Norberto Gonzalez
Norberto began organizing after the passage of Proposition 8, which prevented marriage equality in California. He eventually moved to work on pro-equality congressional candidate campaigns and was part of pragmatic progressive leadership teams. He joined Valley Voices to continue his work and bring change to Kings County. Norberto earned his Associates in Social and Behavioral Science from Mt. San Jacinto College and his Bachelor’s in Psychology from UC San Diego.
Emilio J. Huerta
Emilio has dedicated his life to making a positive impact on the lives of working people by advocating for workers’ rights, affordable housing, healthcare clinics, credit unions, and non-profit organizations. Emilio learned to appreciate the value of committing to a life of service at a young age and witnessed firsthand the leadership of Cesar Chavez and his mother Dolores. Emilio holds a B.A. in Political Science from CSUB Bakersfield and a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law.
Ruth López
Ruth López is an education advocate and organizer in the Central Valley. Based in her hometown in Kings County, she currently works remotely with Penn Hill Group, a Washington, D.C. based education policy lobbying and consulting firm, where she focuses on bridging the divide between policy and practice. López has a strong background in education policy and particular expertise in issues relating to English language learners and disadvantaged communities. López started her career in Washington, D.C. where she worked as a policy analyst at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund’s (MALDEF) National Public Policy Office where she handled key federal policy priorities including developing and advocating for policies focused on increasing educational attainment among Latinos. Ruth is a founding board member for the Armona Scholarship Committee, a Hanford Relay For Life team captain, a volunteer with the Girl Scouts of Central California South Troop #3049 and a Kings County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). She currently serves on the boards for the Central Valley Partnership and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Region 1653, and as an Executive Board member to the California Democratic Party representing Assembly District 32. Most recently, she established a non-profit organization focused on civic engagement and increasing voter turnout called Valley Voices. López holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish with an emphasis on Hispanic languages and bilingual issues and a minor in education from the University of California, Berkeley.
Pedro Ramirez
Pedro is a Co-Founder of Valley Impact Strategies which allows him to chanel his passion for community involvement by giving a voice to underrepresented communities. As an undocumented Immigrant, Pedro has worked with labor organizations, elected officials and community groups to champion pro-immigrant policies such as the California Dream Act, immigration reform, and access to affordable quality education. Pedro has previously held positions in labor, nonprofit, and served as a staff member to several elected leaders. He currently serves as a board member for Central Valley Worker Center, United We Lead Foundation and Valley Voices, all organizations focused on community organizing, labor rights, and immigrant rights. Pedro holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, minor in Agribusiness from CSU Fresno and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in Urban Planning and Finance from CSU Long Beach.
Susan Shain
Susan is the co-lead of Swing Left San Francisco, focused on electing progressive candidates. Before Swing Left, Susan was CEO of CORO Northern California, Director of Philanthropic Services at The San Francisco Foundation and has sat on boards of S.F. non-profits. Susan has a Bachelor’s from UC Berkeley and a Master’s from San Francisco State University, both in Chinese Studies and a degree in accounting from Golden Gate University.