Meet Our Team
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Dr. Ana Angel Avendaño
Executive Director
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Angelica Rodriguez
Operations Manager
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Adriana Fernandez Arriaga
Public Policy Manager
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Hannah Doress
Senior Manager of Impact and Innovation
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Silvia Flores
Senior Program Manager
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Noe Contreras
Program Manager
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Aurelio Huizar
Program Manager
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Guadalupe “Lupita” Juarez
Case Worker
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Valeria Vega Yanez
Environmental Justice Program Coordinator
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Ameyalli Rocha Coronel
Outreach Program Coordinator
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Andrea Hernandez
Lead Promotora
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Cecilia Canales
Promotora
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Sharon Song
Promotora
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Stephanie San Juan
Administrative Assistant
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Pilar Rojas Amaya
Office Assistant - East Palo Alto
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Rosa Tinoco
Custodial
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Sonia Escobedo
Human Services Fellow
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Maria Casique-Leon
Program Assistant Fellow
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Sofia Raquel Gonzalez-Rodriguez
Public Health Fellow
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Lizbeth Hernández Ríos
Economic Justice Fellow
Dr. Ana Angel Avendaño
Executive Director
Ana is a first-generation Chicana/Latina born in the Bay Area and raised between borders. Her childhood experiences with her grandmother in Michoacán, Mexico, not only shaped her identity but also her everyday work as a community leader, activist, and mama scholar. Ana has worked in both the public and non-profit sectors, focusing on youth and community development programs that promote leadership, advocacy, and cultural awareness. Ana is the new Executive Director for El Concilio of San Mateo County. She is excited to continue working directly with the community to address the needs of our most underserved and vulnerable populations. Her community leadership includes serving in a steering committee for New Voices for Youth, seating in an Art Advisory Board for the Chan Zuckerberg Community Space, and organizing an annual Latinx Youth Conference. Ana has her doctorate in Multicultural Education from the University of San Francisco and is also an adjunct faculty at Cal State University East Bay in the Ethnic Studies Department.
Angelica Rodriguez
Operations Manager
Angelica Rodriguez-Blanco is a North Fair Oaks/Redwood City native and current Operations Manager for El Concilio of San Mateo County. She has over 17 years of experience working at community health clinics and nonprofits throughout the Bay Area, both in direct service positions, as well as administrative and management roles. She was a former Community Health Worker with El Concilio’s Nuestro Canto De Salud Diabetes Clinic in 2007, a San Francisco Foundation Koshland Civic Unity Fellow (2009-2014), and holds a Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Her passions include health equity, traditional medicine, youth development, and the arts.
Adriana Fernandez Arriaga
Public Policy Manager
Adriana is a first-generation Latina born in Michoacan, Mexico and raised in San Mateo, where she has spent her college days and career advocating for environmental justice through authentic community engagement, unlocking the leadership potential of communities of color, and organizing hikes for youth and their families. Her passion for environmental justice stemmed from living in a mixed immigration status household. As the Public Policy Manager, Adriana is excited to mentor rising leaders in the community, advocate with and work on policies that will help our underserved communities receive the resources they need to excel and thrive.
In her spare time, Adriana volunteers with Dreamers Roadmap Supplies for Farmworkers Campaign or spends her time outdoors with her husband and dog, Azul. She is currently a San Francisco Foundation Koshland Civic Unity Community Fellow for North Central San Mateo and is a proud alumnus of the Chicana Latina Foundation, Justice Outside Outdoor Educators Institute, Green Foothill’s Community Advocates Leadership Academy, and the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley Latino Board Leadership Academy. Adriana graduated with an A.S. from Cañada College and a B.S. in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Davis.
Hannah Doress
Senior Manager of Impact and Innovation
Hannah Doress is contributing in the areas of partnership, fund development, communications, events, and audience development. She currently manages Climate, Economic, and Digital Justice programs. She is the granddaughter of immigrants who learned English after settling in the United States. In this tight-knit family, she learned respect and admiration for the hard work and contributions immigrants bring, while also seeing the disrespect and barriers they faced.
Her passion for social justice comes from seeing the multigenerational impact of the holocaust on her family and from participating in social change movements as a child with her parents. She became interested in Central American politics as a youth, attending many protests and organizing a group of high school peers to travel to Washington, DC to protest U.S. intervention in El Salvador.
She has brought these values to her career, working in public health, climate resilience, nonprofit management, multiracial coalition-building, and event production. She began working on climate justice issues in 2012 as a cofounder of Shore Up Marin and served on the Steering Committee of Environmental Justice coalition Resilient Communities Initiative in 2017. From 2018 to 2023, she worked at the County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability. She began partnering with El Concilio of San Mateo County in 2018 as the contract manager for the County’s grant for Climate Ready NFO. She continued to partner with El Concilio and many other Community-Based Organizations on inclusive climate resilience and sustainability efforts throughout her tenure there. She led the reorganization of the San Mateo County Green Business Program to effectively engage underserved communities, including partnering with El Concilio to engage Spanish-speaking business owners.
