Meet the Team

Bridget Cooke, Co-Founder and Executive Director, bcooke@adelantemujeres.org
For over 25 years, Bridget has been working with nonprofits in Oregon, California and Chile. In 2002, she helped co-found programs for immigrant women and families that address key obstacles to justice and promote respect and dignity for all. Bridget obtained her B.A. in education from Western State University and a Masters of Divinity Degree from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. 

Sonia Reyes, Director of Human Resources, sreyes@adelantemujeres.org
Originally from Puerto Rico, Sonia is passionate about Human Resources since it allows her to serve as liaison between management and employees. Founder of the first Airway Science Student Association in the Caribbean, she encouraged young Latinas to enter the once male-dominated Aviation industry. She has over 5 years working with non-profit organizations and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management.

Evelyn Cantoral, Director of Development, ecantoral@adelantemujeres.org
Evelyn brings more than 10 years of nonprofit experience and more than 5 years of successful nonprofit fundraising and marketing experience to Adelante. Evelyn's background includes several years of international nonprofit experience in Central Africa, where she first discovered the power of visual storytelling to effect change. For Evelyn, working with Adelante Mujeres unites her passion for women's empowerment with her Latin American roots.

Maribel De Leon, Director of Microenterprise Programs, mdeleon@adelantemujeres.org
Originally from Dallas, Texas, Maribel graduated from Northwood University with a BBA in International Business. She has over 14 years experience in business advocacy and small business development. Her career includes serving as a business advisor with the Small Business Development Center; leading the procurement division of a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; and co-founding a film production company. In 2013 she was a recipient of the Dallas Business Journal's 40 under 40 awards. 

Patricia Alvarado, Director of Education Programs, palvarado@adelantemujeres.org
Patricia is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco and comes to Adelante with over 17 years of experience and a passion for working with children, youth, and families in the Latino community. Patricia has an AA in Early Childhood Education and Families Studies from PCC, a BA in Social Science from PSU, and an MA in Educational Leadership and Policy from PSU with a focus on Post-secondary Adult and Continuing Education. Patricia is the courageous leader of Adelante’s Education department.

Xandi Aranda, Director of Finance, aaranda@adelantemujeres.org
Originally from El Paso/Cd. Juarez, Xandi began her nonprofit career in Washington DC where she worked for national advocacy organizations. She then completed her Master's Degree at University of Arizona and became a certified public accountant. She is happy to call Oregon home since 2019.

Andrea Chunga-Celis, Grants Manager, achungacelis@adelantemujeres.org
Andrea Chunga-Celis completed her Master’s Degree in International Studies from the University of Connecticut. Previously, she worked in human rights organizations in New York and Peru. Her passion has been to work for non-profit organizations and to build strong local communities with the aim of providing opportunities for all individuals.

Anne Morse, Grants Specialist, amorse@adelantemujeres.org
Anne joined Adelante Mujeres in December 2008. Originally from Southeast Alaska, she has lived abroad in Tranqueras, Uruguay, and Santiago, Chile. Anne obtained her B.A. in Politics and Latin American Studies from Oberlin College.

Bailey Matlock, Grants Officer, bmatlock@adelantemujeres.org
Bailey completed her Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Social Justice Reform from the Queen’s University of Belfast. For her graduate research, Bailey focused on community-driven climate solutions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, Bailey worked with grant writing and climate policy in New Zealand, Northern Ireland, and Iowa.

Anna Yeager, Marketing Manager, ayeager@adelantemujeres.org
Anna has been producing documentary films and video for nonprofits for over ten years. Originally from the Midwest, she has a degree in Film + Video Production from Columbia College Chicago. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, Huffington Post, Upworthy and nationwide film festivals. Anna is thrilled to be helping women rise up and reach for their dreams at Adelante Mujeres. 

Beatriz Medel, Marketing Specialist, bmedel@adelantemujeres.org
Beatriz, is a marketer, designer, and fútbol enthusiast. Beatriz earned a bachelor’s degree in Apparel Marketing with a minor in Sustainable Design and a focus on brand strategy. As a first-gen Mexican-American, Beatriz discovered a real passion for the advocacy of marginalized communities, early on in her career. This led her to seek more impactful work that served her community, ultimately joining the non-profit world.

