California Census Office – Outreach Biographies
Quintilia Ávila
Quintilia Ávila is the Regional Program Manager - Southern California Lead for the California Complete Count - Census 2020, based in Los Angeles. Quintilia was a team member of the California Complete Count Census Campaign in 2000. Quintilia brought knowledge of historically undercounted populations, such as immigrant communities to the State’s Census outreach efforts. As an immigrant herself, she understands the fear some Californians have of government. Quintilia brought experience and knowledge as a Research Administrator managing more than $5 million in medical research grants at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. During her 15 years at USC, she honed her expertise in project administration, resource and staff management, people skills, and cultural competence, including complete biliterate capacity in Spanish. Quintilia received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California.
Yumi Sera
Yumi Sera is the Regional Program Manager – Northern California Lead for the California Complete Count - Census 2020. In this role, she coordinates regional outreach activities in Northern California. She has over 20 years of experience working with philanthropy and social justice and human rights organizations, in managing diverse partnerships and designing strategic frameworks and evaluation systems. Prior to this, she served as the Director for Strategic Partnerships and Communication with the Disability Rights Fund. She has also managed global programs at the World Bank, focusing on civic engagement and Indigenous Peoples rights. She has a certificate from the International Program for Development Evaluation Training. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer from Senegal, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, is a Trustee of the World Affairs Council of Northern California and Chair of World Affairs Sacramento. Yumi has a master’s from the Yale School of Management and a bachelor’s from Lewis and Clark College.
Emilio Vaca
Emilio Vaca is the Regional Program Manager - Central California Lead for the California Complete Count - Census 2020, based in Sacramento. Emilio specializes in coalition building, civic engagement, field operations and campaign management, working with trade associations, non-profit organizations and labor. Emilio spent 10 years working in the non-profit sector and the labor movement. In 2010, Emilio was named Citizen of the Year by the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce in recognition for his work in the community and leadership in growing North Tahoe Family Resource Center. His prior experience includes serving as Development Coordinator with the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, an organizer with SEIU International, and as a public affairs and communications consultant. Emilio has also served on several boards and commissions some of which include the North Tahoe Business Association, Latino Leadership Council and North Tahoe Regional Advisor Council for Placer County Board of Supervisor Jennifer Montgomery. He received a bachelor’s in Political Science from Sierra Nevada College.
Marcy Kaplan
Marcy Kaplan is the Sector Outreach Manager for the California Complete Count - Census 2020, working out of Los Angeles. Marcy has more than 10 years of experience working with public, private and charitable sectors. Most recently, as the Grant Writer for the Mar Vista Family Center, Marcy oversaw all foundation grants and outreach. In her previous role as Program Officer at MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, she managed the organization’s advocacy grantmaking portfolio and provided advocacy and leadership development training to grantees. In addition, as the Director of the California Participation Project, Marcy brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to help launch the project and develop a pipeline for voter participation, education and community engagement. Marcy has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a master’s in Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles. Marcy is also a Recreation and Parks Commissioner for the city of Santa Monica.
Mignonne Pollard
Mignonne Pollard is the Education Outreach Manager for the California Complete Count - Census 2020, based in Sacramento. For six years she was an Education Programs Consultant working with after-school providers in Los Angeles. She worked as the Assistant Director of Programs, Policy, and Outreach for the University of California’s 4-H Statewide Youth Development Program located at UC Davis. As the 4-H Assistant Director, she led national and statewide teams in efforts to improve cultural awareness and curriculum design. She was Senior Education Equity Specialist at Brown University, working with teachers, principals, and superintendents to implement policies focused on preventing discrimination based on gender, race, language, age, sex, or national origin. She is a member of the National Speaker’s Association and a Distinguished Toastmaster. She has a doctorate in Education Administration, Social Policy and Planning from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. She has a master’s in Urban Affairs and Policy Analysis from New School University in New York City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish/Latin American Studies, from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida.
Cecil C. Flournoy III
Cecil Flournoy is a Regional Program Manager in Los Angeles for the California Complete Count - Census 2020. A Los Angeles native, his career began with the county of Los Angeles, in the Community Development Commission administering Redevelopment Project Areas and Economic Development Incentive Zones. In 2001, Cecil was appointed to the city of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office of Economic Development on the Business Team as the Regional Manager for South Los Angeles. Cecil served in this capacity for two Mayoral administrations. He also worked for the city of Los Angeles in the Department of City Planning on the Mobility Element, which included multiple light rail projects. Cecil worked in Redevelopment, Housing & Economic Development for the city of Carson for more than 10 years and most recently served as Director of Housing and Grant programs for the city of Inglewood. Cecil earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Morehouse College, a master’s in Urban Planning & Development from the University of Southern California and attended Thunderbird School of Global Management in the Executive Master of Business Administration Program.
