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Meet the Team
Esmeralda Garcia
Executive Director
Esmeralda Garcia (she, her, Ella) is an indigenous Ñuu Savii (Mixteca) born and raised by indigenous migrant parents in Ensenada, Baja California. She graduated from California State University Monterey Bay in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish-Latin American Literature. Esmeralda leads several cultural projects that strive to raise awareness about the importance of healing, empowerment, and justice through ancestral traditional arts and culture.
Esmeralda's community involvement began at the age 14, she volunteered for Radio Bilingue in the programs La hora Mixteca and Gritos de Silencio, a Spanish rock music program. Then in 2006, she co-founded and coordinated Red de Resistencia Cultural, a youth group in Brooklyn, NY, focused on developing international cultural awareness.
Returning to Santa Maria in 2008, she co-founded CE’ENI, a collective of Indigenous youth dedicated to bringing sociopolitical and cultural consciousness focusing on empowering Indigenous youth to preserve their cultural identity.
Currently, she is a Comite Guelaguetza Popular board member in Santa Maria, CA. Esmeralda is also part of Danza Xiuhcoatl, where she practices her ancestral cultural heritage through danza ceremonies.
Esmeralda Garcia hopes to bring a fresh critical perspective and community engagement to the Corazón del Pueblo organization, which focuses on bringing healing and wellness through a dignified, equitable, accessible art and culture center.
Janet Guzman
Youth and Family Engagement Coordinator
Janet, whose pronouns are she/her/ella, is an indigenous youth from the Mixtec community and a first-generation college student. She is deeply passionate about fostering safe spaces for youth like herself. Janet aims to build a welcoming community and team where members can support each other in healing through art and connecting with their cultural roots. Committed to social justice, she strives to end all forms of oppression within her community. Through her artistic endeavors, Janet seeks to bring ideas to life and grow and heal alongside her community.
Helen Yanez
Art Program Manager
Helens whose pronouns are she, her, Ella, is a distinguished freelance artist and illustrator whose practice spans the counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, Yanez relocated to the Central Coast of California at twelve. Her artistic oeuvre serves as a heartfelt homage to her heritage, focusing on the vibrant aspects of Mexican, Purépecha, and Chicano culture. Through her illustrations, she celebrates the richness of this culture, capturing everything from significant locales to influential figures.
Aurelia Sanchez
Community Outreach and Event Coordinator
Aurelia Sanchez, Community Outreach and Event Coordinator, pronouns She, her, Ella is an Indigenous woman from Cerro del Aire, Coicoyán de las Flores, Santiago Juxtlahuaca, Oaxaca, México. Fluent in Mixteco, Spanish, and English, Aurelia’s deep connection to her community drives her advocacy and work. Currently a student at Allan Hancock College, Aurelia's journey began in her youth when she worked as an interpreter, helping her family navigate hospital appointments, school meetings, and other essential interactions. She also assisted her peers, facilitating communication with teachers and counselors to ensure they had access to the needed resources and support.