Paola Pereira, Volunteer Coordinator, ppereira@adelantemujeres.org
Paola has spent 12+ years engaged in volunteer work and community building. As a queer Brazilian-American, she is passionate about celebrating her culture through food, music and dance, and draws deep inspiration from the vibrant joy and resilience of the Latinx & LGBTQ+ community. Paola's interest in mental health, immigrant rights and social/racial justice led her to attain a BA in Psychology. Currently, she is pursuing a Master in Social Work at PSU.

Gabriela Grussi, Events & Donor Database Coordinator, ggrussi@adelantemujeres.org
Gabriela is originally from Los Angeles, CA. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree in English from UCLA. She’s always had a passion for education with a focus on helping those whose voices are often marginalized and she’s thankful that her path has led her to the nonprofit world. She’s looking forward to taking her skills and knowledge and giving back to the community that she is so proud to be a part of.

Estefania Rodriguez, Funder Relations Officer, erodriguez@adelantemujeres.org
As a first-generation Mexican American, Estefania had the opportunity to travel back and forth between Mexico and California in her younger years. This incited a love for travel and a passion for her culture. Before moving to Oregon 3 years ago, she spent time working with a nonprofit at an animal shelter that assisted low-income households in providing veterinary care for their furry friends. In Oregon, she worked with clients across the United States to provide unique, cultural experiences in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Estefania is currently finishing her BA in Technical Communications online at Arizona State University.

Yasi Lemus Isla, Adult Education Program Manager, ylemusisla@adelantemujeres.org
Yasi is originally from Cuba and holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the Agricultural University of Havana. She moved to Oregon in 2011 and became an instructor at Portland Community College where she worked with the Hispanic Community and taught a variety of subjects, including math, science, reading, writing, social studies and computer skills

Diana Roa, Family Support Facilitator, droa@adelantemujeres.org
Diana was born in Mexico in the state of Puebla, arriving in the United States at the age of 19, she was a Technician in Medical Emergencies in the Mexican Red Cross. She got her GED at Adelante Mujeres, studied English, and has participated in parenting classes, Beyond Trauma, and leadership since 2019. “I believe in the importance of education and I think it is fundamental to create communities full of opportunities and the formation of more leaders that benefit our communities.”

Graciela Chavez, Family Support Facilitator, gchavez@adelantemujeres.org
Graciela is originally from Michoacán, Mexico where she studied nursing, obtaining a degree in General Nursing. She practiced her profession in a hospital environment for ten years. In 2004, she arrived in this country, and in 2015 she joined the Early Childhood Education team at Adelante Mujeres. She studied and obtained a CDA in infants and toddlers and is passionate about working with children and their families.

Lupe Hernandez, Beyond Trauma Coordinator, lhernandez@adelantemujeres.org
Born in Mexico but raised in Texas, Lupe returned to Mexico in 1996 and co-founded “Help-Restore-Transform”, a program that works to address educational barriers and improve self-worth among women and children in the community.  She moved to Oregon in 2017 to continue her work on empowerment and justice issues.

Teena Soto Smith, Mental Health Liaison, csoto@adelantemujeres.org
Teena grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and lived in Tucson and San Antonio before moving to Oregon in 2003. She previously worked for a Domestic Violence Agency for over 6 years and most recently she was an Advocacy Center Coordinator. She has always been passionate about working with the Latinx community, especially women and children. Teena believes in not only taking care of our physical wellbeing, but it is even more important to take care of our mental health in whatever manner best suits the individual. She has a BA degree in Psychology from NMSU with a minor in Child Advocacy Studies.  

Lupe Yundt, Early Childhood Education Program Manager, lyundt@adelantemujeres.org
Lupe is originally from Southern California and has been living in Oregon for over ten years. She is a first generation Mexican American. Lupe earned an AA in Early Childhood Education and a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from California Baptist University. Her career includes experience as a bilingual preschool teacher where she worked closely with children and families from the Latino community.

Norma Hernandez, Early Childhood Education Coordinator, nhernandez@adelantemujeres.org
Norma has studied child development extensively, and believes that education is fundamental to the development of a community. Norma is inspired by children and young adults because she believes in their potential. She strongly believes that we all must join together to create opportunities that will allow for change in our actual reality.

