Tell us about yourself, how did you get into philanthropy? 

During my time at the LA County Department of Public Social Services, I developed partnerships with health care centers and community- and faith-based organizations to offer public benefits at nontraditional sites that communities trust. It was through this that I was first introduced to philanthropy, when a dental clinic partnered with a Women Infant and Children (WIC) office to provide fluoride treatment to children onsite. This was made possible through a grant from First 5 LA, a public funder that supports early childhood programs and initiatives focused on improving the lives of children age 5 and under and their families. 

In 2012, I joined First 5 LA as a Program Officer in the Best Start Communities initiative to create a positive impact in the lives of our youngest Angelenos. This initiative aligned with my career goals to partner with the community and uplift their solutions. Best Start Communities is a place-based initiative in 14 historically underinvested geographic areas that facilitates cross-sector partnerships where advocates and parents co-develop strategies and inform funding decisions. Through this work I once again saw the power of collaboration and the importance of centering the communities most impacted by systemic inequities.

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? 

Although there is no perfect term to identify people with roots from more than 20 Latin American countries living in the US, I prefer to use “Latine” because it is both gender-neutral (unlike “Latino”) and aligns with a Spanish-speaking context, where the “e” is traditionally used as a gender-neutral ending to words. Using a single term to identify 19% of the country’s population can lead to a misconception of a homogenous group. While it can help in advocating for a unified agenda, there are vast political, racial, ethnic, and cultural identities and experiences represented. Latine Heritage Month offers an opportunity to reflect on these complexities and collectively celebrate the contributions of this diverse group. Whether it’s leaders whose names we recognize, such as Dolores Huerta and Celia Cruz, or the agricultural workers who grow our food, these communities contribute to all aspects of American life.

Latine Heritage Month is a time to learn about the historical and contemporary colonialism in Latin America that leads so many to seek opportunity and refuge in the US. Growing my own understanding of these dynamics helps me appreciate and celebrate the racial and ethnic diversity in our country. It’s also a reminder for me to embrace my own heritage, with my lineage tracing back to the Indigenous people of the Sonoran Desert and the sierras of Zacatecas. I’m able to honor my relatives and continue to heal from the shame I was taught to have around my ancestry. It deepens my appreciation of the knowledge that has been passed down to me through food, music, culture, storytelling, and medicine.

What is Irvine and/or philanthropy’s role in advancing equity? 

Philanthropy’s role in advancing equity is to examine how wealth was amassed, who was oppressed in the process, and what every dollar within its hold is currently doing. I, personally, would like to see philanthropy examine if the places it invests its assets – usually 95% of its wealth, not just its grant dollars – helps or harms workers and communities. Through this examination, foundations can understand the entire trajectory of their funds and ensure we are not causing harm. Philanthropy can also cede power to communities—workers earning low wages and the grantees that represent them, in our case—to build community power and set their own priorities with philanthropic resources.