HLI Advisory Council 2024-2026

Dr. Yanez is a proud member of the inaugural HOPE HLI Class of 1999. After HLI, Dr. Yanez ran for office to be elected to the Rio Hondo College Board and served from 2001-2005. She did not serve a second term but endorsed another HLI alumni to successfully succeed her seat. Dr.Yanez then pursued her doctorate degree in higher education to serve as a leader in the community college system. Over the years, she has continued to develop her leadership skills in workforce development and now serves as an intermediary to connect business to education.

Dr. Yanez is the Principal of MY Workforce Solutions LLC, a WBE/MBE/SB certified consulting firm that aims to connect business to education and help create pathways to jobs. MY Workforce Solutions LLC is focused on sustainability and green jobs, providing pre apprenticeship readiness to priority populations for the electric vehicles and hydrogen sector.

From 2021-2023, MY Workforce Solutions served as the Project Manager for a High Road Training Partnership (HRTP) for the United Steelworkers (USW) – Proterra Training & Apprenticeship Trust. The fiscal agent was the Miguel Contreras Foundation, and the training was called an Introduction to Electric Bus Manufacturing, offered on-site at Proterra Inc. From 2014-2019, Dr. Yanez worked as the Director of Education Pathways for the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership and served as the intermediary between education and business.

MY Workforce Solutions is still the Project Manager of the program which has transitioned to an Introduction to Electric Vehicle/Hydrogen Technology Program at Charter Oak Adult Education. MY client is the Miguel Contreras Foundation, and the program is funded by Jobs for the Future (JFF). MY Workforce Solutions LLC is positioned to grow as the demand for green jobs continues to grow to meet California’s goal of zero-emissions by 2035.

From 2016-2019, Dr. Yanez served as an appointed commissioner to the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board (WDACS). Today Dr. Yanez serves on the board of EXP The Opportunity Engine, a non-profit for young people to succeed in school, career and life.

Dr. Yanez is a Doctor of Education with a focus in civil justice from CSULB and Master of Public Administration with a focus in inter-governmental management from USC.

Born and raised in Bakersfield, California, Parra has spent most of her life in public service. Parra has more than 30 years of extensive legislative and political experience. She spent ten years, working for U.S. Congressman Cal Dooley (retired), was elected to the California State Assembly (2002-2008), and appointed to a high- level position within the Business, Transportation and Housing agency by Governor Schwarzenegger.

Parra graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992 with a B.A. in Economics. In 1998, she earned a J.D. from the Catholic University School of Law in Washington D.C.
Parra has been recognized over the years by her community, including in 2002, in partnership with United Farmworkers Representative Martha Guzman and Alpaugh community leader Sandra Meraz, for her work supplying clean drinking water to the families in Alpaugh. During that time, she assisted community leaders in Alpaugh, Allensworth and Earlimart in organizing town councils which was critical in the development of the San Joaquin Valley Partnership.

In 2009, Parra received the Mark Bingham Award for Excellence in Achievement by U.C. Berkeley and in 2017, Parra was inducted into the first class of the Highland High School Alumni Hall of Fame. Parra is a founding member of Latina Leaders of Kern County, and has served on the Stop the Violence, Mother’s Against Senseless Killing, Central California Community Food Bank, Self-Help Enterprises, advisory boards. In 2020, Parra was nominated (and later elected) to the Women in California Politics (WICP) Board by California Treasurer Fiona Ma. The mission of WICP is to educate, empower and inspire future generations of women to foster the spirit of public service and encourage community involvement.

