Clarissa is the Executive Director & founder of My Comunidad Foundation. At first, yoga provided Clarissa with physical healing from a lower back injury but she had no idea it would be so much more. Yoga had become a tool in managing her mental health and healing from past trauma, and it was then that a deeper desire to spread awareness
Clarissa is the Executive Director & founder of My Comunidad Foundation. At first, yoga provided Clarissa with physical healing from a lower back injury but she had no idea it would be so much more. Yoga had become a tool in managing her mental health and healing from past trauma, and it was then that a deeper desire to spread awareness shifted from a dream to a sprouted seed. In the first few months of being a yoga student, she had also discovered yoga studios were expensive and mainly located in already saturated areas, without the representation of BIPOC, Youth, Geriatric, and Special Needs’ demographic. This is where the larger question of Community access and possibilities became wildly apparent and an opportunity realized.
Clarissa brings a B.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Child Development from California State University of Fullerton as well as a masters in Psychology from Pepperdine University as another lens of wellness disparity and its need for larger impact. In 2016, Clarissa completed the 200 YTT, and a year later, she completed a training with Yoga for the Special Child. In 2022 she completed her 300 hr- YTT with Susana Barkataki. The combined experience of her personal journey with continuing education as student and teacher are what inspired Clarissa to create My Comunidad Foundation. Clarissa feels yoga and wellness should be accessible at every level, to use as a tool in healing and managing mental and physical health. and it was decided that My Comunidad Foundation would be a space opening its door to everyone with a desire for wellness.
Vanessa is a radio host and community advocate and MC at community events. She can be heard on the National syndicated radio show, the Shoboy Show where she has been quoted as "the life of the Fiesta"
Besides living her dream of being on the radio, Vanessa is big on her other passion of giving back to to the community. She works with city
Vanessa is a radio host and community advocate and MC at community events. She can be heard on the National syndicated radio show, the Shoboy Show where she has been quoted as "the life of the Fiesta"
Besides living her dream of being on the radio, Vanessa is big on her other passion of giving back to to the community. She works with city of Pico Rivera as Media specialist and most importantly organizes an annual backpack giveaway providing 1000+ children with backpacks and supplies to start off the school.
Vanessa all about community and enhancing the lives in the community she grew up in and surrounding areas.
Hello, my name is Denise Velasquez and I am the Director of Human Resources at the UCLA School of Law. Prior to that I worked in the on the School’s Business and Finance team. I have worked at the Law School for 18 years now. In my current role, I supervise a team of three. Collectively we support a staff of 150 employees from three diffe
Hello, my name is Denise Velasquez and I am the Director of Human Resources at the UCLA School of Law. Prior to that I worked in the on the School’s Business and Finance team. I have worked at the Law School for 18 years now. In my current role, I supervise a team of three. Collectively we support a staff of 150 employees from three different units and roughly 200 student employees at any given time. In my role I have made it a priority to champion Equity, Diversity and Inclusion initiatives at the School. Making sure everyone has a seat at the table and feels like they belong is incredibly important to me.
I am also an alumnus of UCLA. l graduated from with a Bachelor’s in History in 2005. I was born and raised in Bell Gardens, California. I graduated class of 1999 from Bell Gardens High School. I know intimately the need for mental health and wellness resources in the surrounding community. I am proud to now serve as the Secretary on the Board of Directors for My Comunidad a non-profit dedicated to doing just that.
My name is Alisa and I’m the treasurer at My Comunidad Foundation. I’ve always had a strong passion to better understand and work with underserved communities. Being part of My Comunidad gives me the opportunity to do this and to also be a part of something that will positively impact the community.
My education includes a Bachelor's deg
My name is Alisa and I’m the treasurer at My Comunidad Foundation. I’ve always had a strong passion to better understand and work with underserved communities. Being part of My Comunidad gives me the opportunity to do this and to also be a part of something that will positively impact the community.
My education includes a Bachelor's degree in American Studies from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) as well as, a Master's degree in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California (USC). I also have my real estate and broker’s license and have been working in real estate for over 15 years. Additionally, I serve as a board consultant with the South Coast Air Quality Management.
I believe in creating opportunities and resources that will be equitable to BIPOC communities, which includes affordable housing and access to resources/tools that can help improve people’s lives. I’m honored and looking forward to serving in my role as the treasurer of My Comunidad Foundation.
My name is Amanda Martinez, and I am a mindful movement facilitator. I've been a practitioner of yoga since 2002, teaching asana since 2014. I also teach a somatic movement method called The Class, which is the workout where fitness meets mindfulness. I’ve been in LA for almost 18 years, and am a proud mama of 6 pups. As a lot of LA trans
My name is Amanda Martinez, and I am a mindful movement facilitator. I've been a practitioner of yoga since 2002, teaching asana since 2014. I also teach a somatic movement method called The Class, which is the workout where fitness meets mindfulness. I’ve been in LA for almost 18 years, and am a proud mama of 6 pups. As a lot of LA transplants would probably say, I’ve lived a thousand lives since moving to LA. The identities I embody as of today are Creative Wellness Being, Teacher, Community Creator, Manager, Lover, Makeup Artist, Feeler, and Perpetual Student. I am wild about humans and find my purpose when I’m in service to creating inclusive environments for the collective. Training includes: 200 Hr Yoga Certification for Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga with Weights, 305 Fitness, 75 hr Social Justice in Wellness, The Class Method, Level 1/2 EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Animal Flow, and an Embodied Social Justice Program through Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams
Los Angeles based artist Lorean Bautista or “Miss L” as called by her students, comes from an artistic lineage. At a young age, she learned photography, taking after her grandfather who owned a photo studio in the Philippines. Surrounded by a family of artists, performers, and musicians, this environment enhanced her creative language.
Los Angeles based artist Lorean Bautista or “Miss L” as called by her students, comes from an artistic lineage. At a young age, she learned photography, taking after her grandfather who owned a photo studio in the Philippines. Surrounded by a family of artists, performers, and musicians, this environment enhanced her creative language.
In 2007, she spent 4 months in Europe studying how art shapes communities and tells the history of their people. Using travel as a tool for learning, she puts education at the forefront of her experiences and truly believes in the universal healing power of art.
She earned her BA in Studio Art from Cal State University Long Beach in 2011 and has been honing her skills for over 10 years. Currently the Communications Specialist for a local city, she has designed publications, and outdoor signage, and worked with local muralists for the Paramount Paints program. In these 7 years of public service, she has assisted small businesses and local organizations with promoting goods and services that enrich the community’s quality of life.
Miss L’s past work experience includes Curatorial Research for The Muckenthaler Cultural Center in Fullerton, Museum Education as a Docent at Muzeo in Anaheim, and a Certified Art Instructor for Art Innovators and Connect Studio Space. She is also an Arts4LA Fellow for Cultural Policy, a program designed to explore public art initiatives and community strategies.
She is excited to connect My Comunidad to their community through ethical marketing practices and community art projects.
“What is done in love is done well” - Vincent Van Gogh