Erika Cervantes is the Director of Policy and Advocacy at Alliance for a Better Community. She is responsible for advancing ABC’s education policy and advocacy initiatives inclusive of its efforts to increase access to high-quality schools, improve college access and success, and increase the civic participation of Latinas/os in Los Angeles. Erika works to strengthen coalition-building efforts, work with elected officials to raise awareness on key issues impacting the Los Angeles Latina/o community and coordinates the development of research briefs on priority topics.

Natalie González is the Deputy Director of the Digital Equity Initiative at the California Community Foundation where she led multi-year efforts to close the digital divide in Los Angeles County and the Central Valley. She played a key role in supporting the passage of the first-ever digital discrimination ordinance in the City of Los Angeles and mobilizing advocates statewide behind California’s first legislation on digital discrimination. Her work uplifts research and community stories to shape policy that ensures reliable, affordable, and accessible broadband for all. Before her current role, Natalie worked in nonprofit leadership and civic engagement, spearheading youth empowerment programs and countywide voter mobilization campaigns. A proud first-generation college graduate, she earned her B.A. in Sociology from UC Merced. Born in Santa Barbara and raised in Los Angeles, Natalie is dedicated to utilizing public policy to dismantle systemic inequities and ensure digital access as a fundamental civil right.

Arturo Juarez is Policy Advisor at NextGen Policy where he oversees the on-the-ground implementation of NextGen’s Connect Corps pilot program and helps lead NextGen’s broadband and digital equity policy portfolio. His work includes program design and setup, the training and management of digital navigators, and leading a broadband policy portfolio focused on universal access, affordability, equity, and literacy & navigation. Arturo started his career in the private sector, working for a multinational investment and financial services company, where he managed a $500 million investment portfolio, before transitioning to the nonprofit sector where he has held roles in advocacy, fundraising, and partnership development. Prior to joining the NextGen Policy team, Arturo worked for the Biden/Harris Presidential Campaign as a Regional Director, helping get out the vote in several battleground states during the 2020 election.

Cinthia Diaz Medrano is the Deputy Director of the East Bay Broadband Consortium’s (EBBC). As a Mexican immigrant growing up in East Oakland, she experienced firsthand the challenges faced by underserved and under-invested communities. This informed her career path and commitment to removing systemic barriers that too often prevent her community from thriving. Cinthia has dedicated her career to working in Bay Area nonprofits, including La Clinica de La Raza, First 5 Alameda County, and the First 5 Center for Children’s Policy. Most recently, as #OaklandUndivided’s Director of Community Impact, she worked alongside community members to ensure their voices drove Oakland’s digital equity efforts. She now brings that expertise to EBBC to help Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano County voices shape equitable broadband solutions throughout the state.