She lives in Redwood City with her wife, son, mother, and dog.
Silvia Flores
Senior Program Manager
Silvia is an immigrant from Michoacan, Mexico, which produces more avocados than any other state in Mexico. Silvia lives in East Palo Alto. She has extensive experience as a case worker with El Concilio of San Mateo County, serving her community for more than two decades. Silvia attended Cañada College and Skyline College and earned an associate’s degree in Human Services and credentials in Family Development. Silvia was a part of El Concilio’s Nuestro Canto De Salud promotora program with the North Fair Oaks Clinic in Redwood City, the County’s first promotora program!
Silvia finds fulfillment in her work assisting families and helping them mediate everyday stressors. She loves to make a difference in her community through her work as a program manager.
Noe Contreras
Program Manager
Noe has worked with El Concilio for over 25 years. He started his career as part of the Nuestro Canto de Salud program as a promotor. Noe conducted extensive outreach and education in the community on HIV prevention, access to healthcare, and promoting healthy practices. Currently, Noe coordinates the TEAMS program, which educates the community on their rights as a consumer, helping prevent telephone fraud and promoting programs for low-income Spanish Speakers that help lower their bills. Noe is passionate about educating his community and connecting with other service providers to develop partnerships.
Aurelio Huizar
Program Manager
Aurelio has worked with El Concilio for over 18 years. He helps coordinate the CHANGES program and manages the South San Francisco site. Aurelio enjoys working closely with clients to understand their needs and helping them navigate the various, often challenging, systems in place.
Guadalupe “Lupita” Juarez
Case Worker - East Palo Alto
Guadalupe was born in Puebla, Mexico, and was raised in Redwood City since the age of 5. She is the oldest of four children. She is a passionate person who loves helping the community she grew up in. Her love for the community and helping others started when she was involved in programs and volunteering during her high school years. She finds real fulfillment in serving her community and in growing her skills to help people in the best way possible. She is grateful that with El Concilio, she has had the opportunity to train and develop in many areas, including team dynamics and direct services.
Valeria Vegas Yanez
Environmental Justice Program Coordinator
Valeria is an immigrant from Sonora, Mexico and her family now lives in Tucson, Arizona. She is a recent graduate from Stanford University with a Bachelor’s degree in Earth Systems. While at Stanford, Valeria worked with Nuestra Casa de East Palo Alto as an Environmental Justice fellow. Through her work in East Palo Alto, Valeria grew passionate about environmental justice in the Bay area, an area of great wealth but also with great social disparities. Valeria also completed the Notation in Science Communication program while at Stanford and is always looking for ways to make science communication and education more accessible to frontline communities. At Stanford, Valeria also completed various epidemiology courses that encouraged her to make connections between climate change, health equity, and Environmental Justice, which she wishes to learn more about during her time at El Concilio. She is excited to bring her experience, passion, and enthusiasm through her fellowship as the Program Assistant at El Concilio!
Ameyalli Rocha Coronel
Outreach Program Coordinator
Ameyalli is a Bay Area native, born and raised in San Mateo County by Mexican immigrant parents. Witnessing the social injustices faced by her family and community ignited her commitment to addressing systemic inequities and advancing social justice. While earning her BA in Sociology from the University of San Francisco, Ameyalli began her career in political campaigns. Driven to deepen her understanding of the issues affecting her community, she spent a year in Mexico, where she worked with the Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office and volunteered with a migrant collective supporting political representation for Mexican citizens living abroad.
Ameyalli’s dedication to the community that shaped her, combined with her firsthand experience benefiting from local nonprofit programs, inspired her to join El Concilio. She is passionate about empowering marginalized communities with the knowledge and resources they need to advocate for themselves and create lasting change. In her spare time, she enjoys watching Liga MX soccer, reading, and spending time with her cat and dog.
Andrea Hernandez
Outreach Coordinator
Andrea is a second-generation Chicana born and raised in the Redwood City/North Fair Oaks community. Her life experiences overcoming obstacles of poverty and violence motivated her to serve, guide, and support her community. She strongly believes that advocating for low-income families and non-English speakers and providing education for them will strengthen the entire community. Andrea started working with El Concilio as a promotora in March of 2023, engaging her community with resources. As a result of her drive, she was quickly promoted as a caseworker for the East Palo Alto site, where she works 1:1 with clients who need immediate assistance. Before joining El Concilio of San Mateo County, Andrea volunteered for Siena Youth Center as a parent leader in the Parent Committee Group.
Cecilia Canales
Promotora
Cecilia has an extensive background as a promotora and outreach specialist. She started her career with El Concilio’s Nuestro Canto de Salud as a promotora, educating her community on diabetes prevention and encouraging access to healthcare. Cecilia is committed to her community, serving as a promotora with other partners, including the Bay Area Health Advisory Council. Cecilia is a resident of South San Francisco and is excited to bring her expertise to our North County outreach efforts.
