Meet our new
Co-Executive Directors
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Greetings!

I know so many of you have been waiting for news on the new leadership team – and I am thrilled that today I have an update for you!  

In January, Casa Latina announced that we will be moving to a shared leadership model with three Co-EDs. We are excited to see how this powerful team will complement each other and collaborate to lead Casa Latina in this new chapter. Below is a short introduction to the new leadership team. Their full bios can be found here.  
Vania Adasme - Co-ED of Employment

Vania has deep political organizing experience, connecting with BIPOC and Latinx voters. Vania has worked across the country by organizing volunteers and staff to elect progressive candidates to office. To name a few candidates: Hillary Clinton, current Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, Stacey Abrams, and Lorena González who ran for Mayor here in Seattle. She went to university in NYC and Florida, where she majored in Women and Gender Studies, where her passion for community and peoples rights began.
Cariño Barragán Talancón – Co-ED of Education & Community Organizing

Cariño joined the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network in 2020, which led a coalition of organizations to secure over $440 million in economic relief funds for Washington’s undocumented, immigrant families during COVID-19.  Prior to working at WAISN she briefly worked as a community organizer for UFCW21. Lastly, she was the Worker Rights Program Manager & Community Organizer at Casa Latina from 2007 to 2018 and has always been a vocal advocate for stronger worker rights enforcement policies in WA state. 
Dr. Jessica Salvador – Co-ED of People and Organization

Jessica Salvador comes with a rich background supporting organizations in education, business, and consulting. Most recently, they led organizational strategy and implementation, human resources, and operations at the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship. As a first-generation college graduate with experience navigating various institutional contexts, Jessica is committed to collaborations with diverse communities, connecting with people while supporting learning and development, and promoting organizational effectiveness from a liberatory lens.
The decision to adopt a shared-leadership model was initiated by feedback from staff, members, the board, and community partners. Staff and members expressed a desire to have a flatter organizational structure and one that allowed the executive leadership to be more present at the worker center. During the interview process, all staff and members were invited to meet the candidates and give their feedback. I believe that our inclusive process helped us select the best candidates.
Last week, we held a “passing a baton” ceremony as we honored all the amazing work done by Interim Director Guadalupe Torres and as we welcomed the new Co-EDs. Check out Casa Latina’s Facebook and Instagram pages to see more photos.  

Bienvenidas to our new Co-EDs! 

With care,
PilarPacheco
Pilar Pacheco
Casa Latina Board President


P.S. Curious to meet the new Co-EDs? We will be hosting upcoming virtual “meet and greets” soon. Stay tuned! 
S T A Y C O N N E C T E D