VIRAGO RISING - Key Persons
Alejandra Jimenez is a Queer Chicanx poeta and writer. She is the first born of two immigrant parents, raised in California. She took up writing as creative avenue through which she could unpack her own traumas and come to understand her own identity as a first gen queer identifying woman. What began for her as a form of self-expression has now become a tool for social movement. She uses her writing to explore and expose issues involving feminism, sexual orientation, religion, mestizaje, sexual abuse, mental health, and immigration. She is the podcast pionera and host of "Mujer, No Te Rajes!", a podcast dedicated to vitalizing feminine energies in the Latinx community, currently studies Creative Writing at CSUSB, and has been featured in The Latinx Poetry Project. She is also currently working on her first poetry chapbook.
My name is Brianna Marroquin and I am a full time college student at California State University Channel Islands. I am graduating this Spring as a Communications Major and continuing my education this coming Fall semester at University Southern California Rossier School of Education Graduate Program to receive a masters degree in post secondary administration and student affairs. My hope is to become a professor and advisor to help students in higher education reach their academic and professional goals!
Job Titles:
- Shop Latinx CEO & Founder
Claudia Pineda Tibbs is a first-generation Salvadoran-American, scientist, birder, nature lover, ocean conservationist, and sustainability professional. Claudia's "Eco Latina" identity and brand came to be as a result of her professional experience as a bilingual science educator and ocean science communicator. Claudia centers her work on the intersection of environmentalism and culture. Claudia strives to increase opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) to develop their own environmental identity and conservation ethic in order to advocate for regional, state, and national environmental justice policies impacting marginalized communities and communities of color.
Claudia has held various community outreach and multicultural education positions along the central coast of California. Claudia received her B.S. in Earth Systems, Science and Policy with a concentration in Marine and Coastal Ecology from the California State University, Monterey Bay. Claudia attributes her passion for environmental advocacy and environmental justice issues to her father, Oscar Morales Pineda. Claudia credits her high school science teacher, Ms. Stevens from South Gate High School with helping her identify her spark for education and communication.
Diana is a Mexi-Salvi-American queer Latina visual artist, writer, and musician. Currently she is a Visiting Assistant Professor with a focus on contemporary Mexican and Latin American Literature. She received her formal education both in Mexico and in Milwaukee, WI before moving to the East Coast earning a PhD in Hispanic Literature from the University at Albany (SUNY). She is passionate about creating care circles with women of color that focus on support, intersectionality, solidarity, and healing justice.
Dolores is a native New Yorkina, passionate about social justice and intersectional feminism. As first-generation, paving the way for future generations is an important goal. She is a proud Chicana and is a fierce advocate for representation. Dolores loves to write short stories and poetry centering around her Mexican culture, and hosts writing workshops throughout public schools. She is thankful to be a part of Powerful Latinas Rising!
Gabriela Davila (also known as Gaby) is passionate about learning and engaging with different audiences. With experience in renewable energy, finance, and consumer goods - she looks forward to sharing lessons learned and hearing from others on how their experience may have differed (or how we could secretly be BFF's). Let's chat and laugh about the good times!
Griselda Aldrete is the Fire and Police Commission's new executive director. Previously she was president and CEO of Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM). Her primary responsibility is to work in coordination with the board of directors to develop and execute the vision and strategic plan for the organization. She has far-reaching experience in community leadership and outreach, financial oversight and managing day-to-day operations of complex organizations. Griselda received a bachelor's degree in criminology/law studies and Spanish from Marquette University, a master's degree in criminal justice from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a law degree from Marquette University Law School.
She is a graduate of the National Hispana Leadership Institute Executive Leadership Fellowship and the Harvard Business School Executive Leadership Program and is a proud alumna of the Future Milwaukee Leadership Program at Marquette University. Griselda previously served as executive director of the Cream City Foundation.
