NUESTRO EQUIPO

Masha Chernyak is a dynamic community organizer with a gift for turning bold visions into reality. With over 20 years of experience, she has led strategy, cultural organizing, and grassroots fundraising, unlocking more than $125 million for Latino communities. Her infectious "Let's do it" spirit, combined with her vision and authenticity, makes Masha a force for real change. She cuts straight to the heart of issues, delivering practical, creative solutions while building a world where everyone belongs. Today, Masha works with nonprofits, funders, and national capacity builders to launch transformative, people-centered campaigns. As a passionate photographer, storyteller, and coach-- she’s dedicated to helping others see their own magic. An immigrant from Russia, Masha's perspective is deeply shaped by her lived experience, her time in the Peace Corps, and her work as a community organizer on Chicago's South Side.

I was raised in Guatemala and moved to California 18 years ago. I am bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish fluently. I hold an associate's degree in Business, an associate's degree in Child Development, and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. I am a proud parent of four children. In my free time, I enjoy engaging in various hobbies, including crafts, painting, hiking, biking, and playing tennis. My passion for my children, outdoor activities and creative pursuits keeps me active and inspired. Professionally, I have experience working for a non-profit organization, where I coordinated a program focused on teaching parents the importance of reading to their children. This role allowed me to combine my love for education and community service, making a positive impact on families and their literacy practices. I am excited to continue my engagement in the non-profit sector and am happy to join ALAS to help coordinate the tutoring program for children from kindergarten to high school.

As a key member of the ALAS team, our focus is on contributing to the pioneering efforts in our field. With a diverse background spanning various disciplines, we bring together a rich blend of expertise, innovation, and dedication to excellence. Our team is united by a shared commitment to advancing our projects, driving forward technological breakthroughs, and delivering solutions that make a real difference. In our pursuit of excellence, we leverage our collective knowledge and skills to tackle challenges, explore new possibilities, and create impactful outcomes. Our work is guided by a passion for innovation, a deep understanding of our domain, and a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Beyond our professional endeavors, we are engaged and active participants in our communities, continuously seeking ways to contribute positively and make a lasting impact. The ALAS team is more than just a group of individuals; we are a vibrant community of thinkers, creators, and leaders dedicated to making a difference in the world.

Juana Ruano-López is an immigrant from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. She has lived in the HMB area for 30 years. Juana is married and has two children, one aged 28 and the other 17. She works at ALAS as a counselor for the elderly, visiting homes (Corazones de Oro). Juana feels very happy in her job, bringing joy and compassion to those in need, as they are often the most forgotten. She continues to learn every day to provide excellent service, which is beneficial for everyone’s mental health, and this makes her feel fulfilled. In her free time, Juana enjoys walking along the beach, breathing in the fresh air, and appreciating nature, as she believes people often forget how beautiful it is. She invites everyone to enjoy each moment of life, recognizing that it is good for both physical and mental health. Juana has a personal motto that she loves to share: "We are all one world and one heart."

Abrahan arrived in Half Moon Bay in 2021 and has expressed gratitude for being part of the community. Serving as the maintenance person for ALAS, he appreciates the opportunity to contribute through his role. Abrahan llegó a Half Moon Bay en 2021 y ha expresado su gratitud por ser parte de la comunidad. Como encargado de mantenimiento de ALAS, valora la oportunidad de contribuir a través de su trabajo.

Pat Carbullido is the Operations Associate at ALAS. Born and raised on the Peninsula, Pat previously served as the Executive Director at the Daly City Youth Health Center. With a strong dedication to supporting non-profits, Pat is particularly drawn to ALAS's mission of serving the Latino coastside community. A passion for community service inspired Pat to join the organization. Outside of work, Pat enjoys playing and watching sports, as well as hiking the many trails in the Bay Area. Spending time with family and friends is also a significant part of Pat's life.

Joel Valencia grew up in Menlo Park, CA. His family is from Mexico. Joel is passionate about ensuring that all people are presented with the accessible opportunities and guidance they need to be successful. He has worked on a range of issues including foreclosure and homelessness prevention, anti-predatory lending, small business development, financial literacy, youth mentorship, and tech education. Joel currently runs Evergreen Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to helping grassroots BIPOC-led & serving nonprofits establish long-term financial stability.

As a key member of the ALAS team, our focus is on contributing to the pioneering efforts in our field. With a diverse background spanning various disciplines, we bring together a rich blend of expertise, innovation, and dedication to excellence. Our team is united by a shared commitment to advancing our projects, driving forward technological breakthroughs, and delivering solutions that make a real difference. In our pursuit of excellence, we leverage our collective knowledge and skills to tackle challenges, explore new possibilities, and create impactful outcomes. Our work is guided by a passion for innovation, a deep understanding of our domain, and a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Beyond our professional endeavors, we are engaged and active participants in our communities, continuously seeking ways to contribute positively and make a lasting impact. The ALAS team is more than just a group of individuals; we are a vibrant community of thinkers, creators, and leaders dedicated to making a difference in the world.

My name is Cecilia Aguila. I was born in Las Margaritas Jalisco, Mexico in 1972. I come from a family of six and I am the third oldest. I went to Cristobal Colon school and graduated as a receptionist in 1990. I Arrived to the United States in 1995. I am married and I have two daughters. My current job is cleaning houses and also I have been working with ALAS for two years.I am the coordinator of the Senior Citizen group where I have the opportunity to grow and live with them. I am very sociable and I like to sing, dance and do arts and crafts. I am very grateful to ALAS for giving me this opportunity to work with them, and also because I like to serve the community.

