OUR TEAM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDER
Dr. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga
Dr. Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga is Founder and Executive Director of ALAS. She holds a Doctorate in Education and a Masters Degree in Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. She is an Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco, teaching in the Counseling Psychology program. Her focus of expertise is mental health with the Latino community, understanding trauma in immigrant children and family and working with Farmworker mental health. She had launched significant community mental health initiatives at ALAS including significant advocacy for systemic change in care and access for our Coastside program. Belinda was named to the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame and was appointed as San Mateo County District 3 Arts Commissioner. Her research focuses on cultural interventions to address trauma as well as Farmworker mental health. She is the author of the award winning children's book, Love and Monster's in Sofias Life. She has been a long time member of the Bay Area Border Relief.
Board Members
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Board Member, Social Services Supervisor, Tonantzin Coordinator
Patricia Ramirez
Pati was born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. She is a teacher, who considers herself an advocate for social justice and the human rights of children. Today she resides in the City of Half Moon Bay California. She is a wife and mother of three children.
Board Member, Mariachi Coordinator
Veronica Rodriguez
Veronica is a founding ALAS Board Member and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. She began advocating for the Half Moon Bay youth and their families when her three sons were in elementary school. Since 2013, she’s been the Mariachi Media Luna Coordinator and has been playing a key role in its success.
Board Member
Lilli Rey, Co-Founder, Bay Area Border Relief
Lilli is a human rights community activist with years of volunteer experience with a focus on protecting and restoring the rights of women. A political fundraiser for the past 15 years, Lilli has worked for Congresswoman Jackie Speier and other Democratic candidates and causes.
Board Member
Alice Linsmeier
Alice has a Master’s in International Multicultural Education and has earned a Bilingual, Crosscultural Language and Academic Multi-subject teaching credential, inspired by her work with popular teachers in El Salvador's farmworker communities. She currently works as a facilitator with farmworker leadership teams in Guatemala, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada.
Board Member
Stella Dominguez
Stella Dominguez is a founding board member of Ayudando Latinos A Soñar. Born in San Jose; currently resides in Fresno, California. Stella started her career in public service in 1977 as a Student Professional Assistant at the Santa Clara County Juvenile Detention Center. Stella spent 29 years working with the Probation Department, and also worked at the Adult Male and Female Work Furloughs.
Board Member
Luis Enrique Bazán
Luis Enrique Bazán is a longtime advocate for justice with years of
experience working with human rights and advocacy organizations.
Originally from Lima, Peru, he earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the Pontifical Catholic University in Lima, a master’s in theology and religious studies and a doctorate in organization and
leadership from USF.
Board Member
Richard Klein
Rich and his wife Kathy live in El Granada with their dog Charlie. They have lived in the Bay Area since 1978, and have loved the Coastside since then. Six years ago they figured out they could just live here full time. Rich is the CEO and majority owner of Coastside News Group, owner of the local weekly “Half Moon Bay Review”.
Board Member
Rodrigo Gijon
Rodrigo is a Board Member at ALAS. He was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, but he came to the United States when he was five years old. He has put his roots down in Half Moon Bay, in the town where both his wife and he grew up. Rodrigo is determined to work alongside their community to make it the best place for their daughter to grow in.
Board Member
Diana Gijon Sencion
Diana is an Early Child Education teacher. She was born and raised in Half Moon Bay surrounded by her family, with whom she has become an active part of her community. As a mother and a neighbor, she is committed to make her town a safer and happier place for its children and their families.
Board Member
Monica Valencia
Monica has a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law. She is a Los Angeles native and identifies as LGBTQ. She founded the non-profit Dreamer Fund, which assists undocumented students in attending law school. Monica focuses on movement building with the undocumented community.
Our Staff
Program & Operations Director
Pat Carbullido
Pat Carbullido is the Operations/Program Director. He runs the day to day operations for ALAS along with managing some of our programs. He was born and raised on the Peninsula and was previously the Executive Director at the Daly City Youth Health Center. Pat is dedicated to helping non-profits, and ALAS's mission of helping the Latino coastside community.
Assistant Director
Luis Enrique Bazán
Luis Enrique Bazán is a longtime advocate for justice with years ofexperience working with human rights and advocacy organizations.Originally from Lima, Peru, he earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the Pontifical Catholic University in Lima, a master’s in theology and religious studies and a doctorate in organization andleadership from USF.
Social Services Supervisor
Pati Ramirez
Pati was born in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. She is a teacher, who considers herself an advocate for social justice and the human rights of children. Today she resides in the City of Half Moon Bay California. She is a wife and mother of three children.
Educational Director
Dr. Kelly Delaney, Ed.D
Kelly Delaney, Ed.D has been the Director of the Single Subject Teaching Credential Program at Notre Dame de Namur University for 6 years and has been teaching at NDNU since 2012 in teacher education. She taught English, History and AVID in K-12 schools on the SF Peninsula from 2004-2017. Now in teacher education, her focus and research has been on issues of equity and justice in the classroom with particular emphasis on supporting English Learners, building community in the classroom, and countering Islamophobia in schools. In addition to working with ALAS' tutoring program since 2015, Kelly also does work with interfaith peace building and human rights both here in the US and abroad.
