MEET OUR BOARD

Latina Coalition consists of an all working board who give their time, talents, and treasures to the mission.

Meet our Board

President

  • Senior Director of Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte

    Dianna Zamora-Marroquin serves as the Senior Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte (PPMM) where she is responsible for legislative lobbying, community engagement, grassroots advocacy and media affairs. Her work has resulted in securing millions of dollars to support expanding reproductive healthcare and in the passage of legislation that directly protects patients' and improves the quality of care received. Prior to joining PPMM, she was the Senior Director of Political Strategy and Operations for a Bay Area labor council, where she developed the Council’s political program and ran the largest, most sophisticated, grassroots political operation in the South Bay. Dianna has enjoyed a successful career, holding positions ranging from a Consultant for the Select Committee on California-Latin American Affairs for a State Assembly Member to the Public Policy Manager for a State Senator. She has worked for a renowned research firm in San Diego as their Senior Project Director and lived in Washington, D.C. where she served as the Communications Director for two California Congressmen.

    Dianna currently serves as the President of the Latina Coalition Silicon Valley, on the Santa Clara Task Force on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the San Jose Spotlight Community Advisory Board, Santa Clara County Race and Health Disparities Community Board, the Democratic Activists for Women Now (DAWN) Board, and a voting member of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party. She also received an award from Assembly Member Alex Lee for Hispanic Heritage month recognizing her many contributions and outstanding work in the community.

    Dianna, who is fluent in Spanish, earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations with a minor in Italian from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Global Leadership with a certification in Project Management from the University of San Diego.

Vice President

  • Director of Communications and Engagement

    Esmé is a trailblazing first-generation immigrant fuelled by determination and tenacity; she proudly graduated from San José State University (Go Spartans!) with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism, laying the foundation for her extraordinary journey.

    Driven by her unwavering commitment to communications, public policy, and education. Esmé devotes herself daily to these passions in her current role as the Director of Communications and Engagement at San José Unified School District. And in her previous roles as the Communications Director for former Mayor Sam Liccardo and, more recently, as the Deputy Chief Communications Officer For Mayor Matt Mahan.

    Her career has been an inspiring fusion of modern communications and civic engagement, where she leverages her skills to make a meaningful impact in her community.

    Beyond her professional endeavors, Esmé embraces her role as a catalyst for change. As a dedicated member of the board of directors of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, she champions vital causes such as racial equity, women's rights, and the advancement of Latina leadership.

    Her involvement with organizations focusing on racial equity, empowerment, and leadership underscores her unwavering dedication to creating a more inclusive and empowering society. With her vibrant spirit and tireless advocacy, Esmé continues to pave the way for a brighter future, leaving an indelible mark on her community and inspiring others to follow in her footsteps.

Secretary

  • Manager of Operations and Racial Justice and Equity

    Vanessa Grijalva, commonly referred to as "V" within her community, originates from East San Jose, California, where she grew up amidst the formidable challenges faced by her family in the areas of housing, education, and economic stability. These early-life experiences instilled in her an unwavering resilience and a determined spirit.

    Breaking barriers and charting her own path, Vanessa achieved the distinction of being the first in her family to graduate. Her educational journey laid the groundwork for a diverse career that has traversed various industries, encompassing both for-profit and nonprofit sectors. Vanessa's professional trajectory has encompassed pivotal roles in business operations and public policy.

    Presently, Vanessa holds the role of Executive Assistant at Stryker, a renowned global leader in medical technology. In this capacity, she provides indispensable support to three Vice Presidents, contributing significantly to the organization's seamless operation. Furthermore, Vanessa serves as the Community Engagement Lead for Stryker's SOMOS Latinx Employee Resource Group (ERG). In this role, she adeptly combines her professional acumen with her unyielding dedication to her community, fostering deeper connections between Stryker and the Latinx community.

    Beyond her professional commitments, Vanessa proudly embraces her role as a devoted mother. She imparts her wisdom to her 13-year-old son, Braylon, emphasizing the paramount importance of community engagement and the significance of giving back. Through her exemplary leadership, Vanessa instills in Braylon the core values of compassion and civic responsibility, ensuring his growth into an active and empathetic leader within his own community.

Board Member

  • Program Officer

    Jazmin Gonzalez is a Program Officer at Sobrato Family Foundation and is responsible for all aspects of program strategy and grant-making for the Essential Human Services portfolio. This portfolio provides support for Silicon Valley safety net service non-profits. Jazmin is passionate about organizational health and the important role of community in advancing racial equity and social justice. Jazmin holds a B.S. in Community and Regional Development with an emphasis in Policy and Planning from the University of California, Davis.

Board Member

  • Emily is a first-generation graduate, native to Silicon Valley and enjoys citizenry engagement, life-long learning, the arts, and advocacy of those historically vulnerable to build a stronger and more empowered integral society.

    Emily is a 2023 Fellow for Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), Silicon Valley Foundations Hispanic Board Leadership Academy and Whole Person Center Mindfulness for Professionals (Español).

    She is a volunteer for SCCC LGBTQ+ Committee, Project Citizen, and Sacred Heart Community Service events.

    A few of her highlights include her recent appointment to The City of San Jose’s Measure T Oversight Committee, National’s Hokstad/Wilcox Spirit Award, NAACP Innovation Education Award, and Ericsson’s Global Impact Award.

    Emily most recently served as Vice President of Culture and Community Engagement at National University and inaugural Vice President of Strategic Partnerships for Office of Social Justice, appointed by the Board of Trustees.

    Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Foreign Languages from San Jose State University. She most recently started her Masters in the History of Consciousness and Transformational Leadership.

Treasurer

  • Lily Sainz was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and grew up navigating the challenges of a new country—learning a new language, embracing a new culture, and finding her identity between the two. In her early 20s, she embraced a pivotal moment by pursuing higher education—an experience that broadened her perspective, opened doors she had never imagined, and instilled in her humility, resilience, and a deep passion for helping others, as well as a profound appreciation for the opportunities education can provide.

    Lily earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from San José State University, laying the foundation for her career in tax and finance. She is a Tax Manager at PPCO Advisors in San Jose, where she specializes in real estate taxation with an emphasis on pass-through entities, including partnerships and LLCs. She also works with trusts, corporations, and individual clients. Beyond client work, Lily is dedicated to developing her team, supporting the Real Estate Practice Group, and contributing to firm-wide operations.

    Although new to nonprofit service, Lily brings leadership, operational insight, and practical problem-solving skills to her role on the Board. Outside of work, she enjoys learning new skills, experimenting in the kitchen, playing the piano, reading, and exploring new restaurants and places.

Board Member

  • As Managing Partner of Fragomen’s Silicon Valley office, Kristi leads an all-women partnership and oversees a team of hundreds of attorneys and business professionals. With more than 25 years of experience in corporate business immigration, she provides strategic legal counsel to top companies across industries, including technology, semiconductors, entertainment and consumer products.

    Companies rely on her knowledge and experience to navigate complex immigration policies, support employee mobility and make critical business decisions. A former Congressional Assistant and Immigration Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Kristi brings deep policy insight to her work, shaping innovative and compliant immigration programs for businesses of all sizes.

    Beyond her legal practice, Kristi is a champion of inclusivity, serving as Co-Chair of Fragomen Silicon Valley’s DEI committee and encourages its attorneys to uphold their pro bono commitments. She also serves on the Latina Advisory Board of How Women Lead and is a board member for SCU Law’s Alexander Community Law Center. A Santa Clara University alumna, Kristi is dedicated to legal excellence, corporate strategy and community impact.

Board Member

  • Tamara Mozahuani Alvarado is a program officer at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. She oversees grantmaking to help ensure that California’s communities are strong, resilient places where everyone can thrive.

    Tamara joins the Packard Foundation after serving as executive director of the Leo M. Shortino Family Foundation, a San José, California–based foundation that focuses on youth and arts. She has held executive, board, and director positions at various local, regional and national arts and community organizations, including the School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza; the Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute at 1stAct Silicon Valley (now SVCREATES); MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana; and WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation).

    Tamara holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature with an emphasis in Chicano Studies from Stanford University. She has been a traditional Aztec dancer for over 23 years and enjoys spending time with her family and friends in the Mount Shasta region of California.

Board Member

  • Dora Beyer is passionate about socioeconomic and educational equity. As Director of Community Development at Excite Credit Union, she leads the organization’s philanthropic efforts – including financial literacy, child savings accounts, and nonprofit partnerships – with a focus on serving the underbanked, immigrant and small business communities. She serves as board chair at the Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN), volunteers with Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, and leads the Entrepreneurship Giving Circle of the Latino Community Foundation. She is the eldest of four, daughter of Mexican immigrants and most of all enjoys being the cool Tia (Auntie).

Meet Our Advisory Board

  • Zulma Maciel is the Director of San Jose’s Office of Racial Equity, where she aims to institutionalize an equity practice and support sustainable, transformational change so that, ultimately, Black and Brown communities experience better outcomes. Her diverse leadership experiences, track record of authentic community partnerships, results-driven approach, and commitment to racial justice has enabled Zulma to live out her calling in this role. 

    Zulma has served the public for over two decades in various capacities, such as, policy development, administration, and management of a $15M grant portfolio. In 2015, she became the first Director of San Jose’s Office of Immigrant Affairs committed to creating an environment of belonging for people who all San Jose home. Collaboratively with community partners, Zulma developed the City’s first Welcoming San Jose Plan that outlined an ambitious set of goals and strategies in service of immigrants and refugees. 

    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.

  • A cross-sector ESG leader with expertise in infrastructure, public policy and philanthropy, Teresa currently chairs the California Water Commission and serves as a founding board member of Parks California. She previously served on the Silicon Valley (pandemic) Recovery Roundtable, co-chairing its Inclusive Recovery subcommittee, as well as the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), chairing its Environmental Justice Commissioner Working Group. In 1999, Teresa called together a group of prominent Latinas, founded the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley and served as its first president. Teresa earned a minor degree in Technical Writing and bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University and a master’s degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Tufts University. She is an American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley senior fellow.

  • Rebecca Ann Gallardo is a career real estate consultant and Top Producer with Intero Real Estate Services in Silicon Valley - San Jose, Calif. A 30-year Silicon Valley veteran of the real estate industry, she specializes in investor purchases, 1031 exchanges, new home community, and first-time home buyers. An advocate for sustainable home ownership, housing and the Latino community, she has held leadership roles to advance these causes on a local, state and the national level. As a San Jose native, Gallardo's contributions include Santa Clara Valley Water District, 2021 PPI committee & 2019 Inaugural Ambassador & Water Academy, serving on water issues and projects in the Santa Clara Valley. Two time nominee, Rebecca was recognized by the Silicon Valley Business Journal as a Women of Influence. In 2017, Rebecca was honored with a Phenomenal Women Award by the Santa Clara County Office of Women's Policy and Building Peaceful Families for her service.