OUR STAFF
Leonardo Lobato
Executive Director
Lobato has more than 20 years of international business and education experience. He was founder and CEO of the International Center for Reciprocal Training (ICRT), an organization supporting Latinx higher education students with international internships. At IAESTE Mexico (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience), he facilitated internships for STEM and life sciences students in more than 80 countries. His business experience includes positions at Coors Brewing Company and Johnson and Johnson. Lobato, a native of Mexico, holds master’s degrees from Stanford University and Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Sandy Sanchez
Director of Programs
Provides management of La Luz Center’s programs
Sandy was born and raised in Sonoma Valley. Wanting to give back to her community, she began volunteering at La Luz Center and became an intern while attending university. In May 2015, Sandy graduated from Sonoma State University with a Bachelors in Sociology. While doing a year of service work through AmeriCorps, she was able to assist La Luz Center by developing the infrastructure for the Volunteer Program. Sandy has held several positions with La Luz Center since 2015 and hopes to continue a lifelong career in the nonprofit sector. In addition to her passion for service work, she is the proud mentor of Sahudy, a local middle-schooler.
Sharon Somogyi
Development Operations
Works directly with the La Luz Board and donors.
Sharon moved to Sonoma in 1993 and fell in love with the beauty of the valley, the culture and the sense of community. A lifelong believer in the value of strong communities, Sharon has spent her career in the non-profit world, over 25 of those years with Boys & Girls Clubs. Sharon brings a diverse background in programs, operations and development to La Luz. In addition to working with the staff and board at La Luz, Sharon enjoys spending time with her grandson and volunteering for various events and charities.
Maria Calvillo
Family Services Advocate
Provides support services and direction to families and community members
Maria was born in Zirahuén, Michoacan. Her family immigrated to the United States when she was seven years old. She has lived in Sonoma Valley since then and she considers herself a SONOMAN at heart. Maria lives in the Valley with her husband and her two children. Part of her roll at La Luz is to assess the needs of families, connect them to community resources, and to provide one-on-one coaching and support, as needed. She also assists in coordinating the Volunteer Program.
Yuliana Camarena Torres
Site Manager, La Luz Family Resource Center at El Verano Elementary
Works with parents in identifying and achieving goals; accessing support services, education, and training programs and opportunities; and facilitating positive parent, school and student relationships. Advances the El Verano Family Resource Center mission, vision, and programs through maintaining, sustaining, and developing new relationships with community partners and Sonoma Valley Unified School District.
Yuliana was born in Michoacán, Mexico and grew up in Sonoma. She earned a B.A. in Business Administration from Dominican University of California, with concentrations in accounting and marketing. From a young age, Yuliana has been connected with La Luz. She received the Language Award from La Luz while in both elementary and middle school and received the La Luz Scholarship in high school. Yuliana started as an intern in 2014 and joined the full-time staff later that year. Yuliana enjoys creating learning opportunities through programs.
Adriana Plascencia
Family Services Resource Associate
Communicates with community members about resources and referral to support them with any questions.
Adriana, Immigrant to the United States with her parents and two brothers at the age of 10-years-old. Her parents wanted to build a better life for their kid. Her first two years in the United States was in Los Angeles until her parents decide to move to Sonoma for a better environment and jobs opportunities. Adriana continued her education from L.A. to Sonoma Valley High School. She has lived in Sonoma for over 20 years with daughter and partner.
Patricia Galindo
Family Services Coordinator
Works to bring together day-to-day activities of La Luz Center’s direct and indirect client service programs
Patricia immigrated to San Francisco from her native El Salvador when she was nine years old. She is proud of her earliest roots, but also appreciates her multicultural upbringing in San Francisco. Shortly after moving to Sonoma Valley in 1989, Patricia became a caseworker – one of the very first employees of what was then called La Luz Bilingual Center. After three years, she moved on to be a healthcare advocate for Saint Joseph Health System. Twenty years later, she is pleased to be back at La Luz and back on the job again with our Sonoma Valley community. She loves her work with the Valley’s residents. In her spare time, she enjoys studying ancient cultures.
El Verano Family Resource Center Family Coordinator
Works to bring together day-to-day activities of El Verano Family Resource Center's direct and indirect client service programs
Thalia was born and raised in Petaluma, CA. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree (B.A.) in Communications, from Sacramento State University. She is the first person in her family’s history to receive a degree from a university. She is the daughter of an immigrant single mother, and the youngest of three children. Coming from a humble upbringing, she is determined to give back to the community just as she did, when she was growing up. In her spare time she enjoys going on hikes, and believes it's always a great day when there is a coffee cup in her hand.
