Nancy Correa, a native of Long Beach, California, is a bilingual journalist, editorial, and digital content strategist. Nancy has served as a Global Content Manager at Meta and Google and has valuable experience as a Bilingual News Digital Content Producer for Univision Bay Area and Los Angeles, showcasing her skills in amplifying diverse narratives.
As the first member of her family to achieve a college degree and the child of two Mexican immigrants, Nancy deeply understands the transformative power of education and the significance of providing resources to young at-risk students.
In her role as the founder and CEO of Remarkably Us, a California-based non-profit organization, Nancy has dedicated herself to establishing a safe and impactful space through community and storytelling initiatives for current and former Latina foster youth. Remarkably Us serves as a platform to bridge the communication gap among Latinas who share common experiences within the foster care system. As a former foster youth, this cause holds special significance for Nancy, and she is driven to continue her professional journey by striving to empower underrepresented communities through impactful storytelling.
Jacqueline Robles (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), is a policy enthusiast, driver of change, and most importantly a dog mom of two. After living in the Los Angeles foster care system in the Indian Child Welfare unit for 17 years, Jacqueline was tired of the same statistics of youth of color "falling through the cracks". Identifying as both Indigenous and Latina, Jacqueline was set on a career to drive policy change for foster youth of color. Jacqueline has sat in various leadership positions to advocate and shape policy for foster youth all over the nation.
Currently, Jacqueline is an Advisor for New Growth Innovation Network (NGIN) a national nonprofit, focused on closing structural opportunity gaps to ensure that economically disenfranchised people of color, women, and neglected geographies are a core part of regional economic growth and prosperity.
Jacqueline also just completed her term as a Youth Commissioner for the Board of Supervisors. The Los Angeles Youth Commission is the first county commission that seeks to help child welfare and juvenile justice systems center youth voices in their efforts to co-design and improve policies, programs, and services. Jacqueline was one of the first five members of the youth commission and was personally appointed by Board of Supervisor Janice Hahn. In addition, Jacqueline is a consultant and speaker for organizations focused on advancing outcomes for foster youth across Los Angeles.
Jacqueline holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from California State University Long Beach (CSULB) and a Master of Public Policy (MPP) degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Elvira Laguna is a 29-year-old THP (Transitional Housing Program) Social Worker originating from Orange County. Over the past decade, she has been intricately involved with the Los Angeles DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) system. Elvira takes pride in identifying as an Afro-Latina, although her journey towards fully embracing this identity has not been without challenges. At one point, she experienced a sense of shame concerning her connection to the system.
In the face of adversity, Elvira found powerful motivation. Instead of allowing her past to define her, she chose to use it as fuel to propel her ambitions forward. Diligently working towards realizing her dreams, she is currently pursuing a master's degree.
A significant milestone for Elvira is her involvement on the board of "Remarkably Us." This opportunity represents a dream come true for her, serving as a means to give back and make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing similar struggles. Elvira sees her life journey as a testament to the strength of personal belief and resilience, with the hope that it inspires others to persevere in pursuing their dreams.
Marilyn Travis is a proud Chicana raised in Pasadena, California, or as she lovingly refers to it– “the 626.”
Marilyn knows first hand the creativity, fire, ganas y poder that current and former foster youth embody. Without minimizing the challenges foster youth face, she is committed to co-creating a platform where social workers, policy makers, educators, and society at large center foster youth’s tenacious spirit and abundant possibilities when collaborating with and serving our community. Through her experiences in the foster care system, Marilyn has redefined familia, allowing her to build meaningful relationships across multiple identity markers–such as race, class, age and gender–that differ from her own identities.
Throughout her budding 6-year-and-counting teaching career, she has taught Mexican-American Studies, World History, US History, and AP Government in public charter schools across the Bay Area. She currently advises and teaches social studies at East Palo Alto Academy (EPAA). In partnership with the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP), she has also hosted multiple student-teachers and served as lecturer within the same program. As a professional, Marilyn directs her own growth by building connections with like-minded educators through spaces such as Intercambio, the Hollyhock Fellowship, and her pursuit of National Board Certification. Her value for authenticity, truth-telling, courage, and justice, guide her professional and personal decision-making. Marilyn prioritizes her mental, physical, emotional and spiritual well-being so that she is able to remain in the classroom for decades to come.
Shortly after exiting foster care, Marilyn and her siblings were featured in Go Public (2012), a documentary about public education life in Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD).
Cecia (Ceci) Cruz, is a Mental Health Counselor. She is currently obtaining her Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology with completion of her Bachelors’ in Psychology. Her hope is to become a doctor in Clinical Psychology emphasis on clinical research.
Cecia was born in Tijuana, Mexico with Indigenous Roots from Oaxaca. Raised in Long Beach, California. Cecia has endured her share of traumatic experiences as a child which lead to being placed into the foster care system. Reuniting with her mother, the situation was not better for her as she continued to witness and experience abuse. This led to mental health struggles of her own. As the oldest sibling, she took the responsibility of breaking the negative cycles by challenging herself on seeking a better path. This sparked her passion for understanding mental health, learning from others, and sharing the knowledge she has obtained to others.
Cecia has worked with many populations of different ages, sexual orientation, ethnicities, race, gender. Working positions as a therapeutic behavioral specialist coaching kids, caregivers, or staff, teachers providing behavioral modification; as a mental health counselor within a mental health residential working with adolescents with intense crisis struggles, as a behavioral interventionist with Applied Behavioral Analysis working with children with autism, or currently a mental health counselor working with transitioning young adults. In each position, she has worked directly with someone who was, currently, or in the past in the foster youth system. The importance of coping through mental health is vital especially those who experienced adversities. Cecia is grateful and excited to be a part of this organization in efforts to continue to share mental health obstacles, struggles, or coping mechanisms in hopes that you know there can be a better future because we are each remarkable.
As a first-generation Latina, Fatima Romero is passionately dedicated to bridging the gap between underserved communities and career opportunities. She strives to empower individuals by dismantling barriers and fostering inclusive environments. As an avid storyteller and marketing enthusiast, Fatima leverages her skills to amplify voices and create impactful narratives that drive positive change.
