WHO WE ARE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

Marivel Mendoza is a proud first-generation Mexicana born and raised in Oakland, CA. As the daughter of parents who immigrated from Michoacan, Mexico and began their journey in the US working in the fields of the Central Valley, Marivel seeks to honor her roots and lend support to others making the sacrifices needed for a better life. In 2020, Marivel co-founded Hijas del Campo and has since become the organization's inaugural Executive Director. Marivel lives in Contra Costa with her husband and two wonderful boys, ages 3 & 9.

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PROGRAM DIRECTOR & CO-FOUNDER

Dorina Moraida was born and raised in San Jose, CA, as one of six children and a proud first-generation Mexican American. Dorina’s father migrated from Sonora, Mexico to California in the 70’s where he worked as a farmworker. “Serving this community, our farmworkers, and their families is another way to honor my Dad. He was hardworking, loving, and generous.” Dorina currency resides in Contra Costa County with her husband and 3 beautiful daughters and works as a Paralegal for a Bay Area Law Firm.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

With over 15 years of community involvement experience, Alaina has helped the youth and underserved members of her community overcome the socio-economic challenges faced in today’s society. Her biggest influence growing up was her father, who was a teacher at a continuation high school, and her grandmother, who was a farmworker in her younger years. Alaina currently assists HDC in building community partnerships, planning events, and merchandise.

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ANALYTICS MANAGER

Emma Larrabee has served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member with HDC since March 2022. As a recent graduate from the University of Pittsburgh with a bachelor's in Social Work, Emma joined HDC with the goal of learning about capacity building, grant writing, and community outreach. Emma is passionate and dedicated to connecting individuals and families to all available resources and services to lessen any access gap experienced by campesinx families.

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EDUCATION INITIATIVES LEAD

Jessica has over 15 years of experience in higher education and has been a counselor since 2018, primarily working with first-generation and economically disadvantaged college students. As a Latina and first generation college student herself, Jessica can relate to the many barriers students must overcome and attempts to humanize higher education. She has worked in a variety of areas including EOPS, Foster Youth, Retention Services, and in mental health programs. Jessica is currently pursuing her PHD in International and Multicultural Education at University of San Francisco.

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Margarita Baez is a first-generation immigrant, and first in her family to pursue higher education. Her family migrated from Michoacan, Mexico and made the Bay Area their home for the past 40+ years. Margarita is the Vice-President of the Latina Leadership Network of the California Community Colleges (LLNCCC) and has worked as a Marriage & Family Therapist since 2020 as well as serving as a Personal Mental Health Counselor in the Community College setting, and in the larger community in Stanislaus County as a K-12 Mental Health Clinician. She is a dedicated mother to two young boys, and lots of four-legged fur babies.

FOOD PROGRAM MANAGER

Janneath Peña moved from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico to Brentwood at 16-years-old. Janneath’s own experience working at farms in Brentwood and seeing her parents work in the fields has taught her not only how difficult the work really is, but has also given her a profound respect and administration for all campesinxs. Her dream is that one day farmwork is respected and that campesinxs are treated with dignity, empathy and compassion. Janneath currently works as HDC’s first ever Food Program Manager, ensuring that 400+ families receive food on a monthly basis.

OUTREACH ADVOCATE

Vilma Olivares was born and raised in the Bay Area as a first-generation Nicaraguan-American Latina. With ambition in her heart, she graduated from CSU Sacramento with a BA in Spanish with a concentration in Education and Equity. There, she met her husband and had two beautiful sets of twin girls. Her dream is to assist the Latinx community in any way possible to help make this country feel and eventually become their home away from home!

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Career & Education Council at Merrit College; Personal Counselor at the College of San Mateo

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Associate General Counsel for Compliance at California Rural Legal Assistance

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Mental Health Clinician at TheraTree Community: Child & Family Counseling Inc., Puente Counselor and Co-Coordinator at Los Medanos College, and Volunteer College Counselor at Hijas del Campo

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Executive Director and Co-Founder of Hijas del Campo

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Head of Community Partnerships at Hijas del Campo

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Program Director and Co-Founder of Hijas del Campo- Board President