Tatiana Villagomez Montalvo is a dedicated public health advocate passionate about empowering youth and fostering community change.
Tatiana began her journey in public health as a youth leader with Community Action Model (CAM), where she gained invaluable experience in tobacco prevention and policy development. She actively participated in research, community outreach, and policy development, including conducting surveys, interviews, and hosting community showcases.
At San Francisco State University, Tatiana honed her skills in research, policy advocacy, and community engagement by pursuing a degree in Public Health and Women’s Health. While there, she ran for Director of Community Outreach & Director of Finance for the Health Education Students Association, demonstrating her leadership skills and dedication to promoting health and wellness on campus.
At yli, Tatiana is now coordinating the San Francisco Community Action Model program, where she supports 6-8 college students build a campaign to implement a citywide Commercial Tobacco Free Generation policy while advocating to keep tobacco sacred and protected in Indigenous communities.
She also coordinates a new after school program at Mission High School called .Justice Grows Here (JGH) it is an Environmental Justice (EJ) after-school program that blends SFPUC’s technical EJ curriculum with Youth Leadership Institute’s (yli) civic engagement and community organizing framework to ensure youth of color see themselves represented in environmental careers and leadership roles. Through weekly after-school sessions from September to April, 15–20 high school students of color will build knowledge and skills in environmental health, water systems, climate change, and equity issues, while also developing college and career readiness through public speaking, research, teamwork, and project management. Youth will work in teams on multi-week civic engagement projects addressing real EJ issues in their communities, connect with guest speakers and professionals in environmental justice and community organizing, and explore career pathways. Each youth who completes the program will receive a $500 scholarship incentive.
A passionate advocate for youth voices, Tatiana strives to empower young people to become agents of change in their communities. She is dedicated to helping individuals make a positive impact on the world around them.
In her free time she loves to go on hikes, cook and bake, attend festivals, and spend time with her loved ones.