Sharon Song
Promotora
Sharon Song (she/they) was born in Puebla, Mexico, but raised in Redwood City as the daughter of Honduran and Salvadoran parents. Sharon is a student at San Francisco State University, double-majoring in Race and Resistance Studies and Psychology. Not only has her experience being undocumented served as a catalyst for her work as a student organizer and now as a Promotora, but it has also allowed her to understand the importance of acknowledging a shared struggle. Inspired by the past, as well as the ongoing resistance and resilience of both their local community and people around the world, Sharon hopes to continue dedicating herself to serving their community. Sharon is eager to work with El Concilio and to foster a sense of solidarity and development in the realm of social justice.
Stephanie San Juan
Administrative Assistant
Stephanie was born in Palo Alto and raised in the Redwood City/North Fair Oaks community. She comes to El Concilio with over seven years of administrative experience and is a very passionate individual with a deep commitment to making a positive impact in her community. She is the oldest of five children in her family, is a proud mother of one, and very family-oriented. In her spare time, she loves to cook for others and spend quality time with her loved ones.
Pilar Rojas Amaya
Office Assistant in East Palo Alto
Pilar comes from Colombia. She has a background in international business and is learning English as her second language. She is grateful to God and the opportunity to work with El Concilio to share her skill sets and service in support of diverse communities. Pilar enjoys working in a team setting. In her spare time, she enjoys Yoga, music, singing, dancing, reading, and going to the movies.
Rosa Tinoco
Custodial
Rosa is a proud resident of North Fair Oaks and hails from Morelia, Michoacan. She has been working with El Concilio since 2018 and helps ensure our site remains beautiful and clean for our community.
In addition to working with El Concilio, she serves the local school district and is a mother of two. In her free time, she enjoys cooking for her family and loved ones. She makes delicious pozole!
Sonia Escobedo
Human Services Fellow
Sonia is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, and moved to East Palo Alto at the age of 6. She is a Business Administration student at Canada College and is passionate about making a positive impact in underserved communities through community-based work. Sonia enjoys working at El Concilio because it allows her to directly engage with communities, sharing resources and opportunities while actively listening to their needs. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and painting.
Maria Casique-Leon
Program Assistant Fellow
Maria Casique-Leon was born and raised in North Fair Oaks. From an early age, she supported her parents and family by translating and advocating for their medical concerns, sparking her lifelong commitment to health equity and community advocacy. She later participated with the Youth Advisory Board, Boys & Girls Club (Future Grads), and the OYE (Orgullo y Educación) Conference, where she helped raise awareness around mental health in Latina/o communities and expand access to healthcare. Maria earned her B.A. in Molecular and Cellular Biology (Neurobiology) and Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley. While there, she launched En Conversaciones, a podcast exploring the experiences of Latina/os in STEM, higher education, and health, and she contributed to research and volunteer initiatives focused on health equity She is currently El Concilio’s Program Assistant Fellow and is excited to support a variety of programs, listen closely to the needs of our comunidad, and help expand access to vital resources.
Sofía González-Rodríguez
Public Health Fellow
Sofía was born in the Bay Area to Puerto Rican and Italian parents, and grew up in San Mateo until moving to the East Bay in middle school. She recently earned a Bachelor's in Sociology from Stanford University, where her research and coursework focused on social change and public health policy. Her experience as an intern at the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic showed her firsthand how health can become politicized and socially determined, cementing her desire to interrogate its disparities. Sofía also studied culture, history, and literature in Latin American Studies courses and an independent research project on rural Puerto Rican oral histories. She looks forward to fusing these various insights in her work as a fellow, building El Concilio's initiatives and collaboratives around public health.
Lizbeth Hernández Ríos
Economic Justice Fellow
Lizbeth was raised in eastern North Carolina by Mexican parents and moved to the Bay Area to attend Stanford University, where she recently earned a Bachelor’s in Political Science and completed a minor in Human Rights. Her research and coursework focused on access to education for marginalized communities in Mexico and human rights abuses in Latin America. Her lived experiences as a first-generation, low-income advocate and her work with community-based nonprofits in Mexico have strengthened her understanding of grassroots organizing and local knowledge. She looks forward to continuing this work and deepening her understanding of economic justice with El Concilio and its community members.
Community Promotoras
El Concilio is proud to work with community promotoras who are either contracted or volunteers. Community promotoras are deeply connected in their community. They are leaders and champions for their community, natural resource navigators, and committed to learning and their own leadership development.
The community promotoras have supported our extensive community outreach, education, and engagement programs. They are also a significant part of our program development team as they actively listen to the needs and trends they are seeing in their community and participate in our community collaboratives to share ideas and solutions to address on-going issues collectively.
Current El Concilio of San Mateo County Community Promotoras:
Martha Agustin- Redwood City Resident, Member Fools Mission, Casa Circulo Cultural, Red de Promotoras Vision y Compromiso Comite de San Mateo County
Araceli Agustin- North Fair Oaks Resident, Casa Circulo Cultural, Red de Promotoras Vision y Compromiso Comite de San Mateo County,
Rosa Adame- Redwood City Resident
