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Who is COFEM?

Get to know us.

The Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM) is a non-profit organization aimed at creating opportunities for Latino Immigrants in North America, with a special focus in California. We are a community-based umbrella organization established by a league of  federations or groups of people who share ideas and have continually participated in efforts to improve educational, health, social, and political conditions for our communities. 

 

COFEM has defined specific themes, priorities, and the needs of greatest impact and interest to the Latino immigrant community, including binational economic development, civic participation, education, health, and organizational development.

Bi-national Economic Development

COFEM's bi-national economic development programs provide immigrants with the necessary tools to work and prosper within the context of America's complex financial and banking system. The bi-national economic programs also assist COFEM's member organizations with technical assistance to facilitate economic development projects in Mexico.

Civic Participation

COFEM's civic participation programs are aimed at strengthening the Latino community's role in the political process and ensuring that the Latino immigrant's voice is included in decision-making forums at state and federal levels in both the United States and Mexico.

Education

COFEM's educational programs are intended to increase educational opportunities for children and adults in the Latino immigrant community. A critical aspect of children's academic success is parent involvement. In recognition of this, COFEM's educational programs target the high drop-out rate of Latino students by involving parents in the educational process. COFEM also promotes early childhood education programs and initiatives.

Health

COFEM's health initiatives focus on wellness and disease prevention. The objective of these programs is to foster a culture of health and wellness and, at the same time, address the economic, educational, linguistic, and cultural barriers that affect the distribution of health services.

Organizational Development

COFEM's organizational development programs are aimed at strengthening COFEM's internal organizational structure, processes, and overall functioning. This emphasis on organizational development ensures a vibrant, resilient, and enduring organization, which in turn places COFEM in a powerful position to assist the Latino community through current and future service offerings. Moreover, as COFEM embraces additional Clubs and Mexican Federations, COFEM can play an even stronger role and wield more significant political influence on behalf of the Latino community.

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Meet the Team

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Francisco Moreno

Executive Director

Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, Francisco has resided in Los Angeles for 36 years and has 22 years of experience as a community leader and activist. He studied law at the University of Guadalajara and television production in Mexico City. Francisco became COFEM's third Executive Director in 2020.

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Sendy Hernández Orellana Barrows

Conservation Program Manager - Coachella Valley Office

Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Sendy grew up in the Coachella Valley and is a passionate advocate for land conservation, diversity, and inclusion in the outdoors. She leads the expansion of the Conservation Program by overseeing land conservation advocacy efforts and creating and implementing community educational and recreational opportunities.

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Rafael Fabian, D.V.M.

Program Assistant, Immigrant Integration - Los Angeles Office

Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, Rafael graduated from U.M.S.N.H., School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics in 1990. He migrated to the United States in 1992. Before joining COFEM and obtaining accreditation with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Rafael was a representative of Saber es Poder (SEP) at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles.

Omar Gabriel Huitzil

Program Assistant, Immigrant Integration

Los Angeles Office

Gabriel has been assisting applicants with the naturalization process for the past 15 years where he has worked and volunteered with countless non-profit organizations, law schools and colleges to help residents become US Citizens. He is currently pursuing his education at Cerritos College with an emphasis in Chicano Studies and Political Science. He is fascinated by different languages and is currently learning Korean. 

Jose Francisco Manzo

Conservation Fellow - Coachella Valley Office

Jose attended Humboldt State University in Arcata, California where he graduated with a B.A. in Native American Studies and Liberal Studies Elementary Education. Studying in the heart of the redwoods, his passion for nature and land conservation grew quickly. He assists COFEM in creating conservation advocacy through education and outdoor recreation.

Iani Molina

General Manager, Los Angeles and Coachella Office

Ianai Molina joined COFEM in March 2017 after being a continuous volunteer with the organization for four years. She is Program Manager with the Immigration Integration Program. Mrs. Molina is a DOJ-accredited representative; she assists with the application completion for DACA, I-90 renewals, and Citizenship. She continues to participate in trainings to expand her knowledge of immigration practices. Mrs. Molina attended Glendale Community College and she is currently attending Pasadena Community College to achieve certification as Social and Human Services Assistant. She is married and has a daughter attending LAUSD. These days she is volunteering with Anahuak Youth Sports Association to help in soccer practice and develop knowledge of open spaces in the community.

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Omar Pichardo

Field Organizer, Los Angeles Office

Bio and picture coming soon.

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Melissa Zepeda

Operations and Administration Coordinator

Bio and picture coming soon.

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Elia Moreno

Mental Health Program Assistant, Coachella Valley Office

Originally from Puebla Mexico and raised in the Coachella valley. She has a passion for Mental health which is why she decided to obtain her AA in Psychology from College of the Desert, she is now pursuing her BA in Psychology at California State University of San Bernardino. Her passion lies in mental health awareness within the Latin community, while trying to break the stigma that shadows it.  She believes that we can create a society that embraces and supports mental well-being and lead a way in a new era of healing and resilience among our diverse community

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Jessica Martinez

Operations and Administration Coordinator

Bio and picture coming soon.

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Yessenia Cux

Communications Coordinator

Bio and picture coming soon.

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Claudia Armenta

Immigration Integration Program Assistant, Coachella Valley

Citlali joined the team in June of 2023 and is a former volunteer and scholarship recipient at COFEM. She comes from a long bloodline of Mexica (Aztec) dancers and advocates. Her passion towards the Eastern Coachella Valley and Immigrant Dignity is the reason she became a community organizer at the age of 16. She obtained two associate degrees in Political Science from College of the Desert and Social & Behavior Science from California Indian Nations College. She holds a certification in Entrepreneurship and Non-Profit Managment from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) and a certification in Mental Health Aid from the Riverside University Health System. Currently, Armenta is working towards her accreditation with the Department of Justice and continuing her studies in Public Policies and Behavior Science at UCR. Her career goals are to grow within COFEM, become a Lawyer and Public Policy Advocate in efforts of helping the immigrant community.  

Board of Directors

Carlos Iván González, Federación de Nayaritas en Estados Unidos

President

Dr. Ilan Shapiro Strygler, AltaMed

Board Member

Idelfonso Gastelum, Fraternidad Sinaloense de California

Secretary

Xóchitl Castañeda, Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Board Member

Regina Vega, Federación de Guanajuatenses

Treasurer

Jaime Lucero, Mi Casa es Puebla (NY)

Board Member

Luis Escalera, Federación de Michoacán

Pro-Secretary

Maria Elena Serrano, 24 Hour Real Estate

Board Member

Imelda Beltran, Fraternidad Sinaloense de California

Pro-Treasurer

Francisco Moreno, Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM)

Board Member

Former Presidents and Executive Directors

Salvador Garcia, First President

Juan Moreno, Second President

Francisco Moreno, Third President

Sergio Aguirre, Fourth President

Mario Cardenas, Fifth President

Silvia Marin, Sixth President

Miguel Angel Perez, Seventh President

Carlos Gonzalez, Eighth President (Current)

Arturo Carmona, First Executive Director

Susana Bonis, Interim-Executive Director

Anabella Bastida, Second Executive Director

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