Zavier “Zavi” Borja became president of the Latino Community Association’s board of directors in April, as LCA elevated some of its newer members to leadership positons. Zavi is a first-generation Mexican-American who grew up in Central Oregon. In 2019, he founded the first local chapter of Latino Outdoors and later the nonprofit Vamonos Outside. He has worked with youth, school districts, and Bend Parks and Recreation, and currently serves as Community Relations Manager for the City of Bend.

LeeAnn O’Neill, Managing Partner at Allyship in Action, an organization that advances equality and social justice in Central Oregon, is the new board vice-president. LeeAnn was born in Korea, raised in Michigan, and practiced international commercial law in Washington D.C. before moving to Bend. Over the past decade, she has worked as a bilingual legal advocate at Saving Grace and as the bilingual family law facilitator at the Deschutes County Circuit Court.

Kinsey Martin, Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion at Bend-La Pine Schools, is the new board secretary. Kinsey grew up in Bend and earned her master’s degree in education at Oregon State University. She returned to the school district that educated her and taught students in dual language classrooms before joining the administrative team. Now she oversees programs and services for culturally- and linguistically-diverse students and families.

Chad Gilless, Principal at Stillwater Energy, is now board treasurer. Chad grew up in Texas and studied business and Spanish at the University of Houston. He collaborated with energy experts in Latin America and now leads a consulting firm that helps organizations manage their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Chad and his family moved to Central Oregon from Portland in 2020 and he seeks closer ties with the Latino community here.

LCA thanks outgoing board president Liliana Cabrera and secretary Verenice Alvarez-Sanchez for their years of board service and advocacy for Central Oregon’s Latino community.

About Latino Community Association

Since 2000, the Latino Community Association (LCA) has been empowering Latino families and children and building bridges across cultures to create a more resilient Central Oregon.  In partnership with caring individuals, businesses, community organizations and public agencies, LCA remains committed to ensuring full participation of Latinos in our communities. Programs of LCA include: Workforce Education and Training, Family Empowerment, Healthy Families, Youth Rising and Cultural Enrichment. Its services impact more than 8,000 people every year. For more information or to join LCA, visit www.latinocommunityassociation.org or call 541.382.4366.