Jordan Latchford
Sr. Field Research Analyst
she/her

Jordan Latchford an Analyst at CBRE. At CBRE, she provides research and analysis support of commercial real estate markets. With a background in economic research, Jordan rounds out the research department’s ability to produce formal research reflecting the region’s priorities and pressing questions. She is an active member of the YIMBY Democrats of San Diego and Circulate San Diego Policy Committee. Originally from San Mateo in the Bay Area, she graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science. She enjoys exploring San Diego’s dog parks with her rescue pup, Cody.

Summer Yousif Bales
Policy Coordinator
she/her/hers

Summer Yousif Bales is a Policy Coordinator at the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. At the Chamber, she oversees the Chamber’s Defense, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee and Small Business Roundtable, among other policy responsibilities. As a former intern at the Chamber, Summer now manages the External Affairs Internship program and supports students in their transition to the workforce. Prior to joining the Chamber, Summer was a master’s student at UC San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, where she conducted research under Professor Barbara Walter on nationalism, ethnic conflict and democratization. Summer received her undergraduate degree from UC San Diego with a major in international studies and political science with a minor in international migration studies, while interning with the International Rescue Committee’s Immigration Department. Outside the office, Summer is a member of YIMBY Democrats of San Diego and coaches a youth soccer team for La Jolla Impact.

Ana Laura Martinez
Community Representative
she/her

Ana Laura was raised in Tijuana and San Diego & grew up in a working-class and immigrant household. As a committed and passionate advocate, she has more than 10 years of organizing and advocacy experience on economic justice, reproductive justice and LGBTQIA+ issues. Prior to joining Team Fletcher as a Community Representative, Ana Laura was the Organizer and Leadership Development Coordinator at the Center on Policy Initiatives. During her five years there, she led campaigns on worker justice at the City, County and State levels and coordinated an organizing program for college students. As a student, Ana Laura organized with SEIU-Good Jobs L.A. through the UCLA Labor Center, AFSCME 3299, and UAW 2865, fighting for economic justice. She has also worked at UCSD as a teaching assistant and City College as an adjunct professor, grounding her teaching philosophy on critical thinking, empowering students to read the world differently, and inciting commitment to social justice outside of the classroom. Ana Laura graduated from UCSD with a double major in Ethnic Studies and History. As a fat queer, she is committed and guided by the values of solidarity and deeply believes that another world where all everyone is free is possible. In her free time, she serves as a Board Member for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest and enjoys hiking, biking, and screen printing.

Mauricio Medina
Public Affairs Manager
he/his

Born and raised in San Diego, Mauricio received his bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations and a minor in English. Upon finishing his degree, Mauricio returned to San Diego where he worked at the City of San Diego, City Council Offices. In his initial role as a council representative, Mauricio worked directly with constituents to address their concerns. It was this person-to-person experience that sparked his passion for public service. He later served as the Budget and Government Efficiency Committee Consultant where he coordinated with multiple city departments, elected officials, and outside organizations to organize the monthly agenda. In addition to his time at City Hall, Mauricio also worked on a successful San Diego City Council campaign and served briefly as a campaign manager for a mayoral campaign. In his current role at the San Diego Hunger Coalition, Mauricio continues his commitment to bettering his community by facilitating a county-wide Hunger Advocacy Network, while also developing and supporting efforts to strengthen federal and state hunger relief policies. During his free time, he enjoys reading, golfing, tennis, soccer, stand-up paddle boarding, photography, listening to new music, spending time with friends, and wandering around the San Diego Zoo.

Emily Tran
Organizer
she/her

Emily Tran is a licensed LVN and RCFE administrator since 2012. Her passion for advocating for older adults and their care is one of many driving forces that motivates her to be involved in progressive spaces. Her Vietnamese-American heritage is an evolving identity of hers that influences her perspective on issues relating to inequality, community building, and civic duty. She moved to San Diego in 2017 and immediately became involved with the San Diego LGBT Center’s Young Professionals Council (YPC). A professional development program that helps local LGBTQ+ and allies network with each other, and teaches its members about local LGBT social justice movements. In 2019, her advocacy and experience with older adults were acknowledged by the Mayor of Chula Vista, Mary Salas. Emily was sworn in as an official member of the Commission on Aging in Chula Vista, California that same year, and is currently the Chair for the Commission. Another organization that Emily is an active member of is Viet Vote SD, a local non-profit dedicated to advancing civic participation with the local Vietnamese-American community. Emily is an undergraduate at San Diego State University majoring in Gerontology and minoring in Asian Studies. She is involved with SDSU’s Social Policy Institute as an intern where she is a part of the “Age-Friendly” conversation happening both on campus and off. Upon completing her undergraduate studies, she plans to pursue a Master’s in Public Policy. She aims to be a part of conversations revolving around senior services, access to those services, and creating inclusive policies that center around a culturally sensitive approach.

