Latino Community Fund Leadership Team
Our success is directly attributed to leadership, expertise, and visionary insight of this team. Learn more about the dynamic individuals leading the way to a stronger community.
Finance and Capacity Building Team
Lilliane Ballesteros
Executive Director
Lilliane is a development and fundraising professional who has worked with nonprofits in Seattle and her hometown, Los Angeles. Lilliane works to communicate LCF’s broad vision and increase resources to benefit the community.
Luis Fernando Ramirez Limon
Director of Finance
Luis Fernando has been working for LCF since 2020, he is in charge of Finance and it is one of his passions. He has been involved in the field of nonprofits for over 15 years. When he's not into the professional world, he loves gardening and his perfect vacation is at the beach.
Salomon Gonzalez
Finance and Grants Supports Specialist
Salomon is from Michoacán, Mexico and is a first-generation college graduate. He graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a Bachelors in Business Administration and a minor in Hispanic Studies in 2018. He is responsible for the internal finances and works closely with LCF's fiscally sponsored groups. He grew up in south King County and enjoys hiking and playing fútbol.
Deserea Brito
Operations and Capacity Building Coordinator
Deserea currently serves as Executive/Operations Assistant at the Latino Community Fund. In this role, she assists the Executive Director and provides administrative, operations fundraising, and board support. Before coming to the Latino Community Fund worked as a Project Coordinator at the Nancy Bell Evans Center on Nonprofit & Philanthropy, where she supported leadership programs for nonprofit professionals and social entrepreneurs. She continues to serve as a Leadership Seminar Chair for Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, inspiring youth to create social change through services to their communities. Deserea holds a Masters of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington and received her Bachelors in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.
Healthy Families Team
Luzmila Freese
Director of Community Programs – Health and Economic Empowerment
Luzmila manages LCF’s Economic Empowerment and Healthy Latino Family Initiatives, both of which focus on creating and establishing long terms solutions to address deeply rooted problems affecting underserved Latino communities. She has been leading efforts to foster relationships between underrepresented communities and governmental institutions, increase awareness about existing socio-economic disparities, and elevating the role of promotoras in community-based interventions. With a background in international non-profit organizations and companies, she joined LCF in 2018. Luzmila holds a dual Master’s degree in Sustainable International Development and Conflict Resolution and Coexistence from the Heller School of Social Policy at Brandeis University.
Maria Martinez
Health Program Coordinator
Maria is the Program Coordinator for the Healthy Latino Families Initiative. In her role, she supports various projects that address food insecurity, unequal access to healthcare services, and food safety and pollution. She is responsible for the administrative aspects of the projects and for the organization of effective community engagement activities. María is deeply invested in education and community work; she believes that engaging in meaningful conversations and listening with purpose are critical to understand the needs and challenges of the Latino community. She joined LCF in September of 2019; the same year in which she received her Bachelor of Arts in Education, Community and Organization from the University of Washington.
Economic Justice Team
Angela Soto
Economic Empowerment Program Coordinator
Angela is the Economic Empowerment Program Coordinator in LCF. She works with small Latino business owners to identify opportunities for empowerment, and raise understanding about the different labor ordinances established by the City of Seattle. She coordinates and manages the development and implementation of activities aimed to increase community engagement, and build leadership within the Latino community. Before joining LCF she has been working with Latino communities, building capacity at the individual and community level in areas related to tenants and worker’s rights, health, and technology through outreach, advocacy, and education. Her experience spans over eight years in marketing and communication. Born in Lima, Peru, Angela holds a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of San Ignacio de Loyola. Additionally, Angela is a seasoned radio host, who enjoys keeping our Latino community aware of the different social services and resources available and bringing positive change.
Graciela Corral Hernandez
Latinos in Tech Organizer
Graciela is from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico and moved to the United States in 2020. As Latinos in Tech Organizer, she works to expand connections, provide tech support, and coordinate Tech initiatives. In 2015, Graciela was selected as ambassador in the first "Women Ambassadors Forum" at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. Also in 2015, she was selected to be part of the first Youth Council to the Consulate General of the United States in Hermosillo. In 2017, Graciela was one of the few selected from Sonora State for a full Governor’s scholarship to participate in an Internship Program and Civil Society & Project Development Course at The Washington Center in Washington, D.C. From 2013 to 2018, she was a Committee member and Public Relations Officer at the nonprofit organization Corazon Amigo. Graciela holds a bachelor's degree in International Business from Tecnologico de Monterrey University in Mexico. Graciela loves debate; she is currently a member of the Virtual Debate Club from ASDC (American Space Debate Club).
