Meet the Board
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Itzel Cuevas
Itzel Cuevas
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Julia Leavitt
Julia Leavitt works with relentless hustle, grit, and joy.
She brings more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit operations, grantmaking coordination, and community-based program implementation across Southeast Washington.
Julia is motivated by work that translates values of racial and geographic equity into the operational systems that shape how organizations function and how communities experience access and accountability.
She is committed to shifting power and advancing racial and geographic equity across Washington. Her work has focused on building and maintaining the systems that support equity-centered organizations in delivering clear, accountable, and accessible processes for staff and community partners.
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Christian Prado
A resident of the Walla Walla Valley for over twenty-five years, Christian’s passion for immigrant rights is shaped by his own experiences gaining citizenship.
His own network of support and resources inspired him to find ways to offer access for others. Christian is deeply interested in how technology can improve the citizenship process and hopes to use his background in IT to support WWIRC’s mission and advocacy.
Christian lives with his wife in Milton Freewater and is eager to expand the resources available in the Oregon side of the Valley.
Outside of his work, Christian enjoys Magic the Gathering, a game with a long history in the Valley, and spending time with his wife.
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Marlen Perez
As the daughter of immigrants, Marlen Pérez understands the transformative power of connection and education. She is dedicated to advancing equity through collaborative leadership, community partnerships, and advocacy for multilingual learners.
Marlen Pérez brings more than 20 years of experience in education, instructional leadership, and multilingual learner advocacy. Her lived experiences have shaped her commitment to supporting schools, educators, and families in building equitable systems that foster academic success, belonging, and opportunity for multilingual students across Washington State.
She is committed to advancing educational equity by strengthening partnerships between schools and communities, cultivating inclusive leadership, and ensuring that everyone has access to the resources and support needed to thrive. Marlen believes that lasting change happens when communities work together to create systems that honor the strengths, identities, and aspirations of every learner.
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Amanda Trejo-Perez
As a lifelong resident of the Walla Walla Valley, Amanda uses her deep involvement in the community to guide her work as Blue Mountain Action Council's Commitment to Community, Engagement Coordinator.
Her six years at BMAC have allowed her to drive the facilitation of community resources and put the needs of the community first. Amanda’s passion for amplifying stories and working with families has led her to lead workshops on finances, leadership, and lobbying. Her Leadership Council travels to Olympia once a year to advocate for community needs.
In her spare time, Amanda co-owns a small business in downtown Walla Walla with her sister. The mother of two adult children and a nine-month-old puppy, Amanda is also proud to call herself the favorite tia. Her weekends are spent escaping to the peaceful Jubilee Lake to enjoy paddle boarding with her husband.
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Future Board Member