Andrés Porras Gutiérrez

 I greet you from Tijuana, Mexico, in the last corner where our homeland ends, and Latin America as well. It is a huge city, with many contrasts, and which has been shaped for decades mainly by people who come from other places, many of them as migrants or refugees, with whom I currently work, both directly and through shelters or associations that collaborate. I also work at the La Salle Training Center, where a team of 80 volunteers give about 140 free courses to 900 young people and adults of all socioeconomic levels, mainly from low-income backgrounds. Through the La Salle Center, we try to contribute as much as we can to people in mobility situations.

Mitchell Simkovsky

Mitchell Simkovsky was born in San Diego and raised in Poway, California.  He graduated from Poway High School and went on to double major at Chico State in both Accounting and Theater Arts. He has been married for 19 years and together, along with his wife, is raising two teenagers.  For many years, Mitchell worked backstage and designed the lighting effects on many theatrical productions around San Diego County. At the same time, he was performing Accounting and Tax Preparation services on the side.  Then, in 2007, he moved to working full time as an Accountant and Tax Preparer.  In 2015, he and his wife opened up A&M Taxes, Inc, specializing in Bookkeeping, Tax Preparation for both business and individuals, Quickbooks training, and year-end tax planning.

Elvira Ruiz

Elvira is a first generation Mexican American Social Work student and has worked with the Disabled Population, Autism, and Behavioral Health System for the last 4 years. She received her Bachelors in Language Teaching from the Autonomous University of Baja California in Ensenada Mexico in 2018. After completing her undergraduate internship in San Diego pursuing teaching credentials, she became aware of environmental factors that weren’t addressed in the school system and decided to shift her career path towards Behavioral Health and Advocacy. She is now an advanced Social Work Master student at California State University San Marcos and is expected to graduate in Spring 2023. Elvira is passionate about applying Human Centered Design processes and Cultural humility in combination with holistic evidence-based practices to engage historically underserved populations, particularly the Latino community in the US and the trans- national Latinos who are active members of both sides of the US-Mexico border. One of her long-term professional goals is to be involved in International Social work to promote wellbeing and preventative policy on both sides of the border. 

Oscar Naranjo

Oscar Naranjo is a proud first-generation Mexican-American and a native of San Diego, CA a city deeply embedded in his roots.  Oscar has been an invaluable asset to the County of San Diego for the past 17 years, where he has dedicated his expertise and passion to working with at-risk children, foster children, and asylum-seeking children.

Prior to his tenure with the County of San Diego, Oscar served as a Guidance Counselor for the San Diego Unified School District, focusing on children that lived in low socio-economic status areas. His role allowed him to make a meaningful impact on the lives of young individuals, providing guidance and support to navigate the challenges they faced. Additionally, Oscar has worked as a Mental Health Counselor, demonstrating his commitment to addressing the holistic well-being of those under his care.

Beyond his professional commitments, Oscar is an active advocate for community involvement. He previously volunteered his time and efforts for the House of Mexico, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage and fostering a sense of belonging within the community. Furthermore, his dedication to humanitarian causes is evident through his prior volunteer work with Border Angels, an organization committed to providing support and advocacy for migrants.

Oscar Naranjo journey is a testament to his unwavering commitment to the betterment of his community. Whether in his professional roles or volunteer efforts, he stands as a beacon of compassion, resilience, and dedication to creating positive change in the lives of those he serves.

Sarah Bella Mondragon

Sarah Bella Mondragon is a multimedia artist, activist, and digital storyteller. She has over 20 years experience producing multicultural, international educational events including exhibitions, conferences, parades and outdoor festivals. Sarah works as a freelance project manager, arts administrator, and web media designer for several local nonprofit Arts organizations, including Aesthetics Inc., Aztlan Arte and Mundo Gallery. Working with Gente Unida and Enrique Morones, she produces the podcast Buen Hombre, Magnificent Mujer focusing on interviewing local and international human rights activists, artists and leaders. 

Sarah grew up in the neighborhood adjacent to Logan Heights, Golden Hill, supporting local nonprofit arts and environmental organizations by bringing different groups together to share resources and find common ground. Sarah Bella Mondragon and her partner artist Mario Torero live part time in Brasilito, Costa Rica as resident artists/teachers collaborating with local arts and health community initiatives. Sarah speaks Spanish and Portuguese, is an avid spoken word poet and Capoeira Brazilian Martial Arts teacher. 

Currently with Gente Unida she is producing, “Our Walls Speak/Nuestros Muros Hablan”. “Our Walls Speak!: is a multi-media multi generational virtual and live symposium and street exhibition celebrating Chicano Art Muralism in Logan Heights through live and virtual panel/community discussions, artist and elder interviews and storytelling, a downloadable neighborhood mural walk/drive through Logan Heights, community and youth mural art workshops and spoken word movement performances. 

“Our Walls Speak” was inspired by the struggles of local veteran Chicano artists Mario Torero, Sal Barajas, and Salvador “Queso” Torres to negotiate with San Diego City Schools to prevent the further destruction of their murals at Memorial Junior High School. “Our Walls Speak” is sponsored by The San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture in partnership with Gente Unida, The Centro Cultural de La Raza, The Chicano Park Museum and the Logan Heights CDC.

