Meet the Team

Leadership

REYNA MONTOYA
FOUNDER + CEO + BOARD MEMBER

  • 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

  • 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
DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL + TECHNOLOGY

  • 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

  • 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.

Core Team

ILEANA SALINAS
CULTIVA PROGRAM MANAGER

  • 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 organized against SB1070, supported DACA advocacy, 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.

PEDRO GONZALEZ-ABOYTE
EDUCATION MANAGER

  • Pedro Gonzalez-Aboyte is a DACA recipient born in Mexico and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from Brophy College Preparatory before moving to San Antonio, Texas. Pedro attended St. Mary’s University, where he earned a degree in Psychology, along with a minor and a certificate. He strives to find ways to help uplift the minority community, specifically the Dreamer students.

    Pedro holds the value of giving back very highly, which is what has helped him get to where he is today. For him, giving back to the community that helped him is a cathartic experience that hopefully helps in creating tangible positive change.

    In his free time, Pedro enjoys playing sports, running, journaling, and sketching. He is also an avid concert-goer and likes to travel.

BRITTANY DURAN
GRANTS, IMPACT, AND COMPLIANCE MANAGER

  • Brittany is a proud first-generation college graduate from Arizona State University, where she earned dual bachelor's degrees in Social Justice & Human Rights and Family & Human Development. Rooted in her lived experience growing up in Eloy, Arizona, a community shaped by the presence of private immigration detention centers, Brittany brings a deep, personal commitment to advancing immigrant rights, mental health advocacy, education equity, and BIPOC leadership.

    With nearly five years of experience in nonprofit grant management, Brittany has contributed to organizations including the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission in South Korea, and Aliento.

    A Fulbright Scholar, Flinn Scholar, and AmeriCorps State Member alumna, Brittany is passionate about building systems of care and opportunity that center dignity, healing, and justice. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her partner and son.

ABRIL VALENZUELA
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

  • Abril Valenzuela is a native of Arizona, raised in Glendale. Her family moved to Arizona from Mexico, and drawing on her lived experiences, Abril developed a passion for advocating for immigrant rights, aiming to take an active role in fostering a more equitable future for families in Arizona.

    She participated in the Arizona’s Future Fellowship (‘20-’21), where she became involved with Aliento’s mission, organizing for DACA and in-state tuition. As the first registered voter in her immigrant family, she saw the importance of the youth vote in reflecting their community’s views in elections. Because of this, she has organized to advocate for the immigrant community in the 2020 & 2024 Aliento Votes, and 2022 Prop. 308 campaigns. Abril is a recipient of the 2023 Congressman Ed Pastor Civic Leadership Medallion for her work demonstrating civic leadership and commitment to public service. In May 2023, she graduated as a first-generation student from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Justice Studies. As an alum of the Fellowship, and utilizing her policy background and experiences as a member of a mixed-status family, Abril aims to uplift her community and student leaders in voicing their stories to promote change.

    Abril loves to read and play guitar during her free time. She loves spending time with her family and her dog, Bow. And, she is passionate about exploring coffee shops and brunch spots in Arizona.

Support Team

IVETTE SOSA BARRAZA
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LIAISON

  • 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.

DANIELA FUENTES RAMIREZ
COMMUNICATIONS + MARKETING MANAGER

  • Daniela is a California-based marketing and communications strategist, born in Mexicali, Mexico. She migrated to the United States at the age of twelve without knowing a word of English. As a first-generation immigrant, she found refuge in storytelling, art, and community — passions that would later shape her career.

    Daniela began her professional journey as a graphic designer for a government agency and later led marketing efforts in the financial sector. She went on to found MATIZ Creative, a woman-owned agency focused on culturally immersive campaigns. Through MATIZ, Daniela partnered with nonprofits and global mission-driven brands such as On Running Shoes, BetterHelp, and others to develop strategies that resonated deeply with diverse audiences.


    Her work at MATIZ earned national recognition — including a prestigious Clio Award, one of the highest honors in the advertising industry, as well as a Telly Award — affirming her ability to deliver powerful, creative campaigns with both cultural relevance and commercial impact.

    Today, Daniela serves as Marketing and Communications Manager at Aliento, where she leads brand strategy, digital campaigns, and narrative change initiatives that uplift youth and immigrant families. She is currently pursuing her MBA at UC Davis with a focus in Strategic Management and Marketing, and serves on the UC Davis GSM Student Board as Director of Marketing.

    In her free time, Daniela enjoys exploring the California coast and spending time at the beach with her dog, Ash.

PRISCILA ROMERO
COMMUNICATIONS + MARKETING COORDINATOR

  • 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.

Board of Directors

VANESSA VALENZUELA ERICKSON

  • Vanessa Valenzuela Erickson is a people operations and talent management consultant and advisor. Most recently, she served as Chief People Officer at Culdesac - a first-of-its-kind car-free real estate developer. Prior to this, she worked in human resources, business operations, and finance at Salt River Project and Opendoor. She started her career teaching elementary school through the Teach For America program. Vanessa holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University and a degree in Economics and International Studies from the University of Arizona. She is a proud native Phoenician, wife, and mother of four. Vanessa is passionate about equity in education, dignity and opportunity for all members of our community, and the destigmatization of seeking mental health care.

FELIX GARCIA IBAÑEZ
BOARD CHAIR

  • 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.

REYNA MONTOYA

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

Advisory Council

ADRIANA GALLEGO

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.