Meet the Board
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Itzel C. Cuevas
A longtime resident of the Walla Walla Valley, Itzel is a passionate community advocate committed to advancing opportunities, resources, and support.
Her commitment to community advocacy is deeply rooted in her own life experiences. As a first-generation eldest daughter, she learned the importance of hard work, perseverance, and service from an early age. Having worked in the agricultural fields as a young person, she understands firsthand the sacrifices and challenges experienced by many immigrant and working families in the Valley.
Her professional and community experience spans healthcare, education, agricultural field work, and community advocacy. These experiences have provided her with a broad understanding of the barriers families may encounter and have strengthened her commitment to helping individuals and families access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
As a board member, she brings compassion, lived experience, dedication, and a strong commitment to building trust within the community. She believes in listening to community voices, creating meaningful connections, and serving as a bridge between individuals, organizations, and the resources available to them. Through relationship-building and advocacy, she empowers community members to navigate challenges, connect with meaningful resources, and create pathways toward greater success. Her work reflects a deep commitment to strengthening a community that continues to overcome obstacles, support one another, and rise together.
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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