Rosalia Dominquez, Early Childhood Education Teacher rdominguez@adelantemujeres.org
Rosalia joined Adelante in 2002 and has been working with young children ever since. She loves working with 1-3 year olds and brings her passion for education and love of nature to the classroom to share with her students.

Maria Esther Rizo, Early Childhood Education Teacher, mrizo@adelantemujeres.org
Mari joined Adelante in 2002. She is originally from Jalisco, Mexico and came to the US in 1996. Mari has a real gift for music, which she shares with the children in her classroom. She leads weekly music classes for all the children and their moms and everyone has a great time singing, dancing, and playing percussion instruments.

Alejandra Leudo, Early Childhood Education Substitute Teacher, aleudo@adelantemujeres.org
Alejandra is originally from Antioquia, Colombia. She graduated from the Universidad Cooperativa de Columbia with a degree in graphic design. She is passionate about design and is trained to produce functional design pieces. She loves children and has experience developing campaigns for them.

Ángeles Pineda, Instructional Aide, apineda@adelantemujeres.org
Ángeles is originally from the State of Guerrero, Mexico but spent her early childhood in Michoacan and Mexico City. There she studied International Relations at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). She loves working with children and their families who are in her classroom and she’s proud of being a part of the Adelante Mujeres Team! 

Maria Garcia, Early Childhood Education Teacher, MGarcia@adelantemujeres.org
Maria is from Guerrero, Mexico where she studied at the Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM). In 1999 she immigrated to the U.S. and continued her English studies and began working with babies and young children at OCDC where she worked for 15 years. Maria is fascinated by the learning field and says that she learns everyday from the children. She is passionate about providing our youngest students with an environment full of love, safety, and good health.

Sonia Sebastián, Early Childhood Education Substitute Teacher, ssebastian@adelantemujeres.org
Sonia is from Lima, Peru where she studied and worked for 23 years in the Systems and Computing field. After immigrating to the U.S., she obtained her CDA in infants and toddlers, as well as Preschool. She has worked with children of all different age groups up to five years old. For Sonia, family is the most important thing in life. She lives in Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and two granddaughters.

Cristina Delgado, Leadership & Immigrant Solidarity Project Manager, cdelgado@adelantemujeres.org
Cristina is a proud first generation immigrant. She grew up in Washington County and has lived in Oregon for more than 20 years. She graduated from Oregon State University with a BA in Political Science and a Minor in Philosophy, and her work experience includes leadership development with youth and adults, social service and education.

Petrona Dominguez Francisco, Advocacy & Leadership Program Coordinator,
pdominguez@adelantemujeres.org
Petrona is a first generation, DACAmented, college student. Born in the beautiful tierra de Guatemala, she has lived in the Washington County community for over 17 years, working passionately on various issues such as advocating for sanctuary, a DREAMers Resource Center, and most recently, advocating for an Ethnic Studies Course at Portland Community College.

Leticia Aguilar, Chicas Youth Development Program Manager, laguilar@adelantemujeres.org
Leticia joined Adelante Mujeres in November of 2009. She is originally from Mexico and moved to the United States when she was twelve years old. In January 2014, she will be getting her A.A. in Organizational Dynamics from Warner Pacific College.

Araceli Mendez , Chicas Program Coordinator, amendez@adelantemujeres.org
Araceli is originally from San Diego, California and graduated from the University of Redlands with a Bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature. Aside from her deep passion for fúbol, she is also dedicated to working with nonprofit organizations, and especially with Latino youth and families. She joins Adelante Mujeres with over 8 years of experience in youth development and community outreach.

Carina Quintanilla , Chicas Program Coordinator, cquintanilla@adelantemujeres.org
Carina joined Adelante after graduating from the University of Oregon in 2017 with a degree in International Studies. Carina is so excited to be able to work with an organization that embodies everything she is passionate about – empowering women, providing opportunities to the Latino community, and educating youth!

Itzel Chavez Gomez, College Readiness Coordinator, ichavez@adelantemujeres.org
Itzel has over five years of experience in youth mentorship and advocacy and has a background in sexual violence prevention education. She completed her BA in General Social Science with a concentration in Crime, Law and Society from the University of Oregon. With her knowledge of sociology and ethnic studies and her drive for social equity, social justice and anti-oppression, her passion is to work in communities that foster growth for youth.

