Co-FOunders
Yaritza Gonzalez was born and raised in Inglewood, CA to Mexican parents, and is a proud role model to her two younger sisters.
In 2016, Yaritza earned a B.A. in Geography with a minor in Public Policy from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Currently, she advocates for immigrants rights as a paralegal at the Central American Resource Center.
Yaritza plans on becoming a licensed attorney to help eradicate the systemic injustices that hinder underrepresented communities like hers from thriving in society.
féi hernandez is an Inglewood poet and artist that exposes the intersections of queerness, race, immigration, spirituality and revolution through performance poetry and visual art.
They grew up undocumented in Inglewood, CA and currently teach creative writing and art in Inglewood. féi also provides ancestral and energetic healing services which include: tarot card readings, limpias, and reiki.
In 2015, féi earned a B.A. in American Studies from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.
Paola Gonzalez was born in Oxnard, CA and raised in Inglewood, CA to Mexican parents. She is a third year student at Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA. She is majoring in Women and Gender Studies with a minor in Latinx Studies.
After interning with Assemblymember Autumn R. Burke in Inglewood, CA last summer, Paola gained valuable experience in local government and became more committed to working with communities of color. She is excited to pursue a career in social justice work after graduation.
Lily Trejo was born and raised in Inglewood, CA to a Salvadoran mother and Mexican father.
In 2016, Lily earned a B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While at UCSB, Lily developed a passion for helping others through volunteer work as a member of Sigma Alpha Zeta, an organization on campus.
Since graduating from UCSB, Lily has worked as a Behavior Interventionist, Youth Counselor, and Program Associate. She hopes to dedicate herself to a career in social justice.
Steven Zatarain was born and raised in Inglewood, CA to Mexican parents, who were also raised in Inglewood.
In 2015, Steven earned a B.A. in Psychology from Middlebury College in Middlebury, VT.
Since graduating from Middlebury, he has worked as a live-in Residential Director and as a Trainer at the Posse Foundation in Los Angeles, CA, focusing on youth development and mentorship. Now as an Assistant Director of Admissions at his alma mater he continues his work in community building and inclusion on college campuses.
Leonel Torres was born and raised in Inglewood, CA to Mexican parents. He is an educator, organizer and poet.
In 2015, Leo earned his B.A. in English with a minor in Education from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY. In 2018, he earned his M.A. in Education at the Bard College MAT Los Angeles, and currently teaches English Language Development at a high school in South Central LA. He is a proud first-year teacher and first-time UTLA striker.
He began his involvement with the Association of Raza Educators (A.R.E.) to support educators and community members advocate for an equal and just educational system for all. Currently, he is continuing to build power by helping establish the ING Fellowship. Leo is a loving, radical and honest educator that seeks to create a new space for revolutionary change.
Pedro Jimenez was born and raised in Inglewood, CA to a strong single mother.
In 2015, Pedro earned a B.A. in Psychology and Chicanx Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Since graduating from UCLA, he has worked as a Behavioral Therapist and a Program Manager at UCLA. However, his passion has always been to work in education in undeserved communities. Since 2017, Pedro has worked as an Operations Manager for Green Dot Public Schools.
Pedro is excited to help establish the ING Fellowship and create a positive impact in his community.
Amber Olmos was born and raised in Inglewood, CA to Mexican parents, and is a proud role model to her five younger siblings. She is a queer, woman of color and fourth year student at the University of California, Los Angeles. She is majoring in Chicanx Studies with a minor in Education.
She has a strong passion for education, activism, and community organizing and is involved with a student organization called XINACHTLI at UCLA. She plans on becoming a high school teacher and hopes to one-day open up her own school(s) for communities of color whose intersectional identities are too often compromised in this Eurocentric, heteronormative society.
Alejandra Medina was born and raised in Inglewood, CA to a Guatemalan mother and a Mexican father. She is the youngest of three daughters and has a younger brother.
In 2018, Ale earned a B.A. in English from California State University, Sacramento. While in Sacramento, she was involved with the university’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion and local community grassroots organizations.
Since returning to Inglewood, CA, she has worked as a freelance writer and dedicated her time to community work.
Ale joined other community members to build the ING Fellowship to raise awareness and community involvement in Inglewood, CA.
Cherylen Watts is a young African-American woman born in Los Angeles, CA and raised in Inglewood, CA. Throughout her childhood and adolescence, her parents taught her about the importance of obtaining a college education.
In 2015, Cherylen earned a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Women and Gender Studies from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. In 2018, she earned a certificate in Human Resources Management. Recently, she has decided to pursue a different career path with a hands-on approach to helping and healing others, by enrolling into the massage therapy program at National Holistic Institute.
Cherylen has a deep interest and passion for helping people, especially with their mental and physical health. With her degree in psychology, she would like to further her education in a few years to become more knowledgeable and equipped for crisis prevention, and aiding those with anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Cherylen is proud to be a mentor for the ING Fellowship because she believes the Fellowship will create positive impact in the Inglewood community, as well as serve as a useful resource for the younger generations to come.