Objective: To represent district 62 in the MN State Senate

Summary of qualifications:

• Masters of Public Affairs. University of Minnesota, 2004.
• 18 years of experience in public service & community organizing. Experienced in building partnerships between agencies, non-profit organizations, tribal reservations and other organizations that serve children and families.
• Board member of the Uof MN Children Youth and Family Consortium, The Minnesota Early Care and Education Finance Commission, the Minnesota Children's Trust Fund, Cultural Beginnings, The Greater Minneapolis Day Care Association , West Side Health Center, Kids Count, Children’s Defense Fund, National Resource center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, The Build Initiative, The Northway Community Trust.
• Highly effective verbal and written communicator in both English and Spanish.
• 14 years of experience in conceptualizing, writing and reviewing legislative proposals, policy recommendations, budget proposals, curriculums and program evaluation tools.
• Academic training in cultural diversity training, policy analysis and statistical research.
• Experience in building programs from ground zero, developing policies, procedures, designing complex networks and motivating groups to propel innovation and growth.

Professional experience:

• State Program Administrator. Minnesota Department of Human Services. 1998 – Present.
  • Developed a partnership between three major county agencies, the Department and the University of Minnesota to conduct research about disparities in child welfare. Secured 1.2 million-dollars from the National Institute of Health to support the work of the partnership.
  • Co-authored the Cultural Competency Guidelines for Multicultural Organizations published by the Department of Human Services in 2003. The guidelines will be used to develop a statewide plan to promote cultural competent social services practices.
  • Developed a partnership between the Department of Human Services, the Department of Education and the Minneapolis Foundation and secured $650,000 dollars to develop, translate and disseminate parenting information in Spanish, Hmong, Vietnamese and Somali.
    
• Ombudsperson for Families. Minnesota Office of Ombudsperson for Families. 1992-1998.
  • Conducted child welfare case investigations to ensure that children in the system were served in compliance with the law.
  • Coordinated advocacy efforts with community agencies to advance the rights of low income children and children of color.
  • Worked with Juvenile Courts to ensure that families and children received fair legal treatment.
  • Worked with state, county and community agencies and courts to promote cultural diversity.
  • Provided training, education and awareness about cultural competency, discrimination and the needs disadvantaged populations in the state.
  • Developed protocols for case investigation, programmatic standards and internal policies of a newly created State Office of Ombudsman for Families.
  • Carried out policy and fiscal responsibilities to make the Office of Ombudsperson for Families a fully funded, independent office of the state after a year of being hired.
  • Trained judges, legislators, county workers and social services practitioners in cultural diversity.
  • Published reports that have been used by child advocates to support their policy advocacy efforts.
• Guardian Ad-litem, Hennepin County Juvenile Court - Consultant, Chicano Latino Affairs Council. Minnesota, 1990-1992.
  • Assisted the Council with legislative responsibilities: attended hearings, prepared reports, organized community responses, wrote and disseminated legislative updates.
  • Represented children in court and wrote reports with recommendations for the court.
  • Work with the guardian Ad Litem program to raise awareness about the cultural needs of Latino children and their families.

Related experience:

• Certified Guardian Ad-litem for Hennepin County Juvenile Court.
• Former Research Fellow for the Roy Wilkins Center, University of Minnesota