workforce development at Culdesac, Salt River Project, and Opendoor.
Vanessa began her career as an elementary school teacher through Teach For America, an experience that continues to ground her commitment to educational equity and community impact. She holds a Master’s in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and a bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Studies from the University of Arizona.
She is a proud lifelong Phoenician, wife, and mother of four and is passionate about advancing dignity, equity, and mental-health awareness across Arizona communities.
REYNA MONTOYA
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Reyna E. Montoya is an Echoing Green Fellow, a Forbes: 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur, and an ATHENA Young Professional recipient by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, among many other awards.
Reyna was born in Tijuana, Mexico, and migrated to Arizona in 2003, fleeing violence. She is a DACAmented social entrepreneur, community organizer, educator, non-profit executive, and dancer. She won multiple national & global fellowships, which enabled her to start Aliento. She was also a founding member of the first Teach For America DACA Advisory Board. Reyna holds bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Transborder Studies, a Dance minor from Arizona State University, an M.Ed in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University, and an executive education certificate from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She has engaged in local, statewide, and national platforms to advance justice for immigrant communities. In 2013, she was the lead organizer who prevented an immigration bus of undocumented immigrants from deportation in Phoenix, AZ, for the first time in the nation’s history. The same year, with the community's help, she stopped her father’s deportation.
Under Reyna’s leadership, Aliento impacted over 50,000 people, educated close to 100,000 voters in the 2020 and 2022 elections, and strategically organized a non-partisan coalition that led to the passage of Prop. 308, advancing education equity through gaining in-state tuition rates for DACA recipients in Arizona. Her contributions have earned her recognition from local to global contributors from #NBCLatino20 and the Muhammad Ali Center as the Humanitarian Recipient for Spirituality, 73rd Woman of the Year by Valley Leadership, Legends, and Legacy Honoree by NCAA, among many others. She hopes to continue to share her talents and skills with the community to co-create healing spaces, political change, and leadership development for our immigrant youth and mixed-status families. In her volunteer time, she also serves as a member of the Arizona Alumni Association board of directors and sits on many advisory boards. She enjoys going on long walks, exploring the beautiful state of Arizona, reading, and spending time with her fur baby!
PEARL CHANG ESAU
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Pearl Chang Esau is a non-profit executive, education & public policy expert, and advocate for greater opportunity for all. Beginning her career as a 5th grade teacher of English Language Learners in east Los Angeles and as a first generation Chinese American, Pearl believes that access to an excellent education is transformational for individuals, families and communities. Deeply committed to improving life prospects for all, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity or disability, Pearl champions educators, students and disadvantaged populations so that they can reach their full potential.
Over the last decade, Pearl held the chief executive roles for the education non-profits Teach For America Phoenix and Expect More Arizona, helping to establish education as the #1 priority for Arizona voters and raising over $40 million from public and private sources. Under her leadership, Expect More Arizona became a leading voice on education issues and played an integral role in raising expectations for Arizona students and the passage of Proposition 123, which resulted in $3.5 billion for K-12 public schools.
Passionate about collaboration, Pearl has been instrumental in the start-up of several cross-sector initiatives such as the Sanford Inspire Project at ASU, Arizona Aims Higher, the Arizona Education Progress Meter and Achieve60AZ. Pearl currently serves as a board member for Teach For America Phoenix, ASU’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center, and in 2016 was appointed by the governor as an Arizona education commissioner.
Pearl holds degrees in Communications, Public Policy, Spanish, and elementary teaching credentials from University of California Los Angeles and an executive certification from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. She is married to Mac, a public-school principal and has three young children.
JANICE PALMER
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Janice Palmer is the Senior Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy at Helios Education Foundation. Ms. Palmer is responsible for identifying Arizona policy and investment opportunities that leverage and/or positively impact the Foundation’s current investments and ensure current policy and advocacy activities inform and direct the Foundation’s future work.
Prior to joining Helios, Ms. Palmer was the Director of Governmental Relations & Public Affairs for the Arizona School Boards Association and was with the Association for over 15 years. She has previously served as Communications Director for the Proposition 200: Healthy Children Healthy Families campaign and was an Arizona Senate Policy Advisor, working in the areas of tax and fiscal policy, commerce and economic development, bilingual education, civil rights issues, and redistricting.