Cariño Project Case Manager
Emma Moctezuma
Emma has a background in Early Childhood Education and an AS degree in Human Services; she has dedicated a big part of her life to helping others. She was born and raised in Mexico and moved to Half Moon Bay almost two decades ago. Her family is her main support and the reason why she is so engaged with their community.
Community Engagement Coordinator
Cecilia Penaloza
Cecilia is a UC Davis graduate and works as the Lead Community Program Coordinator with the Latino community of Half Moon Bay. Having spent most of her life on the coast, she feels dedicated to giving back to her community by helping them navigate and use available resources.
Program Registration
Nancy Ramirez
Nancy was born and raised in Mexico until the age of nine years old. She moved to Half Moon Bay back in 1998 along with her family, three sisters and two brothers. She attended elementary school, middle school, and graduated from high school here in Half Moon Bay. She is now married and is happy to raise her two beautiful children here in our wonderful community.
Program Tracker & Data Recorder
Corie Schwabenland
Nicaraguan-American originally from Fresno, California. At ALAS, she is the Program Tracker/Recorder: collecting, managing, and interpreting data about the organization’s many programs and initiatives. Corie’s job is to help translate ALAS' on-the-ground work into measurable metrics of organizational growth, success— and most importantly —quality support for the Coastside community.
Program Administrative Assistant
Marisela Martinez
Marisela is the Program Administrative Assistant as part of the Administration Team here at ALAS. She was born and raised in Half Moon Bay a few years after her parents migrated from Oaxaca, Mexico. She has always loved to volunteer and give back to the beautiful community here in Half Moon Bay, where she has made new relationships, and found opportunities to grow as a person that have helped shape her career path.
Office Coordinator
Magdalena Zavala
Magdalena Zavala, also known as Magda, was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico until the age of fourteen. Since then, she has lived on the coast with her two beautiful children and wonderful husband. She is excited to be part of the ALAS team as the Office Coordinator, where she will be welcoming and assisting the community.
Community Program Coordinator & Assistant to the Executive Director
Sandra Sencion
Coming soon...
ALAS Research Coordinator
Juan Carlos Ruiz Malagon
Juan Carlos Ruiz Malagon, M.S., M.A. (He/Him) is a first-year graduate student in the Doctoral Program in Public Health at UC Irvine. Juan Carlos is a Returning Policy Fellow within the UCLA Latino Politics and Policy Institute; Juan specializes in qualitative research methods and has a strong interest in structural racism, migration, social inequities, immigration, and structural determinants of health. While at Stanford University, Juan completed a Master of Science in Community Health and Prevention Research and served as a Health Justice Programs Fellow through the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. Before graduate school, Juan volunteered at a UC Davis student-run free clinic called Clinica Tepati, providing primary healthcare to underserved and uninsured populations. Their professional and personal experiences drive them to work towards equitable healthcare systems through research and community engagement. Juan Carlos immigrated to the U.S. early and is a first-generation and low-income college graduate.
Director of Accounting
Alvin Lochlan
Director of Accounting at ALAS (Ayudando a Latinos a Soñar)
Youth Journalist
Maribela Arriaga
Coming soon...
Farmworker Outreach
Farmworker Program Director
Joaquin Jimenez
Joaquin has worked with the Coastside community for over 20 years. He started ALAS' Labor Force Program, which connects community members with local jobs. His work in the community includes Teacher in the Spanish Immersion Program, Migrant Education Program, CUSD Liaison, Co-Founder of the Latino Advisory Council of Half Moon Bay, Mentor for At-Risk Youth, Farm Worker Advocacy, and Organizer.
Farmworker Community Case Manager
Norma Zavala
Norma is the Case Manager and will be working with families. Outside of work, she is a grandma, wife and mother of 1 son, and 2 daughters that keep her happily busy. Some of the important values that she has and that are fundamental for her work is that she is very responsible, respectful and very honest.
Farmworker Community Case Manager
Jorge Sanchez
Jorge was born in Venezuela in the capital of Caracas. He is part of the ALAS team working in several areas such as distributing food to families, and helping essential workers in the field. He manages to work on the migration side working in conjunction with other migration organizations and lawyers working mainly to instruct people about their asylum cases.
Equity Express Bus Program Coordinator
Ana Morales-Galvan
Ana is a UC Irvine first-generation graduate. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, she migrated to the United States when she was eight and has lived in Half Moon Bay with her family since then. Ana is excited to be back with her Coastside community and hopes to be a supporter and an advocate for all.
Farmworker Outreach Coordinator
Vanessa Rodriguez
Vanessa is a first-generation University graduate. She has always been passionate about helping the community. She grew up with her single mother & she lives by saying it takes a village to raise a kid, which inspires her to advocate for the Latino community.
