Wendy grew up in East Los Angeles and has lived in the East Bay for the last 10 years. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Ethnic Studies. In her time at Berkeley, she served as a student senator and advocated on behalf of and alongside students of color and formerly incarcerated students for systemic change to create a center for systems impacted students.
Prior to joining yli, Wendy participated in The Greenlining Institute Summer Institute where she sharpened her advocacy skills and researched best practices for health care career pipeline programs specifically targeting boys and men of color. Wendy’s advocacy is deeply rooted in her experience growing up as a low-income woman of color and is informed by her family’s direct experiences with the prison industrial complex.
Since joining yli, Wendy has led both community and school based programs, including the Marin County Youth Commission and Marin Organizing for Racial Equity. Her experience as a Program Coordinator gave her the opportunity to understand the ins and outs of building genuine relationships with youth and empower them to create change in their communities. As the current Program Manager, Wendy amplifies the lived experiences of youth, specifically BIPOC youth, in rooms with funders, community partners, and the broader community.
In her spare time, you will find Wendy playing softball and rooting for the Dodgers!