Ms. Palmer graduated Arizona State University magna cum laude with degrees in English and Political Science.
JUSTIN GRAHAM
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Justin is the Vice President with Sunbelt Holdings, an Arizona-based real estate development firm that recently celebrated 40 years of work in Arizona and beyond. He is responsible for managing the multi-year development of a number of the company’s urban projects ranging from residential towers to mixed-use communities. He is currently primarily engaged in a large multifamily development in Tempe. Primary roles include working with municipal councils and staff, investors, and contractors and consultants toward successful execution.
Justin formerly practiced as a real estate lawyer with Lewis Roca for several years before joining Sunbelt in 2018. He earned his JD and MBA degrees from Arizona State University, and attended Boston College as an undergraduate, during which time he also attended the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico in connection with his undergraduate degree.
Along with his wife Mary (and new daughter Eleanor), Justin is a proud ASU Sun Devil and is fortunate to serve on the ASU Foundation’s Next Generation Council, in addition to the ASU Art Museum’s Creative Impact Board. Outside of work, Justin spends as much time as he can enjoying Phoenix’s great trails and running paths, and when not frustrated by a global pandemic, concerts whenever he can.
NOMZANA “ZANA” AUGUSTIN
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Nomzana Augustin is the Associate Director for Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives at World Education Services’ Mariam Assefa Fund, who engage in grants, impact investments, and co-funding partnerships as a binational funder in the United States and Canada. Nomzana leads the Fund’s co-funding partnerships collaborating with peer funders and ecosystem partners to fund and advance immigrant, refugee, and intersectional solutions.
Prior to the Mariam Assefa Fund, Nomzana oversaw and supported domestic and international development and equity-focused initiatives, grant programs, and partnerships at Save the Children, FHI360, and Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT). Nomzana received her master's degree in public policy from Johns Hopkins University. She is a member of the board of Grantmakers Concerned with Immigrants and Refugees (GCIR) and is a 2022-23 ABFE Connecting Leaders Fellow. She currently lives in Washington, D.C.
NIKKI DELEON-MARTIN
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Nikki DeLeon-Martin is Deputy Director and Chief Strategy Officer at Phoenix Art Museum, where she serves on the executive leadership team and helps guide the Museum’s institutional vision and strategic direction. She oversees the execution of the Museum’s strategic plan and leads initiatives across external affairs, education and library, human resources, campus development, security, and facilities.
Since first joining the Museum in 2012, Nikki has held several leadership roles across communications, marketing, and external affairs, previously overseeing advancement efforts that generated approximately $14M in contributed revenue. Prior to Phoenix Art Museum, she worked as a communications consultant supporting higher education institutions and served in leadership roles within the Maricopa Community Colleges system.
She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Bennington College and a BA in English Literature from Arizona State University. DeLeon-Martin also serves on community boards including Jewish Free Loan and Temple Kol Ami.
LORENA GARCIA DURAN
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In 2020, Lorena García Durán launched the Canopy Team efforts at Ashoka, significantly enhancing the organization's ability to build an Everyone a Changemaker World. Since joining Ashoka in 2008, Lorena has specialized in forging impactful partnerships between social and business entrepreneurship. Her visionary leadership was evident in 2012 when she established Miami as the Latin American hub for Ashoka, creating the strongest network of individual funders in the US at that time.
After five years of spearheading initiatives focused on equity and inclusion, Lorena helped position the organization to more fully achieve its mission. She also serves as a Board member of Imperative Fund, an impact investment fund dedicated to sustainably lifting communities out of poverty.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Lorena studied French at La Sorbonne in Paris and earned her degree from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in Spain. She currently resides in Washington, DC.
Advisory Council
ADRIANA GALLEGO
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Adriana Gallego is the Executive Director of the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona. As an artist at the service of other artists, Gallego's work is motivated by social justice, where she seeks to connect people with meaningful resources that grow capacity, build community, foster collaboration, and bridge cultural understanding. She serves on the national board of directors of Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) and MAP Fund. Previously, she was Chief Operating Officer at NALAC, Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Educational Assistant at the Norton Simon Museum, and teaching artist throughout the Southwest.