Connie Hernandez
Connie Hernandez is a Regional Program Manager for San Diego and Imperial Counties and the Deputy Tribal Liaison for the California Complete Count - Census 2020. She has devoted her time in San Diego County to multiple organizations, including as an Administrator for the Make A Wish Foundation, a founding board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities, VP of Community Relations for Chavez & Associates, VP of Marketing & Public Relations for MAAC Project, and a Partnership Specialist for Census 2010 specializing in the Spanish-speaking hard-to-count communities. She received an Associates of Art degree and minored in Philosophy and Theology from the University of San Diego, College for Women. Connie has received numerous awards for her community work including, Partners for Prevention Community Service Award; Hispanic Publishers Superior Achievement Award for Latinas in the Media; and Democratic Central Committee of San Diego Community Service Award.
Irving Pacheco
Irving Pacheco is a Regional Program Manager in Los Angeles for the California Complete Count - Census 2020. He previously worked for Assembly members Marco A. Firebaugh and Rudy Bermudez, Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, and Congressmember Ted Lieu. Irving also serves as a sergeant in the California Army National Guard, providing leadership and crisis response during natural catastrophes including the Carr Fire in Shasta and Trinity counties and the Santa Barbara mud slides. He has advocated for environmental justice and serves on the board of the Century Center for Economic Opportunity Youthbuild. He also serves as a Planning Commissioner for the city of Huntington Park. Irving received a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Redlands, a bachelor’s in Political Science from San Diego State University and a certificate of Real Estate Development from the University of Southern California Ross Minority Program.
Sara Pol-Lim
Sara Pol-Lim is a Regional Program Manager in Los Angeles for the California Complete Count - Census 2020. She joined the State’s Census outreach campaign in October 2018, bringing knowledge of historically undercounted populations, such as immigrant and refugee communities. A refugee herself, she understands the fear some California residents have of government. Sara was Executive Director of the United Cambodian Community (UCC) of Long Beach from 2007 to 2015. She broke the cultural barrier to become the first Cambodian Woman to lead the UCC back to sustainability. In 2018, Sara has a doctorate degree in Educational Leadership at California State University, Long Beach. Through her community work, Sara has received awards from numerous organizations, including the NAACP Long Beach Branch, the state Assembly and Los Angeles County Supervisorial District 4.
Mai Thao
Mai Thao is a Regional Program Manager based in Fresno for the California Complete Count - Census 2020. As the daughter of refugees and a first-generation Hmong American born and raised in Fresno, she witnessed her family’s struggles, which fueled her passion for helping immigrant and underserved populations. Thao previously served as the Lead Political Community Organizer for SEIU Local 521, then transitioned to expand the grassroots non-profit Hmong Innovating Politics from Sacramento to Fresno in 2017 by serving as their Central Valley Civic Engagement Director. Currently, she serves on various community advisory boards and steering committees including: California Hmong Advocates Network – Building Our Future For Peace Collaborative, Central Valley Partnership, Central California Asian Pacific Islander Women, Fresnoland, The People’s Dispensary- Fresno, ABC 30 Action News- KFSN Fresno and Central Valley News, and Fresno County Legal Defense Fund. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley with a dual major in Ethnic Studies and Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies.
David Tucker
David Tucker is a Regional Program Manager for the California Complete Count – Census 2020. He has worked for the California State Assembly, and U.S. Congress and reinforced and validated with his work in the private sector, championing social, economic and education reform issues in Bay Area communities. David’s roots are grounded in a culture that embraces collaboration while challenging individuals to think strategically and execute with purpose. During his undergraduate years at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where he studied Political Science, he laid the foundation for his community activism by helping to charter Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated on campus and serving on the executive leadership team, and as an active participant in Associated Student Government activities to create a multi-cultural center on campus.
Patricia Vazquez Topete
Patricia Vazquez-Topete is a Regional Program Manager for the California Complete Count – Census 2020. She moved to the United States from Mexico at age 12 and was an English-language learner. She has worked on national human rights policy at the Washington Office on Latin America. Patricia worked on immigration outreach from a faith-based perspective with World Relief and has worked as an Outreach Admissions Counselor serving first-generation Latino and immigrant students in the Central Valley. Most recently, she worked as an Executive Fellow at the Labor and Workforce Development Agency, working on the development of projects affecting English-language learners, immigrants, refugees and farmworkers across the state. She received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Fresno Pacific University and a graduate certificate in applied policy and government from Sacramento State University.
Carlos Omar Beltran
Carlos Beltran is a Regional Program Manager for the California Complete Count - Census 2020. Before joining the California Complete Count Office, Carlos served as an Executive Fellow in the California Secretary of State’s Office where he helped oversee the California Students Vote project and the implementation of the California University and College Ballot Bowl. He also has a background in working with immigration non-profits and has accreditation by the Board of Immigration Appeals that allows him to assist undocumented individuals in immigration proceedings before the Department of Homeland Security. Carlos obtained a dual bachelor’s in Political Science and Ethnic Studies from California State University, Fullerton and a master’s in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles.