Anna Lisa is a lead organizer for CNC Education Fund in Coachella Valley. She is part of the AB 617 Eastern Coachella Valley Community Steering Committee, working to identify air monitoring and emission reduction plans in the Valley. In addition, she is examining the health impacts of short-term repeated exposure to wildfire smoke in the unincorporated communities of eastern Riverside County with the University of California, Irvine. She also helps oversee the Lift To Rise Resident Leadership Table, increasing civic engagement in support of affordable housing.
During the 2021-22 redistricting process, Anna Lisa engaged over 100 residents in the City of Indio. As a result of her outreach and engagement, dozens of community members created the Indio Residents United/Residentes de Indio Unidos map, attended hearings, and provided public testimony.
Anna Lisa grew up in the small rural community of Thermal, located in the Eastern Coachella Valley. At a young age, she learned about the importance of service to others, a commitment that has only continued to blossom. Anna Lisa’s love of community and passion for advancing the greater good and social justice led her to join CNC Education Fund’s creation in 2011 as a founding board member.
Before CNC Education Fund, Anna Lisa was managing director at Poder Popular of the Eastern Coachella Valley, where she oversaw educational projects and community health and advocacy efforts in the region. She is also a previous school board member of the Coachella Valley Unified School District. Her political acumen, experience engaging community members, and supporting volunteer Promotores Comunitarios have made her an integral team member.
Anna Lisa is a certified medical Qigong instructor and earned her Bachelor of Science in Political Science and Anthropology from the University of California, Irvine.