Civic Engagement and Policy Team
Oskar Zambrano
Sr. Director of Civic Engagement and Advocacy
Oskar has his roots as a community organizer since 1994 fighting California's Prop 187. Ever since he's been advocating in the community to ensure that disenfranchised communities are civically engaged and their voices get heard.
Giovanni Severino
Lead Policy Organizer
Giovanni Severino is a passionate activist and is an advocate for social justice. He was born and raised in South Los Angeles, CA. While he lived in LA, he participated in multiple marches such as The May Day March, and the Occupy LA March. His family moved to Yakima, WA when he was 17 years of age. Since then, he has engaged in community efforts to improve the livelihood of marginalized communities in the area. He attended Yakima Valley College where he earned an Associate's in Arts and served as the ASYVC Director of Student Programs 2015-2016. He is a recent graduate from Central Washington University where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He served as the ASCWU Student Body President 2017-2018, and as a Co-Chair for MEChA de CWU. He is excited to be part of Latino Community Fund to ensure that all communities get the representation they deserve.
Cristina Ortega
Statewide Manager for Civic Engagement and Advocacy
As a grassroots movement builder based in central Washington, Cristina has worked on several projects including Census work, farmworkers issues, Immigrants rights, LGBTQ+ rights and more. She is an experienced fundraiser, having raised over thousands of funds for community programs. Cristina remains an advocate for the most vulnerable and pulls her community up when most needed. #LaLuchaSigue
Margot Spindola
Puget Sound Region Community Organizer
Margot is a first-generation Mexican-American, hailing from Eastern Washington, and a graduate from Whitworth University with experience in civic engagement and development, family immigration processes and rights, and statewide Census organizing. Her work ensures that LCF's statewide partner organizations receive equal and fair representation while cultivating empowerment and leadership within our communities.
Alianza Youth Leadership Program Team
Merivet Lombera
Alianza Youth Leadership Co-Manager
Merivet is a first-generation college student at Central Washington University, where she studies Psychology and Communication. She first got involved with Latino Community Fund in 2015 through the Alianza leadership program, where she continues to develop youth leadership in Yakima. In her free time, Merivet enjoys running and reading non-fiction books.
Tanya Medina
Alianza Youth Leadership Co-Manager
Tanya is a first-generation graduate from Central Washington University. She was born and raised in the King County area where she shares a passion of giving back and becoming a voice for King County communities and all Washington State communities. She has been involved in activism work and held leadership roles through MEChA, United We Dream, Washington Sin Fronteras, and being the Vice-Chair for the City of Kent's Multicultural Committees Board. In addition, she is a youth advocate and has heavily been involved with youth-led work as Tanya believes youth have a powerful voice, movement and she believes youth leaders can impact the future of our communities.
Alianza Leadership Program Fellows
Silvia Leija
Alianza Communications Fellow
Silvia was raised in Yakima, WA, and is currently a Western Washington University undergraduate pursuing a double major in Public Relations and "Community Narratives through Digital Media" as well as minors in Education and Social Justice, Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and American Cultural Studies. She plans to work with nonprofits and the sports industry to provide education and sports opportunities to students of color. Silvia is passionate about social media and the opportunities it brings to connect and learn with communities across the state and worldwide.
Karina Colin
Alianza Fellow
Hello all! My name is Karina Colin I am from Sunnyside Washington. I am a student at Heritage University. I’m in the teacher preparation program majoring in Secondary Mathematics Education. Also, I am an Act Six Scholar, Cadre 9. My passion is working with young adults and helping them grow. I look forward to working with The Alianza Leadership program to grow my leadership skills and contribute to my community!
Mary Cruz Morales
Alianza Fellow
Hello, I'm Mary Cruz Morales. I'm currently a student at the University of Washington Bothell and I'm majoring in Community Psychology. I'm excited to be engaged in helping communities become big. In my free time I like to go out on walks, meet new places, draw and whenever possible take small trips.
Erik Michel
Alianza Fellow
Erik is a DACA recipient, born in Colima, Mexico. He grew up in Skagit County and has spent the last four years in King County studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington. He is also currently taking steps to empower his community through the Latinos in Tech initiative. Erik loves cats, computers, and finding ways to be helpful to those around him.
Esther Baeza
Alianza Fellow
Monserrat Morales
Alianza Fellow
My name is Monserrat Morales Miranda, I'm a Public Health student passionate about creating interventions to help underrepresented communities access healthcare services. I enjoy working with youth and help lead programs that benefit their educational and professional growth. Fun fact: I enjoy being in nature and sunny weather, I love hiking and exploring different hidden spots in Washington state.