SFVYD 2024-2025 Board members

 

Mayra Valadez- President

Mayra was born and raised in Pacoima in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. She serves as President and has previously served as Vice President and Political Director of SFVYD. Mayra is a political and communications professional with expertise in coalition-building, policy analysis, and community outreach. During the last redistricting cycle, her work at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) helped draw Latino opportunity districts across the state at different levels of government. Mayra is an alum of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Office of Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel. 

In April of 2024, Mayor Karen Bass appointed her to serve on the five-member Board of Library Commissioners for the City of Los Angeles, where she is the youngest and only Valley-resident Board member. She also serves on the Boards of the Mid-Valley YMCA and the Latinas Lead California Young Professionals Council. 

Mayra is a graduate of the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Passionate about representation and voter mobilization, Mayra hopes to one day found a nonprofit focused on civic engagement in the San Fernando Valley. She lives in North Hollywood with her chihuahua, Kiwi, and loves cycling the Chandler bike path in her free time.

 

Juan Solorio- Vice President

Since 2020, Juan has served in various roles on the board, such as the Legislative Director, Political Director, and most recently as Public Relations Director. Juan also serves as the Vice-President of Programming for the Los Angeles County Young Democrats. 

Juan recently completed his Master’s in Regional and Urban Planning at UCLA, where he contributed as a part-time graduate student researcher with the UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies conducting  research on the  public perception of public safety in the City of Los Angeles. Prior to pursuing a Masters degree, Juan dedicated six years to various roles in the Office of Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez. Starting as a Field Deputy, then transitioning to Area Director, and culminating in his role as Planning Aide. As a Planning Aide, he spearheaded local business development initiatives, reviewed local development projects, and vetted conditional use permits.

Juan's dedication to civic engagement extends beyond his professional roles. He served as a delegate to both the Los Angeles Democratic County Central Committee (2020- 2024)and the California Democratic State Central Committee, representing Assembly District 39th (currently the 43rd Assembly District) in 2019 and 2020. He also serves as an At-Large Member for the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley.

Mirna Ezquivel- Treasurer

Mirna Ezquivel serves as the Treasurer of the Board for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. Mirna is currently the San Fernando Valley Field Deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath. She is dedicated to advocating for constituents and community-based organizations, ensuring they have proper representation and equitable access to resources. She is a voting member of the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley, sitting on the Political Action Committee.

Mirna is an active member of La Comisión Femenil, she plays an important role in her community by bringing essential services to young Latinos. Previously, Mirna served as the Canoga Park Field and Economic Development Deputy for Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. During her time with the Councilmember, she co-founded the Bob Community Action Team, bringing awareness and resources to individuals experiencing intimate partner violence. As a Field Organizer, Mirna's role was to unite various democratic clubs and lead door-to-door canvassing efforts to support the campaigns of Governor Gavin Newsom and Ricardo Lara. This experience exposed Mirna to the inner workings of a political campaign and she quickly developed valuable skills in grassroots organizing and campaign mobilization. 

Communications Director- Teodora E. Reyes (she/her/they)

Teodora E. Reyes is a passionate community organizer and advocate for environmental justice, currently serving as the Communications Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats (SFVYD). Raised in Pacoima by a resilient single mother, Teodora navigated her early years throughout the San Fernando Valley, confronting and overcoming the unique challenges of being a first-generation student. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Conservation and Resource Studies with a Minor in Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley. Teodora’s professional background includes serving as a Policy Associate at a local environmental nonprofit, where she connected COVID-19-impacted members to essential rental and utility debt relief and led environmental justice campaigns like the Shutdown Whiteman Airport Campaign/Coalition achieving significant community building and policy changes to improve public health and environmental safety in Pacoima. Teodora is also a Co-Founder of Voces Unidas en Pacoima, a collective focused on movement building and storytelling.

Teodora has been instrumental in shaping the club’s communications strategy. After joining in 2022 as an At-large Board Member, she later served as Social Media Director, where she honed her skills in digital media management and grassroots engagement. As Communications Director, Teodora proudly served on SFVYD’s first all-women executive board, supporting events and initiatives such as Board Retreats, GOTV efforts, and club newsletters. She also coordinated media for key events like the Holiday Party Fundraiser and Annual RFK Awards.

Teodora currently serves as a District Representative in the Office of State Senator Caroline Menjivar, staffing the Senator on issues related to Water, Housing, Women’s Issues, and Public Safety.

Political Director - Brandon Whalen-Castellanos

Brandon Whalen-Castellanos (he/him) is the Political Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. Professionally, Brandon is an environmental planner specializing in land use planning and housing development. He works with project applicants and local government to bring critical environmental clearance necessary for construction projects. Originally from Orange County, he volunteered during the 2018 Blue Wave, helping flip all four historically conservative seats with the Orange County Young Democrats. He was elected in 2023 as an Assembly District Delegate for the California Democratic Party, representing the 44th Assembly District. He also serves as an At-Large Board Member for the Stonewall Young Democrats and is an appointed member of the Democratic Party of San Fernando Valley.