Adriana Jacinto
Family Services Advocate
Coordinates health and wellness-related client services
Adriana Jacinto was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a major in Business Administration. A few months after graduation, she moved to the United States and into a new world. She now lives in Napa with her husband and two daughters. For the last 20 years, Adriana has worked for Low Income Housing -- 13 years in the Housing Administration Department in Income Qualifications and Enforcement of House Rules and 7 years in the Resident Service Department as a Health and Wellness Advocate. She has a strong background and experience working in the community. One of her biggest passions is to better the quality of life and provide equal opportunity for the underserved.
Juanita Padilla de Hernandez
Family Engagement Coordinator
Connects families with School
I'm Juanita Padilla de Hernández. I was born in Mexico and have been living in Sonoma since 1999. I'm married and have 3 children. I took English and Computer classes at La Luz Center, I have also been a volunteer and worked at El Verano School. Now I'm working through La Luz Center at the El Verano Family Resource Center as the Family Engagement Coordinator. My role will be to connect families with the school.
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Provides support with multimedia communication, internal development and marketing at La Luz Center
Genesis was born and raised in Santa Rosa, California. While working for several non-profit and governmental organizations she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Media Communications (B.A.) and Bachelor of Fine Art in Photography (B.F.A) at Sonoma State University. During her time at Sonoma State University, she was recognized for her outstanding photojournalism and writing contributions to the STAR Newspaper. And had her photographic work, focused on her local community's hardships, was selected for the Juried Student Exhibition at the University Art Gallery. Also, she interned for an organization named Civity, where she developed an interest in building diversity and inclusivity between members of communities and to support marginalized groups. She uses the power of digital media to creatively communicate the organization’s mission. She looks forward to earning her Master’s Degree in the future. Genesis enjoys spending time working as Photos by Genesis in the community.
Nidia Figueroa
Parent/Padres LEAD Manager
Nidia was born in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. Her family migrated to Sonoma at three years old. After graduating in 2015, she attended Santa Rosa Junior College, where she attained her Associate of Arts in Psychology and Behavioral Science. In 2018, Nidia transferred to the University of California, Davis where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. During her free time, Nidia enjoys spending her free time outside in nature. You can always find her at the beach or up on a trail. Nidia is excited to pursue a career in the nonprofit sector and continue helping her community.
Tania Mejia
Family Services Advocate
Tania was born in Marin and has been a resident of Sonoma County since the age of 5. She is the proud daughter of parents who immigrated from Tlaxcala, Mexico and the youngest of three siblings. Tania is a first-generation college graduate having earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Sonoma State University in 2020. She has extensive experience working with the county's youth and holds a background doing volunteer work within the community. Having a strong passion for social justice issues and advancing change for underserved communities, she hopes to have a lifelong career in the nonprofit sector.
Ivan Macedonio
Financial Advancement Coordinator
Ivan was born in the State of Mexico. At the age of 2, his parents immigrated with him to America, seeking a better life in Sonoma. Being the oldest of three siblings, Ivan was the first in his family to go directly to a four-year university. Earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Business Economics from the University of California, Merced in the spring of 2019. At the age of fifteen, Ivan was introduced to La Luz Center when he chose to volunteer at the front desk and events. Ivan was a La Luz Scholarship recipient as a Senior in high school and learned early on the value of volunteering, and he grew a yearning to give back to his community. Ivan is motivated to help generate economic growth and bridge the gap between local resources and Hispanic business owners. Ivan has extensive knowledge of small business development and licensing. When he is not at work, you can find him assisting his family's business, fishing, or watching sports. He is proud to be a first-generation immigrant.
Josie Santoyo
Employment & Training Coordinator
Josie was born and raised in Sonoma Valley. She earned a B.A. in Humanities and a minor in Gender Studies from Dominican University of California. From a young age, Josie has been passionate about helping others and giving back to the community through volunteer work. After college, she joined Americorps and provided tutoring and mentoring to students. Josie worked with the Napa County Office of Education for 8 years and has experience with education, training and running after school programs. Now she is pleased to be working in her hometown, at La Luz as the Employment and Training Coordinator.