Deysi Mendez, New Board Member at Canal Alliance

We are thrilled to announce that Deysi Mendez, a Canal neighborhood local who first came to Canal Alliance as a student in our youth education programs years ago, now joins our board of directors. Deysi’s journey is one of resilience and commitment, and begins in Guatemala. 

After immigrating with her family from Guatemala to the U.S. and settling in the Canal neighborhood, she quickly became integrated into the community through Canal Alliance’s youth programs, which provided not only a safety net but a launchpad for her ambitions to attend college. 

In time, she graduated from San Rafael High School and pursued higher education with vigor, earning a B.A. in Business from the College of Mount Saint Vincent in New York in 2015. Her professional path led her to roles in accounting at prominent firms in Oakland, San Francisco, and Palo Alto, sharpening her skills in finance along the way. She now brings this wealth of knowledge to our board of directors, where she will sit on our finance committee. 

Deysi’s decision to join the board was motivated by her desire to give back, to give back to the community that offered her a foundation and a future. Deysi’s brings experience as a board member, having sat on the board ofE3: Education, Excellence & Equity, and brings a wealth of knowledge in this sector, having been involvement with the Latino Community Foundation as well. Deysi’s expertise in resource allocation, community engagement, as well as her drive to support Canal Alliance’s success will bring insight and vision to our ongoing fiscal planning and strategy.  

And Deysi’s profound connection to the Canal community is an asset as well, positioning her uniquely to create positive change in the path ahead. Deysi aims to be a voice for the community, advocating for programs and decisions that align with the immediate needs and long-term aspirations of its members. By fostering programs that reach out to immigrant children and their families, she sees an opportunity to inspire and elevate the community that once nurtured her.