OUR STAFF
Olivia Quiroz, grew up in The Dalles, Oregon and was born in Mexico City. She is the Executive Director for the Oregon Latino Health Coalition (OLHC), a statewide organization dedicated to eliminating health disparities affecting Oregon Latinas and Latinos through collaboration, leadership and advocacy. Under Olivia’s leadership OLHC passed historical legislation (House Bill 3352) to expand medicaid coverage to adults regardless of their immigration status. In addition Olivia, brings over 10 years of experience working to improve the health of marginalized communities by effectively working with community partners, and healthcare systems to address policy, and systems change strategies. Olivia, holds a B.S degree in Public Health from Oregon State University. In her spare time she enjoys biking, hiking with her dog Luna and spending time with friends and family.
Jacqueline Baca grew up in Newberg, OR. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Psychology from Gonzaga University. During college she was involved in a variety of social justice and community based work including Justice in January, the Walking School Bus, and the Wolff Fellowship. After graduating she moved back to Oregon and worked as a legal assistant for an immigration law firm providing legal support to the Latin/x/e community in the Portland metro area.
She is looking forward to continuing to support and advocate for the Latin/x/e community with OLHC. In her free time, she loves to go to the beach, dance, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
Laura grew up in Tigard, Oregon and completed her Bachelor’s of Science in Human Physiology at the University of Oregon. While also minoring in Indigenous, Race and Ethnic Studies, Laura was extensively involved in various public health programs at UO including Protection Connection, the Duck Nest Wellness Center, and the University Health Services Student Greeter Program. Currently, Laura is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health Management and Policy at OHSU-PSU School of Public Health.
Laura is committed to eliminating health disparities, pursuing health equity, and increasing access to health services for the Latinx community. In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time with her family, dancing to Latin music, and getting coffee with friends.
Claudia Ramirez Cisneros was born in Colima Mexico, and has lived in Oregon since 1998. Claudia is passionate about social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. She has an impressive background in supporting schools and non-profit organizations with communication initiatives, outreach, and developing collaborations. Claudia has been a coordinator of youth and family programs and has experience creating events for leadership development with culturally specific groups.
Claudia also has a great passion for service, which has led her to volunteer with different organizations, including programa Hispano, Northwest Family Services, The Mt. Hood Community College Transiciones program, and Multnomah County Library.
Currently, Claudia is a member/volunteer of the Líderes Naturales group in the city of Wood Village, where she is making a significant impact in the community while continuing to grow her leadership skills. Claudia enjoys cultural connections with diverse and high-risk populations. Claudia enjoys reading, the outdoors, spending time with her loved ones, and spontaneous trips to create new adventures during her spare time.
Diana currently lives in Portland, OR, but is from Arequipa, Peru. She graduated in Administration, Business and Finance. While in Peru, she had the opportunity to teach high school in a state school and in a shelter for abandoned children. This was where her vocation to serve the community was born.
Since she came to live in the United States, she saw the great disparity in educational and health services that exist among racial minorities. These experiences created in her a great personal need to work for the community, support, and create the development of programs for women’s cancer, children’s education, and mental health education in the Oregon Latino community. In her free time, Diana enjoys spending time with her family and her pets, listening to baroque music, and organizing spaces. She is a firm believer that the value of our migrant community is her desire to excel.
Flor Dominguez, is from Campeche Mexico, and has lived in the U.S. since 1996. Like many who came to this country, life at first was not easy to adapt to, but through programs that support the Latino community, Flor managed to go to school and graduate in the field of Computer Science in 2017. While she was working on achieving a high level of education, she was involved in helping different organizations and churches that support the Latino community with programs that helped to mitigate the challenges of a new system, culture, and language.
Currently, Flor is working with the program of Healthier Oregon, which helps the Latino community apply for medical insurance. Flor has also continued to be involved in Lideres Naturales, a group that works directly with the Latino community in Wood Village. In her free time, Flor enjoys being with her family, especially her 2 grandkids, traveling, and visiting different places that help her connect with nature.
Carmen Gloria Momeni, has lived in Portland OR since 2003. She is originally from Santiago, Chile. She graduated in Graphic Design and Advertising. After graduating, she worked as an editorial designer for magazines in Chile based on culture, history, folklore, and art. This is where her vocation to help people who did not have access to information began.
Since she came to Oregon she has volunteered for the Latino community. Carmen has participated in Art and Literacy programs for elementary schools. She has also participated and developed informational programs, including cultural and educational events like the Latino Festival in the city of Tigard and the Latino Educational and Cultural event in the city of Tualatin.
In her free time, Carmen Gloria loves to spend time with her family and enjoys spending time at home. She dedicates her time to oil painting, loves music, and everything that involves creating, decorating, and organizing. She finds beauty in the simple, everyday things in life.
Melissa Belmontes grew up in Illinois and Wisconsin and moved to Oregon in 2020. She has extensive experience working in academia in the Midwest including assisting multicultural students jump start their college careers and also teaching college-level public speaking courses. More recently, Melissa helped provide supportive housing services in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas county.
In her free time, Melissa enjoys coddiwompling (yes, this is a real word), kayaking, eating new yummy foods, dancing, hiking, winning in competitive games, watching sports, and being outdoors.
Migdalia Castaneyra Cruz, is originally from Beaverton, Oregon, but born in the vibrant city of Oaxaca. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health Studies with focus in Community Health Education and Sociology. She is a dedicated non-profit professional with over 5 years of experience in the non-profit sector. Her journey began as an intern in the education department at PPCW.
Throughout her career, she has passionately advocated for reproductive rights with PPAO, blending her advocacy with her proficiency in the Spanish language to bridge gaps in health justice. When she is not busy with her non-profit work, you can find her working out and honing her running skills. In fact, she achieved a personal milestone in 2023 by participating in Hood to Coast.
Migdalia, is a firm believer in the power of education, advocacy, and fitness to create positive change in the world. Join her on this journey of making a difference, one step at a time!
As a Chicana born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon, Andrea has worked to weave advocacy, belonging, and community building everywhere she goes. She has two Bachelor’s degrees, one in Cultural Anthropology and the other General Social Science from the University of Oregon. When she wasn’t in class, she was engaged in student-led organizations like MEChA de UO and the ASUO student senate body working to increase representation, retention of, and resources for Latine and students of Color on campus.
Andrea then went into Foreign Policy education and Citizen Diplomacy where she had the opportunity to connect leaders from around the world to leaders here at home through U.S. Department of State sponsored International Exchange Programs. Andrea witnessed first-hand the grassroots, community-led, and advocacy centered efforts from across Oregon as well as the strength that comes from bridging international and cross-cultural perspectives in navigating challenges both here and abroad.
Outside of work, spending time with family and friends is a huge priority. You might find her in a local cafe reading a book or crocheting, she might be at 53rd playing tennis with friends or roller skating, or she’ll be hosting a game night with her family.