Council of Trustees
Source: https://www.dignidad.org/council-of-trustees
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:09
Council of Trustees
Council of Trustees
Semillas’ Council of Trustees embodies the legal decision-making authority of the organization and is charged with executing the mission and vision of the organization and charter schools and honoring the proposals generated in the Governance Assemblies and by faculty. The Council of Trustees holds four regular meetings per year and special meetings as needed.
2025-2026 Calendar Meetings
UPCOMING MEETING AGENDA:
Zoom link
Download Agenda
Council of Trustees Agendas 2025-2026
Council of Trustees Agendas 2024-2025
Council of Trustees Agendas 2023-2024
Council of Trustees Agendas 2022-2023
Council of Trustees Agendas 2021-2022
Council of Trustees Agendas 2020-2021
Council of Trustees Agendas 2019-2020
Council of Trustees Agendas 2018-2019
Council of Trustees Agendas 2017-2018
Council of Trustees Agendas 2015-2016
AIUP Consejo (Board) Agendas
Semillas Community Schools- Consejo (Board) of Meeting Agendas
The following lists Council members currently serving:
Dr. Irene Vásquez
President, Co-Founder of Semillas, Chair of the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department at the University of New Mexico
ivasquez@dignidad.org
Dr. Irene Vasquez received her Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has served as a member of the Council of Trustees since 2002. Some of her publications and editorial works include: “Chicana/o Movement,” New Dictionary of the History of Ideas (2004) and “Afro Latino Influences,” Encyclopedia Latina (2004). Dr. Vasquez held the position of Chair of the Chicana/o Studies Department at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Currently, she is Director of the Chicano Hispano Mexicano Studies Program at the University of New Mexico. She is an Associate Professor in American Studies.
Dr. Reynaldo F. Macías
Treasurer, Professor, Chicana and Chicano Studies, UCLA
rfmacias@dignidad.org
Dr. Macias was an undergraduate student at UCLA in the late 1960's. He was part of a student group that led the effort to establish a research center and academic program in Chicano Studies, and later became the first graduate student Chair of MEChA at UCLA. Nearly thirty years later, he is the newly appointed chair of the Ceasar Chavez Center for Interdisciplinary Instruction of Chicana and Chicano Studies. A prominent education and sociolinguistics scholar, Macias specializes in bilingual education, educational history and policy analysis, literacy, language demography, teacher preparation and multicultural curricular education. He has written on Chicanos in higher education, bilingualism, language minorities, and the changing demographics in the schools. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Macias was a Professor of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara and director of the nine-campus University of California Linguistic Minority Research Institute. Macias hopes to bring international prominence to the Chavez Center by supporting the country's premier program in Chicano studies.
Dr. Ernesto Colin
Professor, Loyola Marymount University
ecolin@dignidad.org
Ernesto Colín is an Assistant Professor in the Specialized Program in Urban Education at Loyola Marymount University. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in the Anthropology of Education. He has also studied at Loyola Marymount University.
Ramon Avila
Council of Trustees Board member
ravila@dignidad.org
Ramon Avila brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of technology, art, and design to the Anawakalmekak (Semillas del Pueblo) board. As a seasoned Web Developer and Graphic Designer, he has spent his career building digital experiences that are not only visually compelling but also structurally sound. With a strong focus on backend logic and user interface, his recent work in mobile app development has focused on creating accessible tools. Beyond code and canvas, Ramon is deeply committed to community organizing and education. His most important role is as a dedicated parent within the Anawakalmekak community. Living the mission daily, he has a firsthand understanding of the school's needs, the beauty of its indigenous-centered curriculum, and the strengths of its students. As a board member, he is committed to ensuring the school not only preserves its foundational values but also evolves through sustainable, tech-forward strategies that serve the families and youth for generations to come.
Arturo Rojas
Council of Trustees Board member
arojas@dignidad.org
Bio to follow.
Gypsie Vasquez-Ayala
Council of Trustees Board member
gayala@dignidad.org
Bio to follow.
Posthumous Board Members:
Dr. Juan Gómez Quiñones
Posthumous Emeritus Board Member, Co-Founder, Professor, Department of History, University of California, Los Angeles
Dr. Juan Gomez-Quiñones specialized in the fields of political, labor, intellectual and cultural history. He earned a B.A. in literature, M.A. in Latin-American Studies and a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles, where served as Professor of History. Professor Gomez-Quiñones as active in higher education, cultural promotion and Chicano Studies efforts. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and pursued his research at the University of Texas. He trained in social analysis at the Newberry Library Community History Program, Chicago. Dr. Gomez-Quiñones was co-editor of “Aztlan, International Journal of Chicano Studies Research” and served as President of the Council of Trustees for Semillas Sociedad Civil at Anawakalmekak. Dr. Juan Gómez Quiñones transitioned to the long life on November 11, 2020.
(323) 352-3148
4736 Huntington Dr South, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Follow Us!
CONTACT US
ENROLL NOW
IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) CIVIL RIGHTS REGULATIONS AND POLICIES, THIS INSTITUTION IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCRIMINATING ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, (INCLUDING GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION), DISABILITY, AGE, OR REPRISAL, OR RETALIATION FOR PRIOR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVITY.
