Monica (she/her/ella) has been a leader in the non-profit sector for over 8 years, most recently as Executive Director of the New Mexico Breastfeeding Task Force. With extensive experience serving on advisory and nonprofit boards dedicated to maternal and infant health, language justice and reproductive justice, she brings a grassroots, community-driven approach to every aspect of her work. She firmly believes that centering families and BIPOC communities is essential to achieving birth equity and improving familial health.
She is a Certified Lactation Counselor and trained Community Interpreter with over a decade of experience providing direct support to pregnant and postpartum families. As a community facilitator and convener, she is deeply committed to fostering connection, advocacy, access, and equitable care.
An alumnus of Health Connect One Birth Leadership Academy, NM Women of Color Leaders in Non-profit and Rockwood Leadership Institute, she has honed her leadership as a Mexican immigrant woman of Indigenous descent, drawing from ancestral knowledge to center community in her work. She integrates these teachings into her leadership roles, shaping the way she manages nonprofit organizations with a focus on equity and sustainability.
Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and cosplaying with her husband and two children.