Monica Hernandez Development & Social Impact Officer Hernandez was raised in San Ysidro and has been actively engaged in community building and struggles for social justice since high school. She graduated from University of California Berkeley with a degree in Chicano studies with an interdisciplinary focus in social justice movements, cultural studies and multimedia. In 2004, she began her professional career at Casa Familiar (Casa) as a Community Development Specialist. In 2007, she became Casa Familiar’s Arts & Culture Director and co-founder of The Front. Hernandez is also an interdisciplinary artivist and cultural worker. Her art and praxis are primarily informed by her upbringing along the US/Mexico border, hip-hop, contemporary and pop culture, indigenismo and social justice movements. She also has extensive experience assisting domestic violence and human trafficking survivors, unhoused families, displaced immigrants, refugees and historically underserved populations throughout San Diego County. Throughout her career, Hernandez has volunteered and served in a number of roles and committees including: the San Ysidro Planning and Development Group, the San Ysidro Chamber of Commerce, the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, the Border Public Arts Committee, SANDAG’s Equity Working Group, the San Diego Immigrants’ Rights Consortium, the Census Count Me 2020 Coalition, UCSD Covid-19 Prevention Network Community Advisory Committee and the San Diego Parks Foundation. Hernandez also served as Commissioner for the City of San Diego’s Redistricting Commission. Currently, Hernandez is Casa’s Development & Social Impact Officer where she spearheads the organization’s fundraising, capacity building and advocacy efforts primarily in the areas of social equity, community development, immigrant rights and environmental justice.