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Reyna Lopez (she/her) | Executive Director at PCUN, Oregon’s Farmworker Union | reynalopez@pcun.org
Reyna is a leader and proud daughter of immigrants from Mexico, who came to Oregon in the late 80’s following the migration of farm work in the Marion County area. She is currently the Executive Director of PCUN, which was started by farmworkers and is now Oregon’s longest standing Latinx led organization. Reyna grew up in Salem, Oregon and graduated from Willamette University with her BA in Political Science and Sociology. For over a decade, she has been a fierce leader and advocate for the Latinx community in Oregon, receiving the Immigrant Award from the American Association of Immigration Lawyers of Oregon, and Willamette University’s Young Alumni of the Year Award for her work in social justice causes, campaigns, movement and coalition building. Today, Reyna is also leading on national efforts as a member of the board of the Center for Popular Democracy, and the Secretary Treasurer of the Oregon Working Families Party.
Reyna’s passion for organizing and community is reflected throughout her career from her position as Civic Engagement Director at Causa, where she led the Yes on 88 Campaign, Oregon’s first bilingual-bicultural ballot measure campaign! She founded the organization’s New American Voter’s Project and worked tirelessly to win Tuition Equity – a fight that took over a decade – for Oregon’s Dreamer population. In recent years, Reyna was the Outreach Director at Our Oregon, where she managed the Fellowship Program and organization’s base building efforts for Oregon revenue reforms. And most recently, fighting for gender justice at Family Forward Oregon as the Organizing Director where she developed programs around Paid Family and Medical Leave, and nationally focused campaigns fighting back to protect the national budget from harmful cuts, and protecting safety net programs.
Martha Sonato (she/her) | Political Director | marthasonato@pcun.org
Martha Sonato was born in Michoacán, Mexico. In 2000, Martha migrated with her family to Hood River, Oregon where her parents are currently farm workers. In 2015, Martha became the first in her family to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Willamette University.
Since then, Martha has worked in Governor Kate Brown’s office as a housing and human services policy assistant and as a legislative aide in Senator Sara Gelser’s office. In 2016, Martha joined Accion Politica PCUNista, PCUN’s electoral arm and led a series of electoral victories including: running a parallel campaign to elect Representative Teresa Alonso Leon, the first immigrant and indigenous woman to represent House District 22; electing the first Latinx majority school board in Oregon right in Woodburn; passing 620 million bond dollars for Salem-Keizer school district; and re-electing progressive leaders like Kate Brown.
In January 2019, Martha became the new political director for PCUN. She is passionate about building a representative democracy and equitable policies for under served communities.
Arturo Sarmiento (he/him) | Radio Movimiento Manager & Radio Poder Start Up Coordinator arturo@pcun.org
Picture and biography coming soon..
Laura Galindo (she/her) | Communications & Membership Director | lauragalindo@pcun.org
Born in Astoria and raised in The Dalles, Laura considers Oregon her first home. Being a Xicana with Mexican roots means that Jalisco, Mexico is her second home. Laura is a recent graduate from OSU where she studied Political Science and Women/Gender/Sexuality Studies.
Currently, Laura is the Membership & Communications Director at PCUN where she manages the communications content for the organization, as well as building PCUN’s membership and sustainer program.
Previously, Laura was working with the Northwest Workers’ Project as a Paralegal and the Immigration Services Coordinator advocating at the intersection of worker’s rights and immigration. She is also experienced in advocacy campaigns and electoral work, having worked directly on the No on 105 and the Cover All Kids campaigns, and organizing for State Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon’s campaign.
Laura is driven by her passion to disrupt oppressive institutions and uplift the voices of women and femmes of color. On her free time, she enjoys spending time with animals, trees, and books.
Enrique Ruiz (he/him) | Field & Data Manager | enriqueruiz@pcun.org
Coming from an immigrant family, Enrique was born in Grants Pass, Oregon and lived there until 2013 after completing his first year of high school. He then moved to Salem where he is currently living. Since then, he’s remained involved with local organizations aimed to make change. He’s currently at Chemeketa Community College in pursuit of a transfer degree to major in Sociology.
Enrique is the Field and Data Manager for PCUN. He is responsible for running PCUN’s electoral program (Acción Política PCUNista) as well as manages the data for PCUN.
