Board Members
Juan Orozco
Chair
Juan Orozco was born in the state of Michoacán, México. He has lived in Mendocino County since 1980 and has been a resident of Ukiah since 1997. Juan has a K-12 multiple subject teaching permit, an AA in Liberal Studies, and a BA in Education from Sonoma State University. Juan works at MCOE and is the first elected Latino Mayor of Ukiah. Juan has served in UVA ever since UVA was created in 2018.
Juan has been active in volunteerism in many community organizations ever since he migrated to the county of Mendocino. He worked at Nuestra Casa and would help organize the 5 de Mayo celebrations. He chaired a community organization in Anderson Valley when he lived there and started a community park.
Sarah Marshall
Co-Chair
Sarah Marshall joined UVA in January of 2019 and has served as UVA's coordinator since July of 2020. Sarah works for North Coast Opportunities on the Community Wellness team as the Food Policy and Promotion Manager. She also serves on the steering committee of 100 Women Strong, Blue Zones Project of Mendocino County, and is a member of the Ukiah Rotary Club. Sarah moved to Mendocino County in 2016 after graduating from the University of Michigan with a dual degree in Sustainable Food Systems & Global Health. Sarah is passionate about local food access, community organizing, and empowering leaders who equitably reflect the community they serve. She joined UVA to learn from the other incredible UVA members, and to support the work of bridging the gap to ensure resources and information are available to all in our community.
Jackeline Gonzalez de Orozco
Community Liason
Jackeline Gonzalez de Orozco was born in Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico and moved to the US in 2008. Jackeline has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication, Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and a Master Degree in Education. Jackeline is the Director for the Mendocino College HEP Program and she is a co-owner and editor of the Spanish newspaper Periodico Al Punto (A free publication for the communities in Mendocino and Lake counties). Jackeline also serves in different committees in the community: Ukiah Vecinos en Acción, Saint Mary of the Angels Catholic Church Parish Council Member and Finance Committee Council Member, Mendocino Community Health Clinic, Inc. Board of Directors, Healthy Mendocino Leadership Team and SPACE Board Member.
She has years of experience teaching K-12, college, and adult basic education. In 2008, she participated in a bi-national teacher summer for Plan Vacacional, in 2012 she started working for the Migrant Education Program.
Carla Lua
Secretary
Carla Lua joined UVA in February of 2022. She has worked with the public of Mendocino County for over 10 years. She worked at Social Services from 2005 to 2010 as a Clerical Assistant and Eligibility Worker. In February of 2010, she left social services to attend the MCOE Dental Assistant program which she completed and quickly jumped into the dental world. While working in the dental field, she was able to attend Mendocino College where she completed her A.S. Degree in Natural Science.
In 2014 she decided to go back to work for the county and began her career as a Child Support Specialist. Here, she often helped with translating court hearings for any clients who needed the services. After the birth of her youngest daughter in 2019, Carla landed an opportunity to become an on-site property manager for a 64-unit subsidized housing project known as the Ukiah Summercreek Village Apartments. Here she has learned so much about the LIHTC program and has dedicated the last three years to making sure her company is able to provide affordable housing to our community.
Yvett Reeve
Treasurer
Yvett Magallon Chavez is a 23 year old, Ukiah born native. She is the main Program Coordinator at North Coast Opportunities for Volunteer Network in Mendocino County. She is the current Club Director of Soroptimist International of Ukiah and has been with the club since 2018. She joined UVA in June of 2020. Why did she join UVA? “I joined UVA because I want to be able to become a resource for the community that raised me and help inform, engage and empower the Latino Community.”
Lydia Lopez
Member
Lydia was born in Ukiah, Ca and during her childhood lived in Chamacuaro Guanajuato, Mexico for 7 years. Lydia has an Associates Degree in Psychology and is currently working on obtaining her Master’s Degree. Currently living in Ukiah she is a mother of one. She enjoys hiking and long runs. Lydia serves on Ukiah Vecinos en Acción as a board member.
Rebeca Diaz
Member
Rebeca was born in Ukiah, Ca and during her childhood lived in Chamacuaro, Guanajuato, Mexico for 7 years. Rebeca has an Associates Degree in Social Sciences and is currently working on obtaining her Bachelor’s Degree. Rebeca is currently the STRTP Coordinator for Redwood Community Services and has been employed there for 10 years. Currently residing in Willits she is a mother of two. She enjoys soccer, the outdoors and spending time with her family. Rebeca serves on Ukiah Vecinos en Accion as well as Willits Community Theater.
Ignacio Ayala
Member
Ignacio Ayala is a broadly experienced nonprofit professional that works full time at SPACE Near & Arnold’s School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education. He works supporting operational needs, developing Latino programming, recruiting students, driving collaborations, and stage managing many productions. Ignacio was brought to the United States by his parents when he was five years old and after a seven-year process became a U.S citizen in 2017. In 2021 Ignacio became the Deputy Director at SPACE and he continues to oversee the Latino programming. Ignacio is a community organizer and likes to be involved in many events and celebrations happening in the community. Ignacio joined UVA in 2019 because he wants to be one of the many voices and speak up for our Latino community.
STAFF
Maria Fuentes
Project Coordinator
Maria Fuentes was born and raised in Ukiah born to Immigrant parents from Mexico. She connects with the Latino Community to bring programs and timely information from UVA. Maria has been working in the human services field for over 6 years and brings her experience helping build connections within the Spanish speaking and Latino community. From a young age Maria used her bilingual language skills, English and Spanish, to offer translation for family and people from the community. Maria believes in the power of uniting the Latino community creating change and a stronger, more resilient community in Mendocino County.
