Who We Are

Esmeralda Vazquez

Executive Director

Esmeralda Vazquez is a lifelong resident of the Inland Region, with humble roots stemming from L.A. Since 2005, Esmeralda has served her community as a social justice, community, education, and labor advocate. She is an Alumni from Crafton Hills College, UC San Diego, and Georgetown University, where she received her Masters in Policy Management. Having previously worked in K-12, Higher Education, and the California State Assembly, Esmeralda is now the Executive Director for the Inland Empire Labor Institute; leading the I.E.’s community-led Regional Investment Initiative known as Thrive Inland SoCal in partnership with California Jobs First, and other union-focused impact programs to empower and sustain our working families. Her goal is to obtain quality jobs and build prosperous communities for all through equitable and inclusive economic development centering disadvantaged communities, as part of California’s transition to a clean energy, carbon neutral economy. Her most important role, however, is as a mama, raising her little girl, alongside her partner.

Fatima Nelson

Workforce Development Program Manager

Fatima Nelson has over two decades of dedicated service and expertise in external engagement and program management. With a career spanning diverse fields from education to community engagement, Fatima has consistently excelled in orchestrating impactful initiatives for underserved communities. Notably, she spearheaded the organization of major community engagement events related to data, research and policy while serving as the Community Engagement Specialist for UCR’s Center for Social Innovation out of the School of Public Policy. She is currently working as the Outreach Coordinator for the Inland Empire Labor Institute. Fatima and her husband made the Inland Empire their home in 2021 along with their three school-aged children.

Daisy Lopez

Program Manager CA Jobs First Initiative

Daisy Lopez is our CA Jobs First Initiative Program Manager in relation to Thrive Inland SoCal and more. Daisy previously served as a Program Coordinator with the UDW Resource Center and a Senior Community Organizer with the Warehouse Worker Resource Center. Daisy completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Riverside.

Alicia Aguayo

Senior Marketing & Communications Strategist

Alicia Aguayo is our Senior Marketing and Communications Strategist. Previously, she worked with the People’s Collective for Environmental Justice as a Communications Manager & for a local political campaign as a Communications Director & has grown up in and has been organizing since 2010. She completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of California, Irvine, and worked for student housing at UCI in various roles, but overall gained experience in marketing. Alicia has advocated on issues of immigrations, health, education, environmental justice, and now labor. She is a mother and loves spending her free time with her family.