Sara Santiago, Chicas Family Engagement Coordinator, ssantiago@adelantemujeres.org
Sara is originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco and joined Adelante Mujeres in 2020. Sara graduated with a BA of Science in Nutrition from the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac in Jalisco, México. After practicing as a nutritionist for more than 5 years in México, Sara moved to Oregon in 2015 and found her passion for empowering women and supporting Latino families by working with the community at Portland Community College, the Hillsboro School District, and finally at Adelante Mujeres.

Angela Valenzuela, Youth Facilitator & Project Developer, avalenzuela@adelantemujeres.org
Originally from Sinaloa, Mexico, Angela grew up in north Portland. She graduated in 2016 from Washington State University Vancouver with a B.A. in Humanities with a Primary Focus in English and Secondary Focus in Sociology, as well as with a Minor in Spanish. Angela joins Adelante Mujeres with five years of experience working with youth and families providing educational services.

Brianda Regalado, Youth Facilitator & Project Developer bregalado@adelantemujeres.org
Brianda was born and raised in Oregon. At a young age she discovered her passion for Early Childhood Education and dreamt of teaching in a Third World Country. Brianda studied Education at Western Oregon University and, after a gap year, she is currently finishing her BA in Education at Portland State University.

Carmen Walsh, Youth Facilitator & Project Developer, cwalsh@adelantemujeres.org
Carmen joined Adelante Mujeres after working as a Preschool Teacher’s Assistant for 5 years. Her roots are Mexican and Irish and she is very proud to be multi-cultural. Carmen graduated from PSU with a Bachelor’s in International Studies and minor in Spanish. When Carmen isn’t spending time with her family and loving on her godchild, she is either sipping on something warm whilst reading/writing or throwing on an old t-shirt on to paint how she is feeling.

Frida Mendoza, Youth Facilitator and Project Developer, fmendoza@adelantemujeres.org
Frida is originally from Mexico City and joined Adelante Mujeres after graduating from University of California San Diego in 2021 where she received her B.A in International Studies- Anthropology. She is passionate about women’s rights, environmental protection, traveling and international cooperation. She has become very interested in mentoring and empowering others since she considers these tools to be imperative for personal and professional success. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, trying new recipes and going on adventures!

Kiana Ringuette, Youth Facilitator & Project Developer, kringuette@adelantemujeres.org
Kiana grew up on her family’s tropical fruit and flower farm on O’ahu, Hawai’i. She enjoys being out in nature and creating oil and acrylic landscape paintings. After completing her B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Spanish at Linfield University, she served in the Peace Corps as an Agricultural Specialist in Paraguay. Kiana is thrilled to be part of an organization that embodies her passion for empowering women and supporting the BIPOC community.

Tania Villanueva, Youth Facilitator & Project Developer, tvillanueva@adelantemujeres.org
Tania was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. From a young age, she knew that one day she would grow up and work to help people. Tania graduated from Western Oregon University with a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education. Years later, she learned more and more about Adelante Mujeres and the incredible drive that stands behind the mission and vision of this organization and knew that she could not miss an opportunity to be part of an organization that supports and works for ideals she truly believes in.

Alejandra Trujillo, Youth Facilitator & Project Developer, atrujillo@adelantemujeres.org
Alejandra Trujillo attended Portland State University and received her bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Through her sorority Kappa Delta Chi, she found her passion for serving her community and learning leadership skills. Alejandra has a passion for working with adolescents to help them achieve success and pursue higher education.  

Diana Hernandez-Cuesta, Youth Facilitator & Project Developer, dhernandez@adelantemujeres.org
Born and raised in Oregon. She will be graduating from Portland State University in December 2021, with a B.S. in Public Health: Community Health Promotion with a minor in Chicano/Latino Studies. Diana joined Adelante Mujeres with over seven years of a strong background in mentoring and youth engagement. As a first-generation Latina who grew up in a single parent household, she aspires to continue to support and mentor youth.

