Board of Directors

Tricia Schwennesen - Board Chair
Conexion - Editor, San Antonio Express-News

Tricia Schwennesen is the Conexion Editor at San Antonio Express-News and has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. Board chairwoman for the Martinez Street Women's Center and is Board chairwoman of the Media Justice League - a diverse group of folks interested and working for media justice, collaborating with other community groups; and strategically using all aspects of music, media, and technology at the grassroots level. 

Marisol Perez - Secretary
Immigration Attorney, De Mott, Mc Chesney, Curtrige, Armendariz
Marisol L. Pérez is a native of San Angelo, Texas. She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from the University of Texas-San Antonio and her law degree from St. Mary’s School of Law, where she received the Richard Green Spirit of Social Justice Award in recognition of her clinical work on behalf of low-income people in San Antonio and South Texas.

Natalie Barajas
Public Information Officer, Palo Alto College

Lisa Cortez-Walden, PhD
Executive Director of Atta Girl Productions
Lisa Cortez Walden, Ph.D. received her B.A. in Theatre from Mount Holyoke College, her Master's in Communications from St. Mary's University, and her Ph.D. in Culture, Literacy, and Language from the University of Texas at San Antonio. For six years, she toured as the resident actress for El Teatro de la Esperanza.  In addition, she has worked with organizations such as The City of Austin, The City of San Antonio, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
 

Angela Seagraves
Community Organizer
I was born and raised on the southside of San Antonio. As an adult, I've lived in California, Kansas, and Utah, before coming back to San Antonio to start my own family. I am a community advocate involved with my local church and I enjoy volunteering and serving on the board for the Martinez Street Womens Center. 

Belen Puleo-Scheppke, RN, MPH
Independent Evaluator, Continuum Research, Inc.

Councilwoman Ivy R. Taylor
SA City Council Member, University of Texas -SA Faculty
Ms. Taylor began her career working for the City of San Antonio in the Housing and Community Development Department and the Neighborhood Action Department. While at the City, she worked with a variety of neighborhood associations, developers and nonprofit organizations in order to facilitate inner city redevelopment. She also planned several of the City's Housing Summits which provided an opportunity for community partners to exchange practical ideas on how to address our city's housing needs. After six years, she left employment with the City of San Antonio to become a Vice President at Merced Housing Texas. At Merced, she worked to create and implement programs focused on children, education, health and financial literacy for apartment community residents. Councilwoman Taylor is a lecturer at UTSA in the Public Administration Department.Ms. Taylor obtained a Master's Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1998. In 1992, she received a Bachelor's Degree from Yale University

Diana Reyes 
Director of Development/Family Endeavors 
Ms. Reyes is the Director of Development for Family Endeavors. She has over twelve years of local non-profit experience including the completion of two multi-million dollar capital campaigns. She is responsible for coordinating and implementing strategies to develop and cultivate donors to support the organization. Diana also plans and coordinates all development activities, major fundraising events and special projects. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1995. Prior to working in the non-profit sector, Diana raised funds for political candidates throughout the state of Texas.

Brian C. Dillard
Born and raised in the Wheatley Courts neighborhood of East San Antonio, Brian is a 2001 graduate of Sam Houston High School. After eight years in the United States Air Force, Brian was able return to San Antonio in 2009 and began serving his community immediately. Brian has spent countless hours coordinating with PTA officials, neighborhood associations, local businesses, local government officials, school board officials, etc. to push for a more effective education system in our communities; all while maintaining a full-time position in the Air Force. Brian is a former Sam Houston High School PTSA officer, currently serves on the District 2 Education Accountability Committee, and has recently been selected to head the San Antonio NAACP Education Committee. Brian has received a B.S. in Political Science from Ellis University and an A.A.S. in Information Systems Technology from the Community College of the Air Force.