Fe is an Indigenous woman from Santiago Laxopa, a village in the Sierra Norte mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico, and she grew up speaking Zapotec. Fe earned a degree as an elementary teacher with a minor in dance in Mexico. She learned Spanish in elementary school and learned English at 36 years of age when she moved to the USA. Along with her sister Nereida, Fe started these artistic activities in 2001 after seeing that Latino immigrant youth and their families have huge challenges in staying connected to their culture. Fe is retired from her long-time position as a bilingual School/Community Coordinator with Santa Cruz City Schools. Fe serves on the County Rise Together Racial Equity Coalition, teaches Zapotec at UC Santa Cruz, and maintains close relationships in Oaxaca to support the cultural arts movement she has created in California.

Dr. Nereida Robles Vásquez was born in Santiago Laxopa, Ixtlan, Oaxaca. She co-founded Senderos with her sister Fe Silva-Robles in 2001. Nereida immigrated to the United States when she was 22-years-old. She learned English at Adult Education classes. While working full-time and raising a child as a single parent, Nereida earned an AA degree at Cabrillo College, and a BA in Psychology, a Masters in Social Work, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at San Jose State University. Nereida focuses much of her volunteer energy on the Plaza Comunitaria adult learning programs of Senderos. Nereida has worked for Santa Cruz City Schools since 1995, currently as a district Social Worker, and is an adjunct lecturer in the School of Social Work at CSUMB.

Helen Aldana (they/them), is Mexican from the Suroeste and Noroeste regions. Helen serves the community through collective preservation and care and is currently the Program Officer at NDN Collective, an Indigenous led nonprofit. Helen has worked to increase the presence and participation of queer/trans BIPOC-led organizations in national archives, developed bilingual outreach programs to build community power in museums, and produced short films centering stories of cultural healing. Helen received a Bachelor of Arts double major in philosophy and art from the University of California Santa Cruz. Helen is a founding member of Rise Together, a coalition of BIPOC community leaders generating trust based philanthropy through the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.  Helen is an abuelita-in-training learning to steward land and connections for a world where Indigenous, trans, and immigrant communities thrive as their full selves.

Martin Bernal served in the public sector for over 30 years retiring in 2021 after 24 years with the City of Santa Cruz, 11 as City Manager and 13 as Assistant City Manager.  As City Manager, Martin was chief executive officer for an organization of 900 employees and a $300 million annual budget. 

Martin has served on a number of non-profit boards including the Nueva Vista Community Resources, Community Bridges, Second Harvest Food Bank, and Leadership Santa Cruz.  Martin is the son of former farmworkers who immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico and was the first in his family to receive a college degree.  Martin received his Bachelor in Urban Studies from Stanford University and a Masters in Public Affairs from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin. Martin is married to Martha, a local family doctor and has three children and one granddaughter.

Curt encountered Senderos through working with Nereida Robles in 2002 and has been a supporter of Senderos (and Nereida!) ever since. He retired from Santa Cruz City Schools in 2011 as the principal of the Branciforte Small Schools Campus. Curt teaches mindfulness at the Santa Cruz County Jail and enjoys time biking, gardening, and playing with his granddaughter. Curt finds inspiration in the Senderos community, especially the proudly bi-cultural children and youth.

Perla is a daughter of Mexican immigrants from the states of Oaxaca and Durango, and also a first-generation college graduate from San Jose, California. She earned a B.A. in Politics and Latin American and Latino Studies from UC Santa Cruz, an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Masters in Public Administration from San José State University. Perla has a passion for educational equity and community involvement which is carried out through her participation in the mentorship of college students and as a Board Trustee for Senderos.

Kristen Silva is an indigenous woman of Zapotec descent from Oaxaca, Mexico. She attended Santa Cruz City Schools and graduated from Pomona College with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, and from UC Santa Cruz with a master’s in Secondary Math Education. Senderos was founded by her family. ​After teaching math in Santa Cruz City Schools for several years, Kristen was accepted into the Apprenticeship Pathway Program, a program piloted by Intuit in partnership with AnitaB.org and Treehouse. She successfully completed the rigorous eight-month program and ​i​s currently employed as a Software Engineer with Intuit.

Adriana Rodriguez-Reyes works as a bilingual and bicultural therapist at a federally qualified health center, where she is deeply committed to bridging the gaps that language and cultural differences create. By providing culturally sensitive care she aims to reduce stigma and increase mental health awareness and access within historically marginalized communities. She pursued her education at San Jose State University, earning her Master of Social Work degree and PPS-CWA credentials. In her leisure time, she finds joy in outdoor activities and cherishing moments with her feline companions

Mandy Tovar was born and raised in Watsonville, CA. She attended public schools in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. After graduating from Aptos High School, she enrolled in Cabrillo Community College and then transferred to San Diego State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. After college, Mandy enrolled in law school at California Western School of Law in San Diego where she volunteered at the San Diego Public Defender’s Office. After graduating from law school and passing the bar exam, she began practicing law as a public defender in Fresno. In 2005, she returned to her hometown and began working as a trial attorney at the Santa Cruz County Public Defender’s Office where she is currently the Felony Team Lead. Mandy is an experienced attorney who has defended clients accused of all manner of offenses, from misdemeanors to homicides. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening, and yoga.

Lucy Sierra is Assistant Vice President of Risk Management at Bay Federal Credit Union where she oversees Audit, Compliance and Fraud. She served on the Board from 2018-2021 and continues to serve on the Finance Committee. Lucy believes in Senderos’s vision and mission of creating an environment that promotes harmony, breaks stereotypes and encourages academic success.