In 2014, Parra was hired as an Adjunct Professor at California State University Bakersfield where she was an instructor for American Government and Politics, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties courses for two years. In 2016, Parra was hired as the campaign manager for the Measure J Campaign for the Kern Community College District, a $500M school bond that passed with a 2/3 vote. In 2017, Parra was hired as the State Government Affairs Manager for Marathon Petroleum Corporation

In 2022, Parra was hired by former Kern Community College District Chancellor Sonya Christian to be the Director of the California Renewable Energy Laboratory (CREL) at the Kern Community College District. As a result of legislative advocacy, CREL was created with a $50M California state budget appropriation. Launched in 2022 the mission of CREL is to support the state’s energy industry in four areas: carbon dioxide reduction, clean energy and grid resilience, clean transportation, and workforce innovation.

In 2023, Parra was hired as Vice President, Community Affairs, for California Resources Corporation (CRC) and Carbon TerraVault (CTV). On August 11, 2023, CTV announced that the California DAC HUB was selected to receive $11.8 million funding from the U.S. Department of Energy under its Regional DAC Hubs Initiative related to the proposed development of California’s first full-scale DAC plus storage (DAC+S) network of regional hubs. Parra was honored to lead the development of the California DAC Hub Community Benefits Plan for CTV which aims to deliver real and meaningful benefits to the communities in Kern County.

Ana R. Melgoza, MPA, is Vice President of External Affairs for San Ysidro Health (SYHealth) one of the largest community health centers in the nation. She joined SYHealth in 2005 and proceeded to establish the External Affairs department. Ana supervises a wide range of crucial functions, including government relations/advocacy, public/private/non-profit partnerships, private fund development, outreach, creative services, social media, media relations, and corporate communications. Her role is pivotal in sustaining and expanding SYHealth’s dedication to compassionate care for all, a legacy forged by the seven founding mothers in 1969. Presently, SYHealth boasts a workforce of 3,000 employees, with 77% being women, delivering essential health services to the 161,000 lives under their care across San Diego County, spanning urban to rural communities.

Her personal and professional goals are to eradicate health disparities especially in children and seniors in under-resourced communities. In SYHealth’s service area zip codes, children have a life expectancy that is 10 years less than those born in more affluent areas and are two times more likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes. Ana’s tireless efforts are motivated by her belief that a person’s zip code should never determine their life expectancy or health outcomes. It should only be where mail is delivered.

Ana extends her impact beyond SYHealth through active participation in policy-making and non-profit boards. Her roles include contributions to The San Diego Union Tribune Community Advisory Board, The San Diego County Health Services Advisory Board, The Scan Foundation Health Equity Task Force, The National Council on Aging Health Equity Advisory Board, and Circulate San Diego.

Ana is a graduate of the National Urban Fellows Program, earning her master’s degree in public administration in New York City and also a graduate of Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. She has honed her leadership skills through the HOPE Leadership Institute and LEAD San Diego.

Ana’s unwavering commitment and outstanding contributions to healthcare advocacy have not gone unnoticed. She has been recognized with various accolades, including The San Diego County Health Equity SHEro award from the Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas for her exemplary representation of service to underserved families.

In every aspect of her multifaceted career, Ana Melgoza exemplifies dedication, compassion, and an unyielding commitment to creating equitable healthcare solutions for all.

Erica Rosales is a visionary educational leader renowned for her dedication to fostering academic excellence, college access, and opportunity. For nearly two decades, she has dedicated her career to growing College Match, a college access organization dedicated to helping students from low-income communities in Los Angeles get into and graduate from selective colleges nationwide.

Rosales’s passion for empowering students began 25 years ago when she was a founding teacher at the first charter high school in Los Angeles. Using her experience as a first-generation college graduate to inform her approach to education and access, she has transformed countless lives, providing students from low-income communities with access to quality schools and pathways to college success. Before her role at College Match, Rosales served as the Assistant Dean of Admission at Occidental College. Her commitment to equity and inclusion has been a driving force throughout her career, inspiring others to advocate for educational justice.

Under Rosales’s leadership, College Match has become an institution and a beacon of hope for students from low-income communities in Los Angeles. Her tireless efforts have empowered students to achieve their dreams of higher education, broken down barriers, and built bridges to opportunity for the next generation of leaders.