Legislative Director - Andrés Garcia (he/him/his)

Andrés was born in Panorama City and was raised across Southern California. He currently serves as the Legislative Director of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. Andrés is a District Representative in the Office of State Senator Caroline Menjivar. He staffs Senator Menjivar on Healthcare and Veterans issues, and also serves as the district office’s Internship Coordinator.

Andrés is highly knowledgeable in both national and state politics. In 2022, he helped elect and re-elect Democratic governors across 36 gubernatorial races, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, while working at the Democratic Governors Association in Washington DC. Previously, he served in the Office of US Senator Elizabeth Warren in Boston, Massachusetts, where he helped manage a robust internship program, drafted and and submitted federal grant letters of support, and assisted with an increased constituent casework load during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, he conducted political research and contributed to the re-election of 36 Hispanic and Latino Members of Congress while at CHC BOLD PAC. That same year, he received his BA in Political Science and Legal Studies from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

As the son of hard-working Guatemalan and Mexican immigrants, and a first-generation college graduate, Andrés believes serving others and building strong relationships are essential in professional and personal life. In his free time, he enjoys baking pies, learning to play the ukulele, and immersing himself in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Membership Director - David Ramirez

Born and raised in Pacoima, California, David Ramirez is the Membership Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. He recently graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles where he studied Geography/Environmental Studies and Labor Studies. As a first-generation student, David transferred to UCLA from Pasadena City College. As the student member on the Pasadena Area Community College District Board of Trustees, he helped advance equitable policies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured a safe return to campus instruction. Appointed by Governor Newsom in 2022 to the A.B. 928 Associate Degree for Transfer Intersegmental Implementation Committee, he oversaw the equitable transfer reforms.

David continued his passion for advocacy at UCLA, serving as the Government Relations Chair for the University of California Student Association where he had the opportunity to work on state legislation and address the Legislature as an expert witness on several bills and as a panelist for an Assembly budget subcommittee. After organizing one of the first Starbucks unionization drives in Los Angeles, David completed an internship with Starbucks Workers United, successfully leading an effort to remove on-campus Starbucks offerings at UCLA. He is currently a Fellow of the 67th Cohort of Coro Southern California Fellows in Public Affairs.

Mobilization Director - Ana Karen Estrada 

Ana Karen Estrada (She/Her/Ella) serves as the Mobilization Director and Youth Engagement Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats (SFVYD) in her second term. Ana, a first-generation college graduate, earned her B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Growing up in a working-class household in the San Fernando Valley, she is the eldest of four children and takes pride in her Mexican-American heritage. Her passion for serving the Latinx community and promoting reproductive health and rights is evident through her role as a Raíz Organizer for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA).

Ana has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to youth engagement in advocacy and political activism. She holds positions in youth-driven organizations such as Project Super Bloom PAC, where she has shown her ability to mobilize resources and create meaningful change. She has held roles as President of the Matador Democrats and Political Director of Project Super Bloom PAC. Her dedication and advocacy have been recognized by various platforms; in 2023, she was honored by her State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel as a Youth Activist of the Year and by H.O.P.E as a "Future Political Activist". In 2024, California Enviro Voters awarded her contributions to amplifying youth political power through her role in Project Super Bloom PAC at their Badass Green Awards.

Ana's past work with elected officials like State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, Rep. Brad Sherman, and Rep. Tony Cardenas reflects her strong foundation in political work. She is passionate about fostering inclusivity, providing opportunities for students, and creating spaces for increased youth involvement in politics. Ana is excited to continue her journey of advocating for youth values, expanding opportunities, and making a positive impact in her community through her role in San Fernando Valley Democrats.

Social Media Director - Zayurit Gordillo

 

Events Director - Genesis Discua

Genesis Discua (She/Her/Ella) is the Events Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, channeling her passion for community service into giving back to the community that raised her. Inspired by her parents’ immigration journey and her experiences growing up in a low-income, predominantly brown community, she has committed herself to advocacy and community education.

As the Public Affairs Specialist at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, Genesis fiercely advocactes for sexual and reproductive health justice. Her work is driven by a commitment to amplifying marginalized voices and tackling the complex intersections of immigration status, skin color, and socio-economic class in accessing quality healthcare. Additionally, Genesis serves on the board for Latinas Lead California's Young Professionals Network, where she works toward electing Latinas to office across the state. In her previous role at Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), she focused on fostering solidarity among Latinas, many of whom were first- and second-generation workers in white-collar professions.

A proud daughter of Central American immigrants, Genesis is also a first-generation graduate of California State University Northridge, where she earned a degree in Political Science.

Community Outreach Director - Emma Abramyan

Emma Abramyan serves as the Community Outreach Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. She is a recent honors graduate of CSUN, where she earned her bachelor's in political science and a minor in writing and rhetoric. During her time at CSUN, Emma did many internships, including the CSUN Judicial Internship and CSUN in DC program, where she interned for Congressman Adam Schiff.

