Aquí: The Accountability Movement has named Mayra E. Alvarez, president of The Children’s Partnership, as one of five Latine leaders to its first Latino Speakers Bureau, which will work to uplift diverse Latine voices from across the United States.
“Our stories are not just for us; they are for everyone, offering a unique perspective that enriches the world of media.”
Mayra E. Alvarez, president of The Children’s Partnership
“I am excited to join this effort in lifting up not only Latine voices but also the experiences and perspectives of Latine families,” Alvarez said. “Latine people make up the largest racial and ethnic group in California and the second-largest in the country. Our narratives reflect the diversity, vibrancy and resilience of our community, and it is crucial that these experiences – from those of the youngest of community members to the oldest – are heard and celebrated in the mainstream. Our stories are not just for us; they are for everyone, offering a unique perspective that enriches the world of media.”
The nonpartisan Aquí was founded in late 2023 by Nathaly Arriola Maurice, an experienced political strategist who served in the Biden Administration as director of partnerships, to defend against harmful disinformation and stereotypes by encouraging and developing fair and accurate portrayals of Latine people in American life.
The launch of the Latino Speakers Bureau aims to increase and amplify Latine representation in national and regional media. Aquí cites a 2021 study that revealed that Latine people constitute only 4% of media industry management, despite making up 18% of the overall U.S. workforce.
The inaugural Latino Speakers Bureau members will receive media training and other support to elevate their profiles to the national stage.
Joining Alvarez in this first cohort are Liz Rebecca Alarcón, founder of Project Pulso in Florida; Antonio Arellano, vice president of communications at NextGen America in Texas; Astrid Dominguez, executive director of Good Neighbor Settlement House in Texas; and Rudy Espinoza, executive director of Inclusive Action for the City in California.
More about Mayra E. Alvarez
Mayra E. Alvarez, MHA, is president of The Children’s Partnership, a California advocacy organization advancing child health equity through research, policy and community engagement to create a California where all children have the resources and opportunities they need to be healthy and thrive.
In 2023, she was nominated by California Gov. Gavin Newsom to serve on the Covered California Board of Directors, and in 2019, to serve on the Early Childhood Policy Council. In 2021, she was named by President Biden to the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. Since 2017, Alvarez has served on the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), nominated by Attorney General Rob Bonta in 2021 and previously by then-Attorney General Xavier Becerra in 2017.
Prior to The Children’s Partnership, Alvarez completed a several-year set of assignments at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the administration of President Barack Obama. She served as the director of the State Exchange Group for the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and led a team responsible for supporting states in the establishment of health insurance marketplaces. Previously, Alvarez served in leadership roles in the HHS offices of Minority Health and Health Reform, working on matters related to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
She completed her graduate education at the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her undergraduate education at the University of California at Berkeley. She is originally from outside San Diego, Ca., and is the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants.