Matthew Soler
Medical Social Worker
he/him/his

Matthew Soler (he/him/his) is an electrical engineer turned social worker. He was born in Germany while his parents were stationed there while serving in the Army. He grew up primarily in El Paso, TX. Matthew moved to San Diego in 2011 with hopes of landing a job with his engineering degree (but mainly for the weather). He lived out of his car for six months while searching for work. Running low on funds, he decided to return to waiting tables. It took him a month of saving (while working three restaurant jobs) before he was able to secure a place in San Diego. The experience helped motivate his decision to switch to a career in social work. Matthew’s public policy interests have been shaped by the different people he’s worked with and the struggles they’ve shared with him. He began the transition to community work by volunteering with individuals and families living out of their cars. Since then, he has engaged with people impacted by the criminal justice system, college students facing food and housing insecurity, newcomers from East Africa, people experiencing serious mental illness, and those fighting for racial justice. Currently, he is focused on supporting San Diego County residents living with disabilities and/or high medical needs. The struggles and strengths exhibited by these clients, their families, and their caregivers has further expanded his understanding of topics scarcely talked about. Matthew hopes to use consensus organizing to concentrate the power of residents, so their perspectives are the ones directing community improvement efforts. Matthew makes time for joy by having frequent surf sessions and bike rides along the bay. He recently began a journey to visit every museum in San Diego County.

Natasha Salgado
Small Business & Community Engagement Program Manager
she/her/ella

Natasha Tais Salgado was born and raised in Orange County, CA.  In 2019, she graduated from the University of San Diego with a B.A in Political Science and minored in International Relations & Non-Profit Enterprise. Natasha serves as the Community Engagement & Small Business Program Manager for Logan Heights Community Development Corporation - a community-based organization in the Logan Heights community. As the Program Manager overseeing the organization’s Economic Development efforts, she has focused on advancing program development and policy efforts both in the City and County of San Diego that equitably serve the small businesses and residents in the Logan Heights, Historic Barrio District, and San Diego Promise Zone communities. Natasha serves as the Vice-Chair for the City of San Diego Small Business Advisory Board and Co-Chairs the City of San Diego Promise Zone Economic Activities working group.

Julie Roland
Aviator, Lieutenant
she/her

Julie Roland grew up in the Bay Area and then Baltimore, MD, and then graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015 on an ROTC scholarship with a B.A. in history. She is a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and has deployed to the South China Sea and Persian Gulf as a helicopter pilot. She currently works as an Air Certifying Officer at Afloat Training Group San Diego, assuring the safety of flight operations aboard Naval vessels. Passionate about improving DEI and morale in the military, she has organized team building events at each of her past commands, served on the Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Committee and the Command Resilience Team while at her fleet squadron, and wrote an essay about caring better for junior enlisted Sailors which was recently published by the U.S. Naval Institute. Julie is also a member of the San Diego Rotary Club, League of Women Voters, and Women’s Foundation. In her free time, she created the nonprofit Just Tryna Make Friends, Inc., which endeavors to build community and promote the arts mainly through a variety show which occurs monthly in San Diego and Los Angeles for which she produces, hosts, and performs as a magician. Julie has a monthly residency at Finest City Improv theater and is currently working with the nonprofit Save Starlight to help restore the Starlight Bowl in Balboa Park. She will be attending the University of San Diego School of Law part time beginning this August.

Aviva Paley 
Chief of Staff
she/her

Aviva Paley is a non-profit leader and social entrepreneur with ten years of experience working at the intersection of sustainability and economic justice in the food system. Aviva currently serves as the Chief of Staff for the National Young Farmers Coalition, a national advocacy organization working to shift power and change policy to equitably resource a new generation of working farmers. Previously, Aviva served as the Co-Founder and Senior Director of Kitchens for Good, a San Diego based non-profit that tackles issues of food waste, hunger, poverty, and recidivism through innovative apprenticeship training programs. Over her seven-year tenure, Aviva helped Kitchens for Good transform a start-up into an award-winning non-profit with 40 staff that has helped 20,000 San Diegans gain access to nutritious food and supported 400 job seekers launch meaningful careers. Aviva is passionate about fostering a just and livable community and dedicates her volunteer time to support several San Diego based initiatives. Aviva serves as a Board Member for the Climate Action Campaign, a Committee Member of the Green New Deal Alliance, the Chair of the Avodah San Diego Advisory Committee, and a member of the San Diego Jewish Community Foundation Innovation Incubator committee. Aviva has been chosen for several prestigious awards and fellowships including Forbes 2019 list of 30 under 30 Social Enterprise Leaders, Food Tanks list of 20 Food Leaders Under 40, The UC Global Food Initiative’s 30 under 30 Food Leaders Award, The ROI Fellowship, and the Arianne de Rothschild Fellowship.

Rachel Oporto
Partnerships & Advocacy Manager
she/her

Rachel Oporto is a native San Diegan, lifelong relationship builder, and the Partnerships & Advocacy Manager at the San Diego Food System Alliance. She leads the Alliance's efforts in network development, community engagement, relationship building, as well as Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Rachel’s experience in the food service industry has informed her educational and career pathways, bridging a love for food with a commitment to equity. With a strong connection to food & culture, and a deep commitment to racial justice, Rachel seeks to shift power, build bridges, and cultivate a local food system owned and led by the community. Rachel first graduated from the California Culinary Academy, Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco with a degree in Culinary Arts. Later graduating Summa Cum Laude from UC San Diego with a degree in SocioCultural Anthropology, focusing on social justice and gender studies. While completing her undergrad at UC San Diego Rachel served as an AmeriCorps VISTA member for two years through the Anti-Hunger Opportunity Corps.