Fernanda Sandoval, a proud DACA recipient born in Aguascalientes, Mexico, was brought to the U.S. as a child and raised in Romeoville, IL. As the youngest immigrant and the oldest daughter in her family, she grew up navigating the complexities of identity, responsibility, and belonging. Her lived experience as a DACA recipient fueled a lifelong commitment to advocacy, empowerment, and giving back—both to her hometown and to immigrant communities across Illinois.

Fernanda holds a B.A. in Psychology and is continuing her education to better serve her community. During her time at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, IL, she was deeply involved in campus leadership, serving in Student Government as the Student Chair for Diversity and Student Coordinator for the International Programs Office, where she fostered global engagement and inclusion.

Professionally, Fernanda has a strong background in social services and immigrant advocacy. She began as a Sexual Assault Survivor Case Manager at Guardian Angel Community Services in Joliet, IL, where she supported survivors through crisis response and legal navigation. Her work was recognized by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault (ICASA), which featured her in their November Spotlight Newsletter. She later worked at SOS Children’s Villages in Lockport, IL, under DCFS, where she was chosen for the Employee Spotlight in September 2022.

Today, Fernanda serves as Lead Case Manager at NYAP La Jornada in Naperville, IL, where she has spent the last three years advocating for unaccompanied immigrant minors and their families within the federal foster care system.

As the founder of Sueño Monarca, Fernanda channels her journey and passion into building a platform that connects immigrants to resources, mentorship, and education—ensuring that others like her have the support and tools to pursue their own dreams.

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Ariell Garcia is the proud son of immigrant parents, born in San Francisco’s historically Latino neighborhood of “La Mission” and raised in the suburbs of the Bay Area. From an early age, he was instilled with a strong work ethic—his parents often worked multiple jobs to support the family, and Ariell contributed by helping with janitorial contracts his father secured.

He was accepted into UC Berkeley but found himself unprepared for the structure and demands of the American university system. This led him to Mexico City, where he enrolled at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and earned a degree in Economics. During his time there, he deepened his connection to his heritage and built strong ties with his Mexican family and culture. While in Mexico City, he married and started a family, eventually relocating to the Chicagoland area over a decade ago and settling in Naperville.

Ariell has built a successful 25-year career in finance and banking. He has remained deeply connected to the community through mentorship, volunteerism, and active participation in employee resource groups committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As a bilingual and bicultural professional, Ariell is passionate about creating meaningful impact in immigrant communities. In his role as Treasurer on the Board of Directors at Sueño Monarca, he brings a wealth of financial expertise, business acumen, and entrepreneurial insight to support the organization’s mission and strategic objectives.

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Kailey Mullins, LCSW, brings over a decade of experience in mental health and nonprofit leadership to her role as Secretary of the Board of Directors at Sueño Monarca. Currently serving as a Program Director at Thresholds, she leads a community-based program supporting adults with serious mental illnesses on the north side of Chicago, overseeing clinical staff, managing budgets, and driving systems-level improvements. Kailey is also the founder of The Catalyst Collaborative, where she offers individual therapy grounded in relational and trauma-informed practices to folks in Illinois and North Carolina, with a strong emphasis on serving individuals navigating systemic oppression.

Kailey is passionate about advancing equity, sustainability, and opportunity for all. She is excited to bring her clinical insight, operational expertise, and commitment to culturally responsive leadership to Sueño Monarca. As Board Secretary, she hopes to contribute to organizational transparency, strengthen governance, and help amplify the voices and dreams of immigrant communities.

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Bernardo Gomez, a first-generation Latino with a disability, grew up in Belmont Cragin, on the Northwest side of Chicago. He earned a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from Loyola University Chicago and is currently pursuing a master’s in public health (MPH) at the University of Illinois Chicago. Bernardo serves as the Community Engagement Manager for the City of Chicago at the Community Safety Coordination Center (CSCC) and the Chairman of Chicago’s First Disability Employee Resource Group. Recognized by President Barack Obama, Former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and Mayor Brandon Johnson for his leadership, he was appointed to the Advisory Board of the Lohengrin Foundation. Most recently, he joined the Board of Directors at Sueño Monarca as Community Liaison Director.

Through his work for the City of Chicago, Bernardo has led various community safety initiatives, including the development of a city-wide violence prevention strategy and the formalization of the City’s first Disability Employee Resource Group. He has secured significant grant funding for disability support programs, supported community events, rapidly addressed community concerns, and coordinated high-profile events, such as the annual Disability Pride Month reception. Bernardo's work focuses on community safety, organizing, disability advocacy, youth empowerment, immigration support, and community engagement, aiming to be the bridge between community and government. He focuses on empowering marginalized communities and promotes social equity. Bernardo’s passion for public service and advocacy is driven by his personal experiences and the challenges faced by his immigrant family. He is dedicated to creating inclusive and supportive community environments where all individuals can thrive, and he continues to work toward building a more just and equitable society.

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Diana was born in El Salvador and raised between Houston, TX, and San Salvador, El Salvador, until the age of fourteen when her family relocated permanently to Houston, TX.

From a young age, Diana had a deep desire to help her community, particularly the Hispanic community. At fourteen, she decided to pursue a career in immigration law. Determined to achieve her goal, she worked hard in high school to earn scholarships for college and successfully graduated with a full ride to Prairie View A&M University.

Diana earned her Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Prairie View A&M University, graduating debt-free. She currently resides in Kingwood, TX, with her spouse and two daughters. Professionally, she works full-time at Godzina Law Firm PLLC in Houston, TX, and part-time at Brough & Resendez PLLC in Austin, TX.

Since 2023, Diana has been part of the Sueño Monarca’s Board of Directors as a Resource and Information Specialist, working remotely from Texas. In this role, she ensures that all shared information is accurate, relevant, and helpful to the community.

She is currently preparing to begin her legal studies at South Texas College of Law in Houston, TX, in the Fall of 2025, taking the next step toward her dream of advocating for immigrant communities.

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My name is Rebeca, and I have been passionately practicing Social Work for five years. Throughout my career, I have worked with diverse populations, but the Latino community remains especially close to my heart. My family is from Durango and San Luis, Mexico—both places I deeply cherish.

Currently, I serve as a bilingual therapist in private practice and reside in Illinois. I also have experience in federal foster care, working with immigrant children and advocating for their well-being.

As the Social Work Ethics Advisor, I ensure that the program adheres to the standards of practice outlined in the Social Work Code of Ethics. I have been a member of Sueño Monarca’s Board of Directors as the SWEA since 2023.

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Rachel Trujillo brings a deep passion for justice and equity to her role as a General Board Member at Sueño Monarca. A native of Chicago’s Back of the Yards and Brighton Park neighborhoods, Rachel is the proud daughter of TexMex parents and a graduate of Roosevelt University, where she studied political science with concentrations in constitutional law, international relations, public policy, and legal studies. Her personal and professional journey is rooted in advocating for historically underserved communities—especially immigrants and youth.

With a career anchored in Risk & Compliance, Rachel has worked at the intersection of financial integrity and social impact, helping to protect vulnerable populations from exploitation. She has also served as an Advisor to the Anti-Human Trafficking Intelligence Initiative (ATII), where she focused on identifying financial red flags linked to trafficking networks within FinTech platforms. Her work reflects a commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of immigrants, refugees, and those at risk.

At Sueño Monarca, Rachel contributes her strategic insight and lived experience to support programs that offer legal aid, internships, and family resources to immigrant communities. She believes in building pathways to opportunity and resilience for those who dare to dream—because every journey deserves justice.