Copyright © 2023 Anawakalmekak
Council of Trustees
Semillas’ Council of Trustees embodies the legal decision-making authority of the organization and is charged with executing the mission and vision of the organization and charter schools and honoring the proposals generated in the Governance Assemblies and by faculty. The Council of Trustees holds four regular meetings per year and special meetings as needed.
2025-2026 Calendar Meetings
UPCOMING MEETING AGENDA:
Zoom link
Download Agenda
Council of Trustees Agendas 2025-2026
Council of Trustees Agendas 2024-2025
Council of Trustees Agendas 2023-2024
Council of Trustees Agendas 2022-2023
Council of Trustees Agendas 2021-2022
Council of Trustees Agendas 2020-2021
Council of Trustees Agendas 2019-2020
Council of Trustees Agendas 2018-2019
Council of Trustees Agendas 2017-2018
Council of Trustees Agendas 2015-2016
AIUP Consejo (Board) Agendas
Semillas Community Schools- Consejo (Board) of Meeting Agendas
The following lists Council members currently serving:
Dr. Irene Vásquez
President, Co-Founder of Semillas, Chair of the Chicana and Chicano Studies Department at the University of New Mexico
ivasquez@dignidad.org
Dr. Irene Vasquez received her Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has served as a member of the Council of Trustees since 2002. Some of her publications and editorial works include: “Chicana/o Movement,” New Dictionary of the History of Ideas (2004) and “Afro Latino Influences,” Encyclopedia Latina (2004). Dr. Vasquez held the position of Chair of the Chicana/o Studies Department at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Currently, she is Director of the Chicano Hispano Mexicano Studies Program at the University of New Mexico. She is an Associate Professor in American Studies.
Dr. Reynaldo F. Macías
Treasurer, Professor, Chicana and Chicano Studies, UCLA
rfmacias@dignidad.org
Dr. Macias was an undergraduate student at UCLA in the late 1960's. He was part of a student group that led the effort to establish a research center and academic program in Chicano Studies, and later became the first graduate student Chair of MEChA at UCLA. Nearly thirty years later, he is the newly appointed chair of the Ceasar Chavez Center for Interdisciplinary Instruction of Chicana and Chicano Studies. A prominent education and sociolinguistics scholar, Macias specializes in bilingual education, educational history and policy analysis, literacy, language demography, teacher preparation and multicultural curricular education. He has written on Chicanos in higher education, bilingualism, language minorities, and the changing demographics in the schools. Prior to returning to his alma mater, Macias was a Professor of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara and director of the nine-campus University of California Linguistic Minority Research Institute. Macias hopes to bring international prominence to the Chavez Center by supporting the country's premier program in Chicano studies.
Dr. Ernesto Colin
Professor, Loyola Marymount University
ecolin@dignidad.org
Ernesto Colín is an Assistant Professor in the Specialized Program in Urban Education at Loyola Marymount University. He received his Ph.D. from Stanford University in the Anthropology of Education. He has also studied at Loyola Marymount University.
Ramon Avila
Council of Trustees Board member
ravila@dignidad.org
Ramon Avila brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of technology, art, and design to the Anawakalmekak (Semillas del Pueblo) board. As a seasoned Web Developer and Graphic Designer, he has spent his career building digital experiences that are not only visually compelling but also structurally sound. With a strong focus on backend logic and user interface, his recent work in mobile app development has focused on creating accessible tools. Beyond code and canvas, Ramon is deeply committed to community organizing and education. His most important role is as a dedicated parent within the Anawakalmekak community. Living the mission daily, he has a firsthand understanding of the school's needs, the beauty of its indigenous-centered curriculum, and the strengths of its students. As a board member, he is committed to ensuring the school not only preserves its foundational values but also evolves through sustainable, tech-forward strategies that serve the families and youth for generations to come.
Arturo Rojas
Council of Trustees Board member
arojas@dignidad.org
Bio to follow.
Gypsie Vasquez-Ayala
Council of Trustees Board member
gayala@dignidad.org
Bio to follow.
Posthumous Board Members:
Dr. Juan Gómez Quiñones
Posthumous Emeritus Board Member, Co-Founder, Professor, Department of History, University of California, Los Angeles
Dr. Juan Gomez-Quiñones specialized in the fields of political, labor, intellectual and cultural history. He earned a B.A. in literature, M.A. in Latin-American Studies and a Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Los Angeles, where served as Professor of History. Professor Gomez-Quiñones as active in higher education, cultural promotion and Chicano Studies efforts. He was awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship and pursued his research at the University of Texas. He trained in social analysis at the Newberry Library Community History Program, Chicago. Dr. Gomez-Quiñones was co-editor of “Aztlan, International Journal of Chicano Studies Research” and served as President of the Council of Trustees for Semillas Sociedad Civil at Anawakalmekak. Dr. Juan Gómez Quiñones transitioned to the long life on November 11, 2020.
(323) 352-3148
4736 Huntington Dr South, Los Angeles, CA 90032
Follow Us!
CONTACT US
ENROLL NOW
IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAW AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) CIVIL RIGHTS REGULATIONS AND POLICIES, THIS INSTITUTION IS PROHIBITED FROM DISCRIMINATING ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEX, (INCLUDING GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION), DISABILITY, AGE, OR REPRISAL, OR RETALIATION FOR PRIOR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVITY.
Copyright © 2023 Anawakalmekak