Griselda has been recognized for and received a number of prominent awards for her community service and advancement of Hispanic people, including Milwaukee Business Journal's 40-under-40 Award, the United Way of Greater Milwaukee's Philanthropic 5 Award, Marquette University College of Art and Sciences' Young Alumna of the Year, Biz Times Milwaukee's Regional Spirit Award, United States Delegate for the British American Project, Wisconsin's "Top 48 most powerful Latinos" list, Major League Baseball's SEAT 21 Award, National Football League/Green Bay Packers' Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, Donald Driver Foundation's Driven to Achieve Award and the Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast's Risk Taker Award.
Ivette is a communications professional based in Los Angeles who holds a B.A. in Journalism from California State University, Northridge, and a M.A. in Strategic Public Relations from the University of Southern California. Through her extensive background in media and journalism, Ivette has learned the importance of representation and access, working hard over the last 10 years to advocate for communities and individuals who lack a platform.
Jessica A. Ramirez was born and raised in Texas and is now based in Los Angeles, CA where she has a career in entertainment media and content creation. She studied journalism at the University of Texas at Austin (Texas Fight!). As a proud Latina, she is constantly searching for ways to amplify and uplift diverse voices and perspectives. She has worked in the music, film and publishing industries and continues to strive for new ways to be a well-rounded storyteller and collaborator. With her inquisitive mind, she is always up for new challenges in order to better understand the world around her and help empower others.
Afro-Latinx trans activist and author of She Rotates with Pluto. Josslyn Glenn dedicates herself to intersectional feminism associated with authentic media representation of historically under and misrepresented groups of people.
Karen Garcia is the daughter of Salvadoran refugees and a queer writer/editor from the Los Angeles neighborhood, Pico-Union. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing and later a Master of Arts in Literary Editing and Publishing at the University of Southern California. Her work focuses on place, intergenerational knowledge and trauma, family, and community. Before anything else, her writing is a vehicle to make sense of her childhood, her environment, and her self. In her career, she hopes to find and help create more spaces where literature and community intersect.
As a Mexican and Salvadorian Latina, Karla has had multiple opportunities to strengthen her communicative skills in sharing ideas, news and stories. Her experiences include starting the Spanish Version of the local news (Herald & News) in her small Oregon town, and writing for the local city school districts among others. Her passions include traditional Mexican Folkloric dancing, traveling through Mexico and writing stories that empower the community to view the world with more warmth and esperanza.
Kim is Guatemalan American, a Health Enthusiast, Chiropractor, and loves the outdoors. She is a recent graduate from Life University with a Doctorate of Chiropractic and has a B.S. in Health, Physical Education and Clinical Exercise Science. Her passion is to uplift her community , especially women by helping them get healthy through Chiropractic care and movement. She is also the Founder of Latinas Running, which is a running community that aims to spread diversity and body positivity one mile at a time.
Job Titles:
- Living Your Best Vida Editor
Krizia Vargas-García is a Queer Puerto Rican poet, artist, and fierce advocate for the independence of their island and other U.S. colonies. They began their undergraduate studies in Psychology at the Universidad de Puerto Rico; Recinto de Rio Piedras, and graduated with their Bachelor's from Virginia Commonwealth University. They are currently attending graduate courses through the Harvard University - Extension School in Government and Public Policy. Their interests include the intersection of research and public policy, advocating for Latinx voices in higher education, and the power of the written word. Krizia's presently working on publishing their chapbook and an art series titled Black Lives Matter: Portraits of Protests.
Job Titles:
- Jefa Moves Editor
- Latina Journalist
Lauren Torres is a Latina journalist writing about all things newsworthy from her home base in Long Beach. When not chasing investigations or aliens she writes non fiction, collects anything with Spider-Man on it, and eats copious amounts of Hot Cheetos while watching The Office.
