About Janet
Janet is a first generation American citizen of Indigenous Mexica migrant parents. Her upbringing in a multicultural and multi-generational household taught her how important it is for marginalized communities to be represented in elected leadership.
This drove Janet to run for the Bend-La Pine School Board, where she has served since July 2021.
Janet is a mom, business owner, public speaker, and fierce community leader.
She has spent decades building relationships of trust throughout Central Oregon, leading to meaningful change in institutions and agencies that seek out her guidance on building equity and collective power.
Formerly the Administrative and Finance Coordinator for The Early Learning Hub of Central Oregon and Better Together, Janet now owns a consulting firm focused on equitable business strategy development and mentorship opportunities for BIPOC and 2SLQBTQ leaders. Janet is also a member of the Oregon chapter ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Board of Directors.
She was the founder and Executive Director of Mecca Bend - a nonprofit that provided resources for migrant, Latino, displaced Indigenous, and undocumented residents in Central Oregon.
Central Oregon residents have unmet needs that few politicians understand or take stake in. Janet is the candidate with the skills and experience to apply a racial equity lens to today’s key issues.
As a current Bend-La Pine school board member, Janet is advocating for community-centered strategies and anti-racist practices so that our most vulnerable students feel safe and supported in their classrooms.
Janet has an innate ability to build and leverage social capital for progress. When faced with bigotry and hate in today’s politically-charged climate, Janet doesn’t waver in her commitment to serve all with dignity and to uplift communities of color.
Elected leadership must reflect the community it serves, and Janet represents the emerging needs of a diverse landscape. With lived experience as Indigenous, queer, a single-income renter, minority business owner, and an elected official — Janet’s perspective is distinct and her leadership profound.