I'm Ryan Lopez, a proactive Politics major who serves as a Youth Ambassador at Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS) and contributes as a writer at Silicon Valley Latino (SVL). Engaging deeply in community advocacy, I prioritize emphasizing cultural connections and fostering diversity appreciation at ALAS for positive social impact. Simultaneously, at SVL, I don't just contribute insightful biographical articles but also lead the SVL Collegiate Cultura Ambassadors Program. Through this, I connect college-level students with professional opportunities, bridging the gap between education and the professional realm. Committed to enhancing government and community relations, I bring strategic leadership and collaborative initiatives to the forefront of my endeavors. Additionally, I serve as a dedicated Youth Commissioner on the San Mateo County Behavior Health Commission.

As a key member of the ALAS team, our focus is on contributing to the pioneering efforts in our field. With a diverse background spanning various disciplines, we bring together a rich blend of expertise, innovation, and dedication to excellence. Our team is united by a shared commitment to advancing our projects, driving forward technological breakthroughs, and delivering solutions that make a real difference. In our pursuit of excellence, we leverage our collective knowledge and skills to tackle challenges, explore new possibilities, and create impactful outcomes. Our work is guided by a passion for innovation, a deep understanding of our domain, and a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Beyond our professional endeavors, we are engaged and active participants in our communities, continuously seeking ways to contribute positively and make a lasting impact. The ALAS team is more than just a group of individuals; we are a vibrant community of thinkers, creators, and leaders dedicated to making a difference in the world.

As a key member of the ALAS team, our focus is on contributing to the pioneering efforts in our field. With a diverse background spanning various disciplines, we bring together a rich blend of expertise, innovation, and dedication to excellence. Our team is united by a shared commitment to advancing our projects, driving forward technological breakthroughs, and delivering solutions that make a real difference. In our pursuit of excellence, we leverage our collective knowledge and skills to tackle challenges, explore new possibilities, and create impactful outcomes. Our work is guided by a passion for innovation, a deep understanding of our domain, and a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Beyond our professional endeavors, we are engaged and active participants in our communities, continuously seeking ways to contribute positively and make a lasting impact. The ALAS team is more than just a group of individuals; we are a vibrant community of thinkers, creators, and leaders dedicated to making a difference in the world.

Rae Abileah (she/her) is a project coordinator at ALAS, facilitator, community advocate, author, and ordained faith leader. For over twenty years she’s worked with environmental and social impact organizations and movements, from volunteer to executive director. At ALAS, Rae supports Bienestar Comunitario, a multi-year county-wide community assessment and implementation project housed at ALAS and funded by Behavioral Health and Recovery Services to support Latine youth and family mental health wellbeing, access to health services, and substance abuse prevention. Rae also supports authors at the spirituality-social change nexus through her consultancy, CreateWell, and facilitates innovation labs for teams engaging in equitable, scalable conservation at The Nature Conservancy’s Agility Lab. She is a trainer and strategist at Beautiful Trouble. As a first-generation American, Rae's Dutch, Israeli, Ashkenazi Jewish and Christian ancestry informs her work toward undoing racism and white supremacy. She is passionate about collective liberation, community healing, climate justice, and getting out on the coastal trails with her husky dog. Rae graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University, and received ordination by the Kohenet Institute. Raised in Half Moon Bay, she is grateful to be able to support initiatives for the thriving wellbeing of the diverse communities who make home in San Mateo County, and particularly here on unceded Ramaytush Ohlone land of the Coastside. www.createwell.io

Laurianna Ceja Diaz is responsible for Donor Development & Fundraising Consultant. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Latin American studies. Laurianna has traveled extensively throughout Latin America and lived in Mexico where she experienced the difficulties of being raised in the United States as an immigrant and first generation college graduate. Living in Mexico allowed her two cultures to mesh into one and her true identity began to form. Laurianna brings over 20 years of successful Banking experience in Wealth Management working directly with C-Level executives, attorneys and real estate professionals. She is currently studying for the LSAT and aspires to become a Law Student in 2025. Laurianna’s greatest pride are her children, Isaac and Mimi, and seeing them grow and find their path.

Alex Ontiveros is an award-winning community leader, award-winning producer and social impact entrepreneur with an extensive range of professional experience and success in the areas of content creation, PR, brand development, marketing, community engagement, community development, community relations, business development, communication and event design, event production and event management. He has also led an exemplary career holding a variety of positions that have focused on empowering and engaging the Latino community. Currently, Alex is the Founder and CEO for Silicon Valley Latino, LLC. Silicon Valley Latino (SVL) is a multi-platform media, marketing and engagement company, who challenges itself relentlessly to publish and promote positive content about the Latino community. (www.svlatino.com). Through SVL he has led the development of key empowerment programs under the #CreoEnTi umbrella such as the Inspire Higher Tour, Latino Leaders Fireside Chats and College Declaration Day celebrations and Raices - Creo En Ti Empowerment Summit. Additionally, through its sister company, The SVL Agency helps its clients with storytelling, branding, positioning and marketing solutions.