JENNY POON
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Jenny Poon is an entrepreneur and founder of CO+HOOTS. Ranked #4 coworking space in the nation by Inc.com, CO+HOOTS currently houses 280+ scaling entrepreneurs and small businesses and has been an integral role in creating hundreds of jobs locally. She has led CO+HOOTS from its inception in 2010 to be the #1 most innovative coworking space in the world. Her background in business, design and marketing led her to build a place where she could connect with like-minded folks that believe business growth comes from collaboration between different industries. She speaks regularly on leadership as a millenial, the importance of nurturing innovation in the workspace and works tirelessly to bring visibility to coworking as an economic development tool for building vibrant and equitable cities.
Her background as an award-winning designer and strategist led her to build a shared work space where she could connect with like-minded, talented folks who believe collaboration between industries is where innovation flourishes. Jenny serves as an advisor for several startups, Chair of the CO+HOOTS Foundation, and mentors young entrepreneurs weekly.
Jenny was named Phoenix Business Journal’s 2016 Phoenix Businessperson of the Year. The first minority and the first woman to receive the honor.
IRASEMA CORONADO
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Irasema Coronado received her bachelor's degree in political science and a certificate of Latin American Studies from the University of South Florida. She has an M.A. in Latin American Studies and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Arizona. Her area of specialization is comparative politics. She is the Director of the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. Previously, she was a professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), where she held the Kruszewski Family Endowed Professorship.
President Barack Obama appointed her to serve on the Joint Public Advisory Committee of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation in North America in 2010.
Irasema Coronado served as the executive director of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America 2012-2016. The Commission for Environmental Cooperation facilitates collaboration and public participation to foster conservation, protection and enhancement of the North American environment for the benefit of present and future generations, in the context of increasing economic, trade, and social links among Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Hispanic Business Magazine named her one of the Top 100 Influential Hispanics in the United States in October of 2010.
She serves on the MS Magazine academic advisory board and is co-chair of the Coalition Against Violence Toward Women and Families on the US-Mexico border.
Her present research includes the impact of the deportation process on families and children, women in politics, environmental cooperation, and U.S.-Mexico border politics.
She grew up in Nogales, Arizona and served as an intern for then Governor Bruce Babbitt in the 1980s.
WILL RUTT
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Will Rutt is the Executive Director of the Intercommunity Peace and Justice Center (IPJC) in Seattle, WA and formerly served as the Director of Justice Formation & Advocacy at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, Arizona. He holds undergraduate degrees in economics and theology from Creighton University and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of San Francisco. Since college Will has been an accomplice of the undocumented community, when he first worked as a student organizer helping resist SB1070 in Arizona. Will began working closely with Aliento during his time at Brophy, as partners in support of the student-led DreamOn campaign, an undocumented-led, narrative-based campaign that leverages Catholic identity to create change for those who are undocumented in the United States. The DreamOn campaign has been some of the most life-giving work that he has done, especially witnessing the impact that the campaign has had on undocumented student experience at Brophy. Now at IPJC, Will continues his work through education, advocacy, and community organizing. When Will is not working, he can be found spending time with his partner Elizabeth and pup Autumn, always trying to get outside in the mountains.
LUIS AVILA
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Luis Avila was an advisor with 270 Strategies. Most recently he was the national program director at Stand for Children, a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to improving public school education, where he worked with immigrant parents to mobilize thousands of voters to protect funding for their children's schools. While at Stand, he was awarded its National Leadership Award for his work supporting, coaching, and developing organizers around the country.
Born in Culiacan Sinaloa, Mexico, Luis founded a youth publication in Queretaro at the age of 16 to give students a chance to voice their opinions on social and political issues. His passion for giving others a voice eventually brought him to the United States, where he has spent the better part of his career working to improve the quality of life for people in his community by expanding access to quality education.
Luis has worked as a writer, director, and actor in both theater and film, and hosted radio shows in Phoenix, AZ including the Spanish-language Sin Mordaza on 1190 AM and the bilingual youth show El Break on 95.1 FM. He enjoys volunteering at his local library in his free time and can be found on the weekends exploring his new neighborhood in Phoenix.