Recognized Latinas

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”8489″][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Beatriz A. Trejo has been dedicated in her adult life to giving back through her career as an
attorney, and in our community.
Beatriz attended Highland High School in Bakersfield before earning her bachelor’s degree in
political science from Cal State Bakersfield and her master’s degree in political science from Cal
State Northridge. After completing her law degree from the University of Akron School of Law
in Ohio, Beatriz returned to her hometown.
Since 2015, she has been representing injured workers through her work as an associate attorney
at Chain | Cohn | Stiles, advocating for those who get hurt on the job to receive their rightful
benefits and heal. She is a Certified Legal Specialist in Workers’ Compensation and is co-chair
of California Applicants’ Attorneys Association (CAAA) Latino Caucus, which seeks to improve
workplace conditions for injured Latino workers, educating Latino workers about legal rights,
and advocating for public policy in the best interest of Latino workers. She is also the past
president of CAAA’s Bakersfield Chapter.
Relatedly, out in our community Beatriz has served on the panels of the Immigration Justice
Collaborative, which aims to educate immigrants on their constitutional rights, is a frequent
speaker for Kern County Small Business Academies, educating new business owners on work
injury laws, and serves on the CSU Bakersfield Pre-Law Advisory Committee, helping aspiring
lawyers. You can also find her on local Spanish radio stations discussing important legal issues,
and assisting local residents with their legal questions.
For her tireless work, Beatriz has been honored: Awards include:
?  “Workers’ Compensation Young Lawyer of the Year” award by the California State Bar.
? Selectee in the Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” list by Southern California Super Lawyers
Magazine, awarded to just 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in the Southern California
region. As part of the program, she was also selected to the “The Top Women Attorneys
in Southern California — Rising Stars” list.
? “Top Attorneys” selectee as voted on by local lawyers, highlighting the best lawyers in
their areas.
? 2018 “20 Under 40 People to Watch” by Bakersfield Life Magazine.
Outside of the office, Beatriz has engulfed herself in our community serving on board of
directors for charities, speaking to students, and paving the way for Latina girls in Kern County.
She served as the keynote speaker for the 2017 CSU Bakersfield “Chicano Commencement
Celebration.” She is a member of Latina Leaders of Kern County, and planning committee for
the Comprehensive Blood and Cancer Center Foundation for Community Wellness’ Cancer Run
– a cause that’s near and dear to her heart since her father passed away of cancer in 2016, and
mom diagnosed with breast cancer.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”8490″][vc_separator][vc_column_text]Claudia Catota is the Chief Diversity Officer & Special Assistant to the
President at California State University, Bakersfield.  She is a member of
the President’s Cabinet and provides strategic direction to the university’s
diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, with particular attention to the
university’s policies, practices, structures, climate, and culture.  Under her
leadership, the university has established protocols for responding to
sexual misconduct including advocacy services for survivors, secured
$300,000 in federal grant funding to develop culturally sensitive prevention
programming, and led campus efforts to establish a Dream Resource
Center to serve undocumented students.  In 2016, the students selected
Claudia as the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity
Award which is given to a faculty or staff member dedicated to promoting
unity, civility, inclusion, and diversity on the CSU Bakersfield campus.

Claudia is a dedicated public servant having spent her professional career
working for the City of Madison, Wisconsin, U.S. Department of Commerce,
and the California State University System.  She has served as a New
Leadership Academy Fellow through the University of Michigan School of
Education and American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.
Most recently she has been selected for the California State University
Executive Leadership Program and accepted on the U.S. Fulbright
Specialist roster making her eligible to matched with projects at host
institutions abroad.

Claudia is involved in the local Kern County community through her service
on the Hispanic Scholarship Fund San Joaquin Valley Advisory Council,
Women’s and Girls’ Fund Vision Committee, and the Kern County Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.  She is also a member of the
Wisconsin State Bar Association.

Claudia is the first in her family to graduate from college.  She received a
BA in African-American Studies from UCLA, a MA in Latin American
Studies from Cal State LA, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of
Wisconsin Law School.  Claudia was born and raised in Los Angeles,
California and is the proud daughter of Salvadoran immigrants.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”8491″][vc_separator][vc_column_text]The first Latina and first immigrant woman to become president of a national union in the
United States, Teresa Romero replaced Arturo S. Rodriguez as the third president of United
Farm Workers in December 2018. Formerly the union’s No. 2 officer as secretary-treasurer,
she has years of experience overseeing the complex financial management, administrative,
staff recruitment, personnel, fundraising, IT and social media operations of a far-flung
organization involved in field organizing, contract bargaining and administration,
legislative and legal affairs, and far-reaching international initiatives. Romero worked
closely with elected UFW leaders as chair of the union’s audit and finance committee. She
ran fundraising efforts that collected $1 million to build the UFW’s new state-of-the-art
10,294-square foot facility in Salinas serving the largest concentration of unionized farm
workers in the nation. Before joining the UFW, she managed a construction company and a
law firm that helped workers with immigration and workers compensation claims. Teresa
Romero is an immigrant from Mexico who is proud of her U.S. citizenship and Mexican and
Zapotecan heritage. She has played an important part in many recent successful union
efforts, is admired by her peers for her work ethic, calm competence, organizational skills,
ability to build relationships, and Si Se Puede! spirit.
For the last few months Teresa has attended several immigration negotiation meetings for
the Blue Card legislation sponsored by Congress woman Zoe Lofgren. This legislation
would give farm workers and their families a path to citizenship if they have worked and
continue to work in the agricultural industry for a certain number of years.
In May of 2019 she received the Ohtli award by the first Mexican woman ambassador in
the United States. This award is given on a yearly basis to Mexican citizens who work in the
U.S. and help promote their culture while opening paths for other Mexican nationals. As
President of the United Farm Workers she has been in discussions with the Mexican
government to help put emphasis on the dairy and agricultural industries that refuse to
hire woman. She is dedicated to change that type of atmosphere and create a system to
apply in both the U.S. and Mexico to hire woman while also helping create an environment
in which woman are no longer enduring verbal, mental and sexual abuse. Teresa is aware
and humbled by the fact that many farmworker women see themselves in her. She’s
helping pave the way and empowering women. Si Se Puede![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Past Honorees

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The following Latinas were honored and awarded for their dedication to the community at the Latinas Leading the Way Annual Dinner.

  • 2017:  Xochitl Garcia, Gabriela Murguia, Racquel Pina
  • 2016:  Isabel Bravo, Gabriela Mello, Lourdes Nilon
  • 2015:  Camila Chavez, Sylvia Picazo, Lisa Kent
  • 2014:   Natasha Felkins, Nora Dominguez, Felisa Patino
  • 2013:   Linda Quiñonez-Vaughn
  • 2012:   Aida Molina, Connie Perez, Leticia Perez, Lucy Zarate, Norma Diaz
  • 2011:   Denise Ornelas, Maria Reyes, Sarah Ketchum
  • 2010:   Kathryn Lomely, Mary Amelia Cavazos Reyna, Ramona Herrera
  • 2009:  Christina Lizardi Frazier; Laura Arredondo, Rosemary Wahl

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