Meet our Team: Tim
My Journey
Every person has their own story. Every person has their own hardships that have shaped who they are today. This is what makes us unique. I grew up in a working-class household in South Los Angeles. I was solely surrounded by Black and Brown people. I was mostly sheltered growing up until I lost my mother at the age of 10 due to breast cancer. She did so much for us - so much that I was unaware of at that time. Even in her care for us, I saw the pain and harm others in my community were going through. I saw first-hand the impact of incarceration, foster care, housing insecurity, and poverty.
As I became older, I further realized that these systems did not impact everyone equally: people of color and women face so many more challenges. My eyes became even more open during my educational journey from high school to UCLA to becoming a middle and high school teacher in communities with low socioeconomic status. These experiences impacted my life’s trajectory and are the motivation for why I do the work I do now. I support districts and schools across California to improve systems and outcomes for all students in hopes of achieving a more equitable school experience. This is not just work for me, but truly a passion.
Why This Work Matters
The power imbalance that women and people of color experience in our country has created significant inequitable outcomes. The lack of resources and support has led to a culture of exclusion and resulted in a variety of political, social, and economic barriers. It has led to voices being silenced because the opinions and perspectives of women and people of color are not considered. It has led to the perpetuation of harm, as so many women are navigating systems like poverty, incarceration, housing security, or foster care. Until significant changes are made, generations of harm will continue to exist. But by elevating their voices, views, opinions, experiences, and decision-making power, true change can happen - and there is great power in that.
My “Why”
As a husband, I have witnessed my wife work twice as hard in her career to have her voice heard. As a former teacher, I have seen my female students’ experiences invalidated by others within the very system that is supposed to support them. Even with the amount of resilience and determination they possess, the system sets them up for failure. And as a father to a four-year-old girl of color, I fear for her as she navigates a world that is set up to silence her - a world that is unfair and unjust. This work matters to me personally because of them. While work is being done, so much more is needed to increase opportunities for women across all groups in society. This is why Paco’s work is needed.
The Vision for Change
Paco Leadership Collective aims to change the narrative and improve outcomes for all women, including those who are systems-impacted, but the work does not just benefit them; it benefits all members of our society. A world in which all voices are heard and represented starts with equipping and empowering women and ensuring economic justice so they can be full participants and leaders in our society.