She has also worked on multiple political campaigns, including Councilwoman Imelda Padilla’s campaign, Adam Schiff’s Senate campaign, and State Senator Caroline Menjivar’s campaign. Emma is also a social activist and has served on committees for several forums and marches, including Councilwoman Padilla’s Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day March, Pueblo y Salud’s Affirmative Action Forum, and Pueblo y Salud’s Cesar Chavez March for Justice. Currently, Emma is a community canvasser at Pacoima Beautiful. 

Programming Director - Kevin Sanchez

CSUN/Labor Representative - Logan Fisher

Logan Fisher (he/him) is the CSUN and labor liaison for San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. Logan is a senior at Cal State Northridge with an Associates degree from Los Angeles Pierce College studying Political Science with a speciality in politics and government. Logan also currently serves as the Political Director of Matador Democrats, and the student director of Feel the Bern SFV. Logan works as a student coordinator with the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges where he assists in legislative advocacy, fighting for an equitable and accessible education system for students and faculty. Previously Logan served on the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood council where he established the youth committee to ensure students had a seat at the table. Logan is passionate about uplifting the voices of students!

UCLA Representative - Alberto Vargas

Alberto Vargas serves as this year's Mobilization Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. Alberto is a first-year Master in Public Policy candidate for the Luskin School of Public Affairs and a Policy Fellow within the UCLA Latino Politics and Policy Institute Research Department. 

Before starting at UCLA, Alberto worked for four years in California State Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel’s Office in the San Fernando Valley. Through his role as a Field Representative in the office, Alberto managed the Latino issues in the district and healthcare and labor policy issues. Alberto is also a board member for the nonprofit Alliance for Community Empowerment (ACE) where they work with children and adults who have been justice system allowing them to re-enter civilian life. He is also part of the Young Alumni Council for his alma mater UC Irvine, where he chairs the Social and Spirit Committee. 

Alberto is a native of the San Fernando Valley and a proud son of immigrant parents from Mexico. He is a proud alumnus of the University of California, Irvine where he double majored in Political Science and International Studies. During his free time, he loves to spend time playing basketball and training horses with his dad. 

Housing Advocate - Abby King

Abby King is the Youth Engagement Director for the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats. Professionally, she serves as a Housing Production Policy Analyst in the Office of Mayor Karen Bass. In this role, Abby works alongside various city departments to research and implement policies aimed at streamlining and promoting more affordable housing production throughout the city. Prior to her role with the Mayor’s office, Abby served as a Legislative Manager with the Valley Industry & Commerce Association. 

In addition to her work with the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, Abby also volunteers with Abundant Housing LA as a member of their Southeast San Fernando Valley Chapter steering committee. She also works with the Stonewall Young Democrats, where she serves as an alternate for the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley Representative. She is a proud alum of Whitman College, where she received a BA in Politics. 

 

Mentorship Director/RFK Co-Chair - Marco Santana

Marco Santana considers himself a true son of the San Fernando Valley. He was born and raised in the 818 and has committed his work to better the lives of others in his community. Marco has been with SFVYD for over 7 years and has held various positions such as mobilization director, RFK Co-Chair, Treasurer, and Vice President. He’s also an active member of DPSFV, having served as an Officer, and sits on various boards in his community, such as the Mid Valley YMCA, ICON CDC, Metro’s Community Advisory Council, and most recently being appointed to LAHSA’s Taskforce on Latinx People Experiencing Homelessness. 

Marco is a graduate of CSUN, worked for local electeds such as Congressman Tony Cardenas, and State Senator Bob Hertzberg, and has worked on various campaigns fighting to ensure the Valley gets effective and thoughtful leaders. Outside of politics, Marco has dedicated himself to fighting to better the lives of our most vulnerable neighbors, having worked as a Director of a Local Homeless Nonprofit (LAFH) for 6 years, he now works at the local government focusing on providing strategy and securing funding for homeless initiatives across Los Angeles. 

President Emeritus + RFK Co-Chair - Michael Menjivar

Michael has served on the SFVYD Board since 2018, spending time as Membership Director, Treasurer, RFK Awards Co-Chair, and most recently, as President. After completing his term as President, he transitioned back into the role of Membership Director.

Michael is the Vice President of Government Relations, in Southern California, for Strategies 360, a national public affairs firm. Previously, he was the Director of Strategic Relations for the Central City Association of Los Angeles, the premier advocacy organization for Downtown LA. Prior, he served as Deputy Director of Community Engagement for LAUSD Board President Kelly Gonez. Michael also previously worked as the Public Policy Organizer for the Southern California Association of Non-Profit Housing (SCANPH), where he organized and led campaign efforts toward housing affordability in LA. Michael also serves on the board of Abundant Housing LA and the board of the LA chapter of the New Leaders Council, the premier leadership, professional, and political advancement program for young professionals. 

President Emeritus + Parliamentarian - Xochitl Medrano

Xochitl has served in the public and private sector within politics and government as well as community outreach and engagement. As former President of the San Fernando Valley Young Democrats, Xochitl led coalition building efforts with community organizations as a commitment to invest back into the community. She has worked on various political campaigns across Southern California and remains active through civic engagement. She holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from CSU Northridge.