Al Hernandez-Santana, JD, MCP Executive director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. Al joined LCHC from the California Catholic Conference, where he assisted Catholic Charities and directed the Division of Hispanic Affairs as their senior lobbyist and coordinator of Hispanic ministry in the Far West region covering California, Nevada, Guam and Hawaii. He is responsible for the administrative and fiscal management of LCHC, as well as providing the leadership and vision for the organization along with its board of directors. Mr. Hernandez has an extensive public policy background in health care, housing, immigrant rights and the budgetary process. He represented the California Primary Care Association, the state association of community clinics and health centers, as the Assistant Director of Government Programs; served as legislative aide for the Hon. Martha Escutia, State Assemblywoman for the 50th District, and as consultant in the California State Assembly Judiciary Committee; and also worked for Consumers Union, not-for-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, in their San Francisco office as the national Fellow for Economic Justice. In his twenties, Mr. Hernandez earned an officer’s commission in the U.S. Army and was stationed primarily in Texas and under NATO command in Europe. He holds a graduate degree in Urban Planning from UC Berkeley and a Juris Doctorate from University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. He has two daughters and lives in Sacramento.
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Verónica Montoya, MSPPM As the Policy Director for the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, Verónica Montoya is responsible for educational and advocacy efforts in promoting, monitoring and advancing state legislation and regulations that affect the health and well-being of the Latino community by engaging and involving community members, organizations and policymakers. Prior to joining LCHC, Ms. Montoya served as District Director to California State Assemblymember Simón Salinas for the 28 th Assembly district including the counties of Monterey , San Benito , Santa Cruz and Santa Clara . Preceding her work with Assemblymember Simón Salinas, Ms. Montoya served as Legislative Aide to the California Senate Select Committee on Citizen Participation chaired by then President Pro Tem John Burton. Ms. Montoya was also previously a Coro Fellow in Public Affairs where she worked with organizations such as the Heinz Endowments, the Pittsburgh Child Guidance Foundation, Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Twanda Carlisle and Judge Christine Ward. She has recently completed her Master of Science in Public Policy and Management degree at Carnegie Mellon University 's Heinz School of Public Policy. |
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Vanessa Cajina, MSc As the Regional Networks Coordinator, Vanessa Cajina works with diverse stakeholders throughout California to create locally-based solutions for Latino health issues and define a regional Latino Health Agenda in Los Angeles, the Bay Area, San Diego, and the Central Valley. Prior to working at LCHC, Ms. Cajina coordinated a county-wide initiative to increase the number of children with health insurance in Yolo County. While doing this, she became a Certified Application Assistant (CAA) for Medi-Cal and Healthy Families and advocated on behalf of families applying for health insurance. Considered an expert in the Medi-Cal/Healthy Families enrollment and application process, she created supplemental training programs for CAAs and trained other county providers to become CAAs. She also worked as part of the panel that designed the Yolo County Children's Health Initiative to ensure that any health insurance offered by the county to uninsured children be high quality, affordable, and accessible. In addition to coordinating the Regional Networks, Ms. Cajina also oversees legislation on prescription drugs and mental health. Some of her additional interests include livable communities and local food systems. Ms. Cajina completed her B.S. at the University of California, Davis where she studied Community and Regional Development. She is currently completing a Master's of Science in Community Development also at UC Davis and is participating in the 2007 HOPE Leadership Institute. |
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Daniela Reynoso As the Policy Coordinator, Daniela Reynoso is responsible for coordinating efforts of the Latino Health Alliance. The Latino Health Alliance (LHA) is a collaborative and strategic alliance of organizations dedicated to advancing Latino health, including California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC), California Primary Care Association (CPCA), Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), Latino Coalition for a Healthy California (LCHC), and Latino Issues Forum (LIF). Prior to LCHC, Ms. Reynoso worked in collegiate student services in the Bay Area with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, focusing on Student Leadership Development and strategic organizational development. As a student mobilizer, Ms. Reynoso participated in outreach and retention efforts, facilitated campus dialogues, developed student leadership skills, and directed several conferences. Ms. Reynoso piloted new campus programs to Latino students and helped create several regional and national conferences to specifically address the needs of Latino students. While with IVCF, she also published articles on faith and social responsibility, and a Latino resource directory. Ms. Reynoso is a graduate of UC Davis, with Bachelor degrees in both History and Sociology. While in college, she also interned with the United Farm Workers, as a researcher and writer for their bi-monthly newsletter. |
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Linda Nguy As the Policy Associate, Linda Nguy is responsible for developing and advancing policy to increase the number of Latinos in the healthcare profession in promoting workforce diversity in the health field. Prior to joining LCHC, Ms. Nguy served as the Legislative Director for the University of California Student Association (UCSA). In this capacity, she lobbied and advocated on behalf of current and future UC students to ensure an accessible, affordable, and high-quality UC system. Through her work in Sacramento and with students on campus, Ms. Nguy secured a fee freeze for the 2006-07 academic year, ensured funding for academic preparation programs, and introduced and passed the Student Compact Resolution. Ms. Nguy graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Development Studies and is an International Institute of Public Policy (IIPP) Fellow. |
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Judith Melson Judith Melson is responsible for office accounting, membership support, travel and events coordination, as well as technical and administrative assistance to the Executive Director. Although this is Ms. Melson’s first time working on health care reform, she has accepted the challenge with full force and looks forward to many years of public policy, advocacy, and improving the health of Latinos. Ms. Melson is a graduate from the University of California, Davis with Bachelor of the Arts Degrees in Spanish and International Relations, emphasis in World Trade and Development. |
