I grew up in the border region, splitting my time between El Centro, California and Mexicali, Mexico before moving to Chula Vista, California. Growing up in a binational environment gave me a front-row seat to both the inequities in our world as well as the power that community care can play in ensuring folks have access to their basic needs. After college, I worked at several organizations helping connect individuals to social safety net programs while simultaneously working with external partners to improve system delivery for immigrants, unhoused individuals, college students, and the greater community.
My journey at the Basic Needs Center began as a graduate student, working on improving outreach to graduate students and increasing resources, including expanding CalFresh eligibility for graduate students. I transitioned to the Community Services Coordinator after completing my master's. As the Associate Director, I am most excited about ensuring the center’s work continues to be rooted and informed by students’ lived experiences as we work together to shape better community support networks.