Calvin LeSueur, Business Recovery Specialist, clesueur@adelantemujeres.org
Calvin LeSueur is a community development professional with diverse experience in economic development, sustainable agriculture, and grassroots organizing. Calvin has a passion for connecting with people and working to make things better in the community. As a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Paraguay, 2014-16), Calvin had a unique experience in Latin America where he worked with small farmers to improve health conditions in the home.

Ivette Heredia, Empresas Coach and Retail Specialist, iheredia@adelantemujeres.org
Ivette is originally from Oxnard, California, and has resided in Oregon for over a decade. As a first-generation Latina, and Pacific University graduate, Ivette is passionate about entrepreneurship and education. As a young business owner, Ivette not only brings a wealth of knowledge in marketing, finance, and non-profit management but she understands the importance of strengthening the fabrics of our local communities through dreams, resources, empowerment, and education. To wind down, Ivette enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing handball, or enjoying nature.

Odalis Aguilera, Food Business Program Coordinator, oaguilera@adelantemujeres.org
Odalis graduated from Portland State University with a BA in Business Administration, Marketing, and a certificate of Athletic and Outdoor Industry. She joined Adelante Mujeres in March of 2019 after having volunteered in our Chicas summer soccer camp and Forest Grove Farmers Market. She has a passion for futbol and helping the community that serves her family.

Mariana Beyer Chapa, Empresas Coach and Training Specialist, mbeyer@adelantemujeres.org
Originally from Mexico, Mariana is passionate about immigrant and LGBTQ+ rights, financial literacy, and sustainability. Mariana is a recent Reed College graduate and is excited to give back to her community and help them in their entrepreneurship journey.

Kaely Summers, Health Equity Manager, ksummers@adelantemujeres.org
Kaely joined Adelante in 2011. Originally from Tacoma, Washington, she has lived abroad in Peru and is a former AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. Kaely is a graduate of Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, and has a deep interest in nutrition and food systems.

Mayra Hernandez, Health and Nutrition Coordinator, mhernandez@adelantemujeres.org
In 2004, Mayra Hernandez became a student in our Adult Education program and received her GED.  Mayra then began her career in childcare and started studying to receive her Child Development Associate Credential, which she earned in 2006. Mayra joined Adelante Mujeres in 2011 and has worked in our preschool as well as with our Forest Grove Farmers Market and our Produce Rx initiative.

Gladis Vidal Mendez, Early Childhood Education School Cook, gmendez@adelantemujeres.org
Gladis is originally from Oaxaca, Mexico. She came to the United States when she was 12 years old and graduated from high school in 2000. She has worked as a cook for head start programs since 2008, first at Oregon Childhood Development Coalition and now at Adelante Mujeres. As a mother of two children, Gladis understands the need for nutritious foods and is excited to share her passion with the Adelante Mujeres community by cooking healthy and delicious meals. It makes her content to see the ECE children happy and well fed.

Alejandro Tecum, Regenerative Agriculture Education Manager, atecum@adelantemujeres.org
Alejandro is originally from Guatemala and moved to Oregon in 1999. He joined Adelante Mujeres in 2002 working as a Mathematics and Spanish teacher. In 2005, he initiated the Adelante Mujeres Agricultural program.

Daniela Perez, Farmer's Market and Farm Business Manager, dperez@adelantemujeres.org
As a Tijuana native, Daniela is inspired by her community’s resilience and embrace of migrant populations. Her extensive education and long list of volunteer efforts feed into her work as an activist, educator and community organizer. Daniela received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of San Diego, and received a Master’s Degree from Portland State University in Leadership for Sustainability Education. She has extensive experience in environmental justice and in sustainable urban agriculture. She finds joy in mexican food and culture, and gets inspired by her family's ability to celebrate life even in difficult times.  

Sage Fairman, Farmers Market & Agriculture Education Coord., sfairman@adelantemujeres.org
Sage is originally from Santa Cruz, California and graduated with a BA in Food Sovereignty in the Americas from Western Washington University. She has spent time working and studying in Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Sage first joined Adelante Mujeres as an AmeriCorps member in March 2021. She has experience in sustainable farm operations, interdisciplinary education, and farmworker justice advocacy. She is passionate about all things food and how food connects to community, health, and environmental justice.

We have an amazing and dedicated board of directors who work hard to push our mission forward.