Farmworker Outreach Coordinator
Cristhian Landaverde
Cristhian is originally from El Salvador and is a specialist in social work. In El Salvador, Cristhian worked in health delivery of micronutrients, advocating for the wellbeing of all. He moved to Half Moon Bay 12 years ago. He has continued supporting and growing his social service skills in the small community of Half Moon Bay. Now that Cristhian is part of ALAS, he is eager to help the community with kindness, empathy, and advocacy.
Mental Health
Mental Health Supervisor, Clinical Director
Rafael Padilla, Psy.D., LMFT
Rafael is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. He has experience working in multiple community-based agencies as well as for the County of Santa Clara. In his private practice, he focuses on forensics, meaning he has dealt extensively with the court system. He also works collaboratively with many civil and immigration attorneys.
A.M.F.T. Clinician Trainee
Wendy Rubio
Part of ALAS team as a therapist and is finishing up her Marriage and Family Therapist education. She deeply cares about the mental health wellbeing of Latinx families and is committed to change the exclusion they have faced in this area. Wendy has been working with Latinx, undocumented, and immigrant families and youth in San Francisco by helping students go through the college application process.
M.S.W. Social Worker Intern
Winsor Kinkade
Winsor is honored to be part of the ALAS team as an Associate Clinical Social Worker. Winsor is dedicated to dismantling systems of historic oppression to communities of color, particularly when it comes to access to social resources and mental health. Winsor also believes that art and creative expression can be powerful forms of healing and activism.
A.M.F.T. Clinician
Sofia Solorzano
Sofia G. Solorzano Flores identifies as a 28 year old Latina raised in the Bay Area. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. Sofia is a registered Associate with the Board of Behavioral Sciences practicing as a Marriage and Family Therapist and Professional Clinical Counselor.
Mental Health Clinician
Yelenna Pleitez
Yelenna is a proud San Francisco native and second-generation Latinx American. She graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and completed her traineeship year as an Integrative Hospital Therapist at CPMC Mission Bernal Campus. She is a registered associate with the BBS practicing as a M.F.T and Professional Clinical Counselor. Yelenna is passionate about making psychotherapy more accessible to those who have been traditionally underrepresented in mental health services.
Arts
Arts Director
Zenón Barrón
Zenón is a respected professional researcher of Méxican and Latin American folklore, costume design and scenic design, and he has a Doctorate from the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City. Zenón founded Ensambles and has been member of different ballets folklóricos. In 1992 he moved to San Francisco and has since become one of city’s most cherished and celebrated artistic directors in Mexican Folkoric Dance.
Interns
Youth Intern
Ryan D. Lopez
Ryan is currently an intern at ALAS but has been part of the organization since he was 9. He participated in different cultural programs and, later on, became an ambassador for ALAS. His experience in the organization has taught him the value of helping others. He is currently attending his second year at the University of San Francisco.
Team Partners
COVID/Program Support Assistant
Juana Ruano
Juana Ruano is the COVID Cleaning Specialist, and does regular cleaning and disinfecting to ensure a safe place for everyone at ALAS. She helps distribute food and is a volunteer at the Saturday ALAS Food Pantry. She has been in the program since 2012. She is a wife and mother of two boys. Outside of works she enjoys reading and spending time with her little dog Freckles.
Audit Assistant
Ernesto Valladares
Coming soon...
Maintenance
Edgar Arias
Coming soon...
Senior Group Coordinator
Cecilia Gomez
Cecilia Gomez is the coordinator for our Corazones de Oro: Creando esperanza y alegría program for seniors. She has been living in Half Moon Bay for over 25 years. She's happily married and has a daughter that has been participating in Ballet Folklorico Tonantzin since she was 6 years old. Cecilia Gomez is excited to be part of ALAS because she enjoys working with the community.
Maintenance
Josue Cornejo
Coming soon...
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Strategic Growth Executive
Alex Ontiveros
Alex Ontiveros is a social entrepreneur, award-winning producer and community leader with an extensive range of professional experience and success in the areas of PR, brand development, marketing, community engagement and development, community & corporate relations, business development and fundraising. He is also the founder and CEO for Silicon Valley Latino (SVL), a full-service creative agency that provides a variety of storytelling solutions to its various clients. In his role with ALAS, he helps drive a variety of initiatives from a growth and branding perspective.
Media
Mainstream & Multicultural PR/Media Relations, Digital Marketing
victoria@dealba.net | (650)270-7810
Victoria Sanchez De Alba
Victoria Sánchez De Alba is a National News Emmy Award-winning Journalist-turned-Communications professional, and Founder and President of De Alba Communications. She combines her passion for social justice specializing in Multicultural Public Relations, “Telling the stories that don’t get told.” Victoria is experienced in community engagement and government relations for social impact businesses, philanthropic foundations and community organizations executing PR and media outreach strategies to amplify their mission, business goals and success. Victoria received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications-Mass Media, with emphasis in Media Law, from the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.