I grew up in the Yakima Valley and am proud of my roots as a Latina and first-generation citizen on my father’s side. I was born in Astoria, Oregon, but spent several years of my early childhood in Michoacán, Mexico before returning to the Yakima Valley at age six. I graduated from Toppenish High School in 1995 and spent three years at Washington State University before returning home to dedicate my life to helping people in need.

For the past 25 years, I’ve worked for the State of Washington. As part of my role, I serve as a Respect, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) Ambassador and Facilitator. My passion for this work runs deep—both professionally and personally. I’ve lived in Selah for 23 years with my husband, Bill Callahan. We’ve raised our children, Daniel and Kyrsten, here from birth to graduation.

Outside of SAFE, I also serve as President of the Junior League of Yakima for the 2024–2025 term. I love cheering on the Cougs at home games, cooking for family and friends, discovering new recipes, dancing, traveling, and soaking up time with loved ones.

One of my favorite quotes is by Ruth Bader Ginsburg: “Fight for the things that you care about. But do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

My path to SAFE began long before the organization existed. For decades, I’ve been committed to helping Washingtonians meet their basic needs and working toward more equitable, inclusive systems. I’ve also stayed deeply involved in Selah youth programs—from wrestling and swim teams to dance competitions and school parent groups.

But it was the events of summer 2020 that pushed me to act. After the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, my friend and co-founder Courtney Hernandez, along with her friend Jose Rocha, organized a local Black Lives Matter protest. I was proud to see our community speak out—but disheartened by how Selah officials responded. My family and I joined SAFE the day it began and have been active ever since.

I’ve committed my voice, my labor, and my life’s work to making Selah a more accepting and inclusive place. Even when those efforts go unnoticed—or unwanted—I’ll continue working to ensure no one in our community is marginalized or silenced.