Zulma Maciel has 25 years’ public administration experience and is a versatile leader with expertise in public policy development, local government administration, and legislative work.
In July 2015, Zulma became the first Director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) for the City of San José, CA, and led the development of the City’s first Welcoming San Jose Plan, and subsequently a second edition. While serving as Director, Zulma was committed to implementing strategies that would create a more inclusive environment and improve the quality of life of immigrants and refugees. Through this work Zulma recognized the need for an institutional approach that would result in better outcomes for immigrants, specifically the undocumented, limited or non-English speakers, and the poor.

In 2020, Zulma was appointed as the inaugural Director of San Jose’s Office of Racial Equity. She aims to embed a racial equity practice within the organization and embody a culture that sustains it, so that the needs and aspirations of Black, brown, indigenous, and other historically underserved communities are centered in policies, programs, and practices. Zulma’s diverse leadership experiences, track record of authentic community partnerships, and results-driven approach has enabled Zulma to live out her calling in this role.

In her spare time, Zulma volunteers on local non-profit boards and regularly enjoys hiking and Pilates. Zulma is binational (México and US citizen), bilingual, and bicultural. She earned a B.A in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Domenica Escatel, a proud Central Valley native, serves as a dedicated staff member at the University of California, Merced. As a first-generation college graduate, she holds degrees from San Jose State University and BradmanUniversity. With over a decade of experience in the field of education, Domenica has made significant contributions by working closely with educators, parents, students, and communities in various capacities.

Driven by her passion for social impact, Domenica founded the grassroots organization Chicana Inc., which focuses on collaborating, connecting, and amplifying the Latina voice. Her community engagement and leadership have earned her several prestigious awards.

Domenica has completed fellowships with Vital Voices Global Partnership, Leadership Modesto, and the HOPE Leadership Institute with Hispanas Organized for Political Equality. As a multifaceted leader, Domenica continues to collaborate for social good through diverse initiatives and platforms.

Marina E. Pérez brings extensive experience advocating for language access services and removing barriers to essential information for diverse communities. As the Program Manager for the State Water Board’s Office of Public Participation Language Access Program, Marina ensured all Californians have equitable access to vital information for decision-making processes regarding access to safe drinking water. She managed language needs in multilingual communities and addressed complaints, showcasing her commitment to inclusive communication. Additionally, Marina comanaged public engagement efforts for the SAFER Drinking Water Program, utilizing her expertise to develop and execute strategic outreach initiatives, particularly focusing on water quality issues, consolidation of small public water systems, and statewide site cleanup efforts.

Previously, Marina contributed to site mitigation and cleanup efforts with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, gaining valuable experience in hazardous waste management in Southern California. She also played a crucial role in constructing over 155 new schools with the Los Angeles Unified School District to alleviate overcrowding in largely multilingual communities.

Marina is a staunch advocate for language equity, actively promoting inclusivity and accessibility. She participated in the Government Alliance on Race and Equity Capitol Cohort and co-authored the publication “CalEPA Best Practices & Guidance on Language Access Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency.“

Marina holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and a Master’s in Public Administration from Cal State Northridge.

Isabel Martinez is a Long Beach resident with a wealth of experience working and consulting for local government. She is currently the Chief of Staff to Councilmember Daryl Supernaw in Long Beach’s Fourth Council District. Isabel previously served as Chief of Staff to former Vice Mayor Dee Andrews and has served in various municipal departments such as: Energy Resources, Economic Development and Parks, Recreation & Marine. As an Associate Consultant she specialized in Community Engagement within communities needing English to Spanish translation. Isabel holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University Dominguez Hills and is a proud Mom of two young girls.