Jesus Nebot 

Jesus Nebot is a renowned filmmaker, social entrepreneur and human rights activist who speaks internationally on issues related to environmental sustainability, social justice and spiritual fulfillment.  Originally from Spain, Jesus studied drama in Madrid, and eventually made his way to Venezuela where he became well known and loved as a telenovela star. Nebot’s eventual emigration to the United States created a crisis in self identity and 180 degree turn in the direction of his career and life mission as he found himself a homeless actor and producer in Los Angeles. Nebot recreated himself as a social entrepreneur, activist, motivational speaker and producer who now uses the arts to create awareness and social change. 

After receiving his B.A. degree with honors from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in Madrid, Jesus completed his training at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in New York on scholarship from the Spanish Government. He then became internationally known for his starring roles in the top-rated television series’ “LA LOBA HERIDA” and “DIVINA OBSESION,” distributed by Warner Brothers International in 29 countries. Seeking to expand his career Jesus came to the United States in 1995 where he was granted the green card as a “person with extraordinary ability in the arts.” In 2000, Jesus launched his own production company by the name of Zokalo Entertainment with the intent of making films that were socially relevant and thought-provoking. Zokalo’s first production was the critically acclaimed feature “NO TURNING BACK” picked up for distribution by Universal after its successful theatrical release in Europe and in the United States. Nebot’s recent acting credits include guest-starring roles in the Fox EMMY WINNING SERIES’ “NYPD BLUE” and “ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.” His website provides information on all of his projects, www.JesusNebot.com 

Nebot’s mission has always been to inspire personal and social healing and transformation through his speaking engagements, training seminars and artistic endeavors, including writing, producing, directing and acting.  

Juan Rosas

Juan Rosas – Juan Rosas has been an educator for more than 20 years. He also dedicates his work to advocate for immigrants and to encourage widespread community involvement, addressing social injustices experienced by migrants. Juan runs Gente Unida in San Bernardino, at which they advocate for undocumented students by presenting at local districts, schools and local universities, advising undocumented students and families on how to attend colleges and universities.

Paul Chavez

As president and chairman of the Cesar Chavez Foundation, Paul F. Chavez has spearheaded the impressive expansion of the organization his father founded in the 1960s. The Foundation has grown and adapted into a successful group of social enterprises that support hundreds of thousands of Latinos and working families, inspiring and transforming communities from rural to urban areas throughout the Southwest and across generations.

One of eight children of Cesar and Helen Chavez, Paul has spent his entire life with the farm worker movement. Prior to his work with the Cesar Chavez Foundation, he served with the United Farm Workers of America as a union organizer, contract negotiator, political director, lobbyist in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. and director of marketing operations. He was also a personal assistant to Cesar Chavez.

Paul earned an A.A. degree in negotiations and collective bargaining at the Fred W. Ross Labor Education Center’s School of Collective Bargaining.

Josefina Lopez

Josefina Lopez is an award-winning Screenwriter/Playwright/Novelist and Performer who co-wrote the screenplay to the Sundance Audience Award winner, Real Women Have Curves. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of CASA 0101 Theater Art Space in Boyle Heights, where she presents plays, film festivals, teaches and empowers a new generation of Latino and women writers. 

Clare Viglione

Erica Alfaro

Erica Alfaro is a business owner, keynote speaker, Latino Education Advocate and the Vice-president of Toastmasters. An Educational organization that promotes the skills of communication, public speaking and Leadership.  Erica often speaks to middle school, High school, community college and undergrad students across the country. Her story made headlines all over the world when her graduation pictures went viral.

Franciscan Friar Adolfo Mercado

Education truly transforms individuals, families, and communities. Schools serve as catalyst or agents of change, and Adolfo finds it exciting to be a part of this process. This is a value his family cultivated in him and relied upon to move away from laboring as migrant farm workers. Adolfo’s earliest memories are playing in the tomato fields while his family worked harvesting tomatoes in the fields of Woodland, (Yolo County) California. As a student at Christian Brothers HS, Adolfo saw the power of education and started working as a tutor. Time at Kresge College at UC Santa Cruz (B.A., Anthropology) was even more impactful, although the year at UNAM in Mexico City was transformational. He taught in a classroom briefly, but realized that he wanted something faster paced and moved into non-profit programming. After a detour working for the Roman Catholic Bishop in Youth and Young Adult Ministry, he returned to education. For 12 years he served
as the Executive Director of Breakthrough Sacramento at Sacramento Country Day School and now works for the California Charter School Association. Adolfo is a proud native of Sacramento and is eager to see Sacramentans own their power as residents of the capital city of the 6th largest economy of the world. He also volunteers with Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Sacramento Stonewall Democrats, and the Latino Democratic Club of Greater Sacramento.

In 2018, I resigned from my position as Regional Director for Advocacy with the California Charter Schools Association to begin formation to become a Franciscan Friar. In August of 1998 I joined as a postulant with the Franciscan Friars. The postulancy was at Saint Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, MD. After a year there, volunteering at a day center for folks experiencing homelessness, and deepening my relationship with God, I was recommended to move on to the novitiate. That was in Santa Barbara, at the old mission. Thanks to God, and some hard work, I professed first vows on the 2nd of July 2020. This year was supposed to be an immersion year and I was hoping to go to Morocco, the Philippines, or Mississippi. Because of the pandemic, it was best to begin studies at the Franciscan School of Theology, affiliated with USD. I am completing a Master of Divinity concurrently with a Master of Theological Studies. Gente Unida has been part of my settling into life in San Diego.

Hugo Castro