Joy is a 29-year-old Latina taking the leap of faith in changing her career path. Born and raised in LA, Joy is a first-generation college graduate proudly holding an M.A. in Sociology. She's committed her time to becoming an involved resident of Southern California, never wavering in her focus on serving the local community. Joy's worked and volunteered with small South Bay businesses, advocating for arts funding, working at urban farms, and coordinating programs like a monthly Food Fair. Connecting firsthand with the populace has led her back to her own passion: trade. She comes from a hard-working family of skilled tradesmen who instilled in her the diligence needed to work her way through school. Her care for others, however, was taught by incredible modeled behavior. Joy's grandfather wasn't able to read or write before starting his career operating heavy machinery and becoming a full-time crane operator at the Port of LA before his passing in 2016. He hosted a bible study in their living room, welcoming all in need, which evolved into today's active group of hundreds. Investing in our neighborhood is a concept that has bled through all facets of Joy's life, fueling her to follow in her grandfather's footsteps and make tangible community repairs. A shifting economy and demand for specialized craftsmen have encouraged Joy to courageously start over. She fuses her passions for service and technical skills in her hometown's full-time welding program. Her goal is to become a certified welder and work towards a safer LA. Any aid directly impacts her program completion.

• Advocacy
• Politics
• Volunteering
• Philanthropy
• Entrepreneurship

• Dancing

  Intramural

  2011 – 2013

• Cheerleading

  Varsity

  2011 – 2014

• Sewing Apprentice

  Local Sewing Apprenticeship · Design

  2019 – Present

• Panelist/Advocate

  Advocacy · Transfer Success Pathway (TSP) - CSUDH

  2021 – 2021

  Mission:

  To create positive and personalized support for first-year students transferring into the CSU system to promote degree completion.

• Coordinator

  Volunteering · Compound

  2024 – 2025

  Mission:

  To provide the local residents with fresh produce and live demonstrations of how to create easy, nutritious meals.

• Teacher Assistant

  Volunteering · LAUSD

  2017 – 2018

  Mission:

  To support all needs of the head Instructor for K/1 split elemental school class.

• Coordinator

  Advocacy · Compound

  2024 – 2025

  Mission:

  To secure art funding to continue hosting local art workshops for families and individuals in the Zaferia District of all ages and backgrounds.