Marianna is from the San Fernando Valley and is the daughter of Mexican immigrants. From a young age she began to notice social disparities in her community and the impact it had on her family, prompting her to commit to social justice efforts in her career. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Sociology from Loyola Marymount University. As an undergraduate student, Marianna participated in various service opportunities working with children, youth, and families affected by racial and economic inequities. From those experiences, she began to understand the impact of community and intergenerational trauma, which propelled her to earn her Master of Social Welfare degree from UCLA. While in graduate school, Marianna’s interests shifted in the direction of systems advocacy and policy.
Prior to joining Community Coalition, Marianna worked at a local non-profit where she provided support services to children and families in the child welfare system. Marianna is honored to serve the South LA community, and she is eager to help advance equitable policies.
Fun Fact: Marianna loves to take public transit when she travels because it gives her insight about the everyday lives of people who reside in the places she visits.