Committees
PR and Marketing Committee
Chairs: Marco Garcia [email protected] & Daniela Lagunas [email protected]
The committee is focused on a much needed revamp of our website to keep all of our membership updated with our events and work in progress. The committee strives to actively promote the work of Latino/a/x and immigrant community organizations in the newsletter and on the website.
Additionally, the overall mission is to educate the San Diego Latino community about important legal and social issues and provide them with relevant and practical legal information. We regularly partner with other community organizations to develop and carry out programs that seek to add to the success of the San Diego Latino community. We welcome and encourage your input and partnerships to continue reaching out to Latinos of all ages and from every neighborhood in San Diego County.
Membership Committee
Chairs: Catherine Arambula [email protected], Agustin Peña [email protected] & Ana A. De Santiago Ayon [email protected]
The Membership Committee does what the name suggests- it is the Committee’s goal to attract new members to the organization and restore any members who have lapsed in membership. The Membership Committee hosts the Membership Drive Mixer every January, as well as at least two other events during the year. This Committee strives to have new members join so please do not hesitate to reach out!
Professional Development Committee
Chairs: Francisco Loayza [email protected] & Noel Meza [email protected]
This committee inspires and provides our members with tools to succeed at the highest levels of the legal profession through innovative training via CLEs that focuses on understanding issues that may be unique to our membership and assists in crafting networking, business development, and professional growth strategies that work.
Additionally, the committee strives to create meaningful mentorship relationships between law students and attorneys at all levels of practice, as well as between newer attorneys and more experienced ones. The program is designed to give both mentors and mentees new insights on the practice of law, the balance of family and professional lives, career development, office politics, and ethical dilemmas.
Community Service Committee
Chairs: Irving Pedroza [email protected], Claudia Ignacio [email protected] & Michelle Reynoso [email protected]
This committee promotes the availability of immigrant-related and other service opportunities and promotes the availability of volunteer work with Project LEAD. It also strives to work towards educating high school students and college students about careers in the legal field.
Governance Committee
Chair: Arcelia Magaña [email protected]
The main goal of this committee is to revise and keep current all governing documents related to SDLRLA.
Public Policy Committee/Endorsements Committee
Chairs: Guillermo Escobedo [email protected] & Arcelia Magaña [email protected]
The Endorsements Committee’s purpose is to ensure that the Latino community is appropriately represented throughout the San Diego community, at varying levels of political positions. The Committee will consider requests for endorsements for those running for judicial office, requests for letters of support and/or endorsements for non-partisan, local and county elected positions, such as district attorney and city attorney, as well as candidates for directors of the San Diego County Bar Board.
The Committee 1.) encourages qualified Latino and Latina attorneys to seek appointments to the bench, 2.) evaluates the qualifications and temperament of candidates seeking the endorsement and support of SDLRLA, 3.) advocates on behalf of the those candidates La Raza Lawyers has endorsed.
The Endorsement Committee consists of the Chair, four additional board members and/or general members selected by the President, and the President. Those seeking endorsements should contact the Chair, send a resume, and any other materials that the candidate would like considered by the committee. Any questions regarding the process or the committee should be directed to the Chair.
The Committee gives great weight to past and present participation and involvement in community activities, including, but not limited to Latino community organizations, that demonstrates a commitment to the values of diversity.
The Committee interviews the candidates, conducts due diligence, and makes a recommendation to the board. The board considers the recommendation of the committee, and may accept or reject the recommendation. The final decision of whether to endorse or support a candidate is made by the board.