Jasmine is part of the strategic communications team at The Omidyar Group, which is a collection of companies, organizations, and initiatives that strive to catalyze social impact. Prior to joining philanthropy, Jasmine worked at Airbnb and TikTok, leading policy communications in a wide range of roles and global markets. She also has public sector experience, having worked in Congress and on political campaigns for six years. Jasmine started her career as a middle school teacher in Los Angeles, teaching history to sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants, the first in her family to graduate from college, and enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and cooking.

Marina Espinoza currently serves as the Legislative Director in the Office of Assemblymember Reyes. Prior to her current role, Marina was a Senior Legislative Analyst at the California State Association of Counties, where she focused on housing, land use, and transportation issues. She has also previously held positions as a Legislative Aide in the Office of Assemblymember Kevin Mullin and as a Research Analyst at LeSar Development Consultants, where she worked with local jurisdictions on various housing plans. She is a member of the California Latino Capitol Association Foundation and the Capital Fellows Alumni Association. Marina earned her bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies and Planning from UC San Diego.

Carolyn was born and raised in the Central Valley. Having over 15 years of non-profit leadership experience at all levels. She loves working with young people and adults to identify and uplift their unique gifts. Currently, she is the Development Manager at Youth Leadership Institute overseeing individual donor development activities statewide. She is currently serving on the Race Equity Advisory Committee for the Central Valley Community Foundation. Is the board chair of Lowell Community Development Corporation, which focuses on affordable housing in Downtown Fresno. Using her experiences to also serve as a mentor to Central Valley Latino young professionals.

Jenilee Fermin can be described as a forward-looking and empathetic leader and communicator. She fulfilled her dream of moving to Sacramento to work at the State’s Capitol in 2023 where she serves as a Legislative Assistant for Assemblymember Gregg Hart (CA-37) where she analyzes legislation in the areas of: human services, labor, transportation, and aging. She previously worked as a Field Representative for Assemblymember Rudy Salas in Kern County, where she connected rural community members to State departments and resources. She is most proud of resolving hundreds of constituent cases during the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitating $1 million dollars of state funding for infrastructure improvements of a local family resource center. Prior to joining the Assembly, she worked in health care administration and insurance.

Jenilee is a first-generation oldest daughter of immigrants and the first in her family to obtain a post-secondary education. Jenilee is passionate about mentoring women and youth, her issues of interest include: immigration, mental health, criminal justice reform, and reducing economic disparities. Jenilee is a proud Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute alumni. She enjoys community service, civic engagement, and empowering marginalized voices. In her free time Jenilee appreciates art, likes to explore, spend quality time with her daughter and husband, read, write, and laugh with friends.

Vanessa Gonzalez is entering her sixth season with the Warriors organization as Manager, Public Affairs. In her current role, Gonzalez serves as a liaison between the Warriors organization, the local community, and government officials in the San Francisco and Oakland area.

Through the strategic development of critical relationships building with Bay Area community leaders and elected officials, she has provided diverse equity and inclusion opportunities for community members with programs such as Chase Center Training Career Readiness & Customer Service Training, Franchise Fund and Women’s Small Business Market at Thrive City

Gonzalez joined the Warriors as an event staff member in 2016 before joining the team full-time as a public affairs coordinator. In 2019, she served as a crucial piece on the team that led the opening and development of Chase Center in San Francisco and the neighborhood engagement before being promoted to Public Affairs Manager.

With over eight years of experience working in the sports industry. Her vast experience and knowledge come from the numerous part-time positions she held for multiple teams such as the Raiders, San Francisco Giants, San Francisco Deltas, and UC Berkeley Athletics.

Gonzalez currently holds a seat as a board member of the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council for the Warriors organization and the Chair of Latino Employee Resources Group, Fuerza En Números. Along with serving on the board of Latinx in Sport, an organization that aims to create networking opportunities and exposure for Latinx professionals wanting to enter the sports industry.

A native of Berkeley, California, she is a first-generation Mexican-American and the first in her family to graduate from college, receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Gonzalez is the youngest of three siblings; in her spare time, she enjoys going listening to live music.