Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 69

Throughout my career, I have worked tirelessly to improve the lives of working families by helping to create jobs and improve access to higher education. This work ethic was taught to me by my parents, J. Concepcion and Mariana, immigrants who came to California seeking a better life.

Watching my father rise before dawn every morning to go to work, and helping my mother babysit the neighbors' children in our apartment complex behind Disneyland, I learned first-hand how access to opportunity shapes our communities.

I worked my way through UC Irvine to earn degrees in International Studies and Sociology. I also earned a fellowship to complete a Master's Degree in Public Policy at the University of Michigan. My upbringing has driven my understanding of how to create effective programs to help working families.

I began my career as a policy analyst for the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE). I successfully led efforts that encouraged contractors to create good-paying jobs and provide affordable health insurance for workers. I also worked to give our community a voice in the political process, leading several successful voter registration and participation programs.

Prior to my current position as Workforce Director for the United Food and Commercial Workers, I served as political director for the Orange County Labor Federation. In this position, I worked with business and community leaders including elected officials to create and protect good-paying jobs.

As a member of the Orange County Workforce Investment Board, I fought for job training programs that meet the needs of job seekers and local businesses. I understand that a well-qualified workforce can help drive business growth in our communities.

My commitment to help working families has driven my involvement in several community-based organizations. I served as the founding president of the Achievement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Alumni Association of Orange County. Through AVID, I tutored and advised students, and helped parents navigate the college admissions process for their children.

I served as an elected representative for the Institute for Mexicans Abroad as well as a member of the North Orange County Community College District's Chancellor's Latino Advisory Committee. My strong ties to the local Latino community include volunteer work as a board member for El Centro Cultural de Mexico in Santa Ana.