As a volunteer, Enrique has canvassed for former Rep. Betty Komp in House District 22. He’s also volunteered for State Rep. Teresa Alonso Leon, Levi Herrera-Lopez and Woodburn School Board Member Anthony Medina. Enrique was also a part of the team that canvassed to pass the Salem-Keizer school bond and the No on Measure 105 campaign.
It is family and community that drives Enrique in the work he does. His passion is to give the Latinx community a level playing field, and to make sure Latinx are given opportunities to live out their dreams. Enrique likes being outside and spending time with friends and family. Fun fact: Enrique became an uncle when he was a one-year-old.
Maria Cortes (she/her) | Healthy Workplaces Organizer/Promotora de Alcance a la Comunidad
Mi nombre es Maria Cortes, nací en la Comunidad de Santa Maria Tindu, Tez, Huajuapan, De León, Oaxaca Mexico. Estudie mi educación primaria en mi comunidad Natal. En 1980 el Programa de Seguro Social, me capacitó para ser una enfermera. Me asignaron para ir a trabajar a la comunidad de San Miguel Cuevas, Juxtlahuaca Oaxaca México como enfermera Titular de la Unidad Médica Rural. Después emigre a Ensenada Baja California Norte donde trabajé en los Campos de Agricultura registrando a los trabajadores de campo. Después comenzemigre a Estados Unidos a trabajar en la agricultura donde empecé a dar clases de conducir y clases de alfabetización.
En Woodburn empecé amos yo y mi hermana a dar clases de Alfabetización para los adultos en el Campo. Ingrese a trabajar con Educacion Indigena y después a trabajar en la Clínica de Salud Medical Center como abogadora, e intérprete para los pacientes que hablan su primera lengua materna que es el mixteco. Daba las clases De Tomando Control para su salud. En el 2006, me gradué del Colegio de Chemeketa con mi GED.
La razón porque me gusta trabajar en PCUN es porque ellos apoyan a los trabajadores del campo. Como por ejemplo: les dan entrenamientos, les informan sobre las Leyes, hacen contratos colectivos, y llevan información a los trabajadores en el campo sobre diferente temas que le puede ayudar al trabajador. Estos temas incluyen derechos laborales, como abogar por salarios justos y eso es lo que me motiva a trabajar con esta organización y por todos los logros y cambios que han podido obtener para los trabajadores de campo.
Tomás Bartolo (he/him) | Environmental Worker Justice Organizer | tomasbartolo@pcun.org
He is a proud first generation immigrant from Oaxaca Mexico. He grew up in a family of indigenous (mixteco) farmworkers and lived in Baja California Mexico for 15 years, immigrating to Oregon in 2002. He has lived in the Marion County community for over 17 years. He graduated from Woodburn High School and attended college at Chemeketa Community College.
Tomás has worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade. He specializes in community radio, latinxs community organizing, and leadership development with youth and adults.
Currently, Tomás is the Environmental Worker Justice Organizer for PCUN. His role will help organize farmworkers and Latinx families by increasing their understanding of the problem, and showing them how to take action against climate change, and to move toward a just transition.
Tomás goal and passion is to focus on bringing community citizens together to work toward achieving a common desire that will improve the well-being of the society, especially the farmworker, indigenous latinx community.
Maricela Andrade (she/her) | maricela@pcun.org
Biography coming soon..
Omar Alvarado (he/his) | Advocacy Organizer | omaralvarado@pcun.org
Rising out of Salem Oregon, Omar is a proud 1st generation born Latino. His family relocated from Oaxaca, Mexico to Oregon. Proud of his Indigenous Mixteco heritage, Omar is empowered by his family, culture, and community.
Omar’s background and skills in non-profit, small business, and Latinx community development come to fruition here at PCUN as the Advocacy Organizer in the political department. He will be organizing and collaborating with the community to be more engaged in the legislative processes around issues that affect our latinx and farmworker community. Currently Omar is tackling a small business cohort project to empower local business leaders and organize them to be involved in the decision making process that affect their local ecosystem involving small business and economic development.
Aside from working with PCUN, Omar has been operating his own businesses for the last few years, teaches digital music, sits on an Advisory Board in Salem, and is a small business advisor for Chemeketa Community College.