My name is Mia Torregrosa. I am from New York and I had graduated from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a BA in English and Minor in Art. My career goal is to become a writer. Since I was a freshman in high school I always enjoy writing poetry, short stories, and playwriting. Also, I enjoy drawing, photography, and sculpting as well. I've always enjoyed art since I was 7 years, it has been something that makes me happy and allows me to let my imagination run wild.
Noelia Cerna is a Latina poet based in Fayetteville, AR. She was born in Costa Rica and immigrated to the United States at the age of 7 and received a Bachelor's degree in English from Westminster College in Missouri. Her poems have been published in audio form in Terse. Journal, The Revolution [Relaunch], The North Meridian Review and the Plants and Poetry Journal.
Noelia is a reader and poetry feedback editor for Tinderbox Poetry Journal, an assistant poetry editor for Borderlands Texas Poetry Review, an associate editor for Sibling Rivalry Press, an editor for Nomadic Press, a writing mentor for Pen America's Prison Writing Mentorship program, a community partner with Plants & Poetry, the board president and director of the Ozark Poets and Writers Collective, and a writer for Powerful Latinas Rising.
Paloma was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico until the age of eight after which she moved to Silver Spring, Maryland with her mother. She attended The Catholic University of America where she pursued her Bachelor's in Social Work. She remained in DC where she worked as a case manager for a local nonprofit aimed at housing local residents who experienced homelessness. Thereafter, she found her passion for policy after working for the U.S. Senator to her home state of New Mexico. She decided to pursue her Master's in Social Work with a focus on policy administration and macro social work at the University of Texas at Austin.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Job Board
- Writer
Job Titles:
- Head of Content & Publishing
Sara Maldonado is the Head of Content & Publishing at Virago Rising. She has more than a decade of professional writing and communications experience. Apart from creating and managing content, Sara also works with creative communities to set a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion particularly in the TV and film industry. Her work with Virago Rising is the nexus of her passion for storytelling and diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Sara holds a Bachelor of English Literature from The New School and a Master of Communication Management from the University of Southern California.
Trinity is a Los Angeles native and a full-time student at the University of Southern California. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Minor in Cinematic Arts, while also beginning a Masters of Science in Digital Social Media. She is passionate about being advocating for and telling stories about the Latinx community and other underrepresented groups. During her free time you can find her scrolling on TikTok, making Spotify playlists, or growing her record collection.
Vannessa Sanchez launched VIRAGO in 2018 with a vision of offering full scale event and marketing services from the creative lens of diverse Latina women. With a professional background in event planning, photography and creative design, Vannessa has led successful planning teams to produce conferences, fundraising galas, sporting events, and more. She is also skilled at creating compelling branded materials that align across all channels.
A skillful & dynamic photographer, Vannessa's passion lies in her ability to tell stories and bring ideas to life through any avenue. Vannessa has a knack for seeing the bigger picture and can easily piece together various elements. With careful planning and the overall vision in mind, she ensures that each event or digital campaign is memorable and executed smoothly.
Vannessa Sanchez has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Emory University - Goizueta Business School and a double bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California (USC).
Wendy Chamorro recently moved back to Los Angeles from Ecuador, where she taught English for two years. Her passions center around multilingual and multicultural learning, in addition to volunteering with organizations dedicated to supporting and investing in global citizenship. With over 10 years of experience in educational management, Wendy has spearheaded various college readiness workshops, after school mentoring programs, curriculum- focused dance classes and joined discussion groups on university processes for undergraduate admissions. In between her travels, she has come across wonderful students and amazing families that continue to inspire her commitment to empowering her gente and making education more accessible.
Yesica was born in Michoacán, Mexico and migrated to the United States at the age of 5. She was raised in a small town within the Central Valley by two farm labor workers that taught her the value of respect, hard work and perseverance. She then moved to Santa Barbara at the age of 18 to become a first generation college student and graduated from UC Santa Barbara with her B.S in Financial Mathematics and Statistics. She is now a Financial Advisor serving the community of the Los Angeles County and inspires to become the financial resource her family didn't have.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Job Board
- Writer