Carmen Perez-Jordan

Carmen Perez-Jordan co-founded Poderistas in 2020 and currently holds the position of Co-Founder. Prior to this, they served as CEO & President and Executive Director at The Gathering for Justice from 2008 to the present. At The Gathering, they utilized Kingian nonviolence as a social application for change and civic engagement, while also providing direct services, engaging artists and cultural leaders, and organizing in local and national communities for racial equity. Carmen Perez-Jordan was also a National Co-Chair & Co-Founder of Women's March starting in 2016. In 2013, they co-founded Justice League NYC, a task force of The Gathering For Justice, with the goal of reforming the criminal and social justice system in New York City and State. Carmen previously worked as a Bilingual Probation Officer at Santa Cruz County Probation Department from 2006 to 2008, as well as in various roles at Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos and Youth Community Restoration Project.

Carmen Perez-Jordan completed their Associate of Arts (AA) degree from Oxnard College during the period of 1995-1998. Carmen further pursued their education at the University of California, Santa Cruz from 1999 to 2001, where they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Psychology.