LACE MEMBERS
TERESA ALONSO LEÓNABOUT TERESA
Teresa Alonso León is the Representative of the 22nd district of the Oregon House of Representatives, and a founding member of LACE. She is the first immigrant Latina to be elected to the Oregon Legislature. The daughter of migrant farmworkers, Teresa grew up in House District 22. Teresa holds a bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Portland State University. Education was Teresa’s path to success, and as a legislator, she wants to increase opportunity and access for all Oregon students. Among her recent victories is the passing of the Driver’s License for all Act, the Paid Family & Medical Leave Act, which has been nationally-recognized as the most inclusive in the country. Furthermore, she worked to help pass the Student Success Act, which will invest an unprecedented $1 billion in Oregon schools annually. She was also recently named the new Secretary for the Executive Committee of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators. |
VERONICA BAÑUELOSABOUT VERONICA
Veronica Bañuelos is a bilingual / bicultural Chicana focused on Organizational Development, Intercultural Communication and Restorative Processes. As an independent consultant she spends her energy supporting people and organizations move closer to their mission and each other through team building, coaching, training, restorative processes and mediation. Her professional studies are a reflection of both her personal interests and life purpose. These practices ground her wholistic personal approach to values of social justice and love with commitment to service and healing in the world. Veronica is relationship-based leader. Her practice centers caring for relationships and connections, she brings people together in partnerships to move closer towards common goals. As a natural asset-based leader, influencer, organizer, and communicator, she knows the importance of truly listening for understanding. |
LORENA CARRILLOabout LORENA
Lorena Carrillo currently works as the Associate Director of Economic Sustainability for El Programa Hispano Católico (EPHC) and oversees programs that support members of the Latino/e/x communities with housing and energy assistance services. Previously, she served as Public Affairs and Community Relations manager for a district that manages flood infrastructure in a historic floodplain where she helped raise awareness of flood management systems, the Vanport flood, and facilitated the creation organization's first equity policy. Lorena's love for the environment had her start her professional journey with the Columbia Slough Watershed Council where she managed outreach and recreation programming to promote the restoration, enhancement, and protection of habitat and biodiversity in the Columbia Slough watershed. Lorena is a graduate of the Center for Diversity and the Environment’s E42 program and works to promote awareness, understanding, and further behaviors and policies that support social and racial equity. She holds a B.A in International and Sustainable Urban Development and a Project Management certificate from Portland State University. She also holds a certificate of French language proficiency from CIEP for France’s Ministry of Education; she is fluent in French and Spanish. |