Cecilia was born and raised in Indio, California, a city in the Coachella Valley. She is a daughter of immigrants, a sister and a tia! She is passionate about working with people in her community towards a healthier Coachella Valley that prioritizes people over profits.
Cecilia graduated from the University of California Riverside with a major in Sociology. During her time at UCR, she helped organize cultural events with other queer students of color to cultivate events centered around art, poetry, and culture. Her educational experiences introduced her to educators such as Paulo Freire, Eric Stanley, and Arlene Cano Matute who strive towards liberation through a foundation of authentic care. This sparked a new found love of education, motivating her to search for opportunities to work with people at different ages and capacities.
Upon graduation, she returned to the Coachella Valley with the intention of reconnecting with her community and being close to her family. She worked at College of the Desert and the Riverside County Office of Education before arriving at yli.
Cecilia enjoys doing makeup, learning new skills, discovering new foods, and chismeando with her friends. Fun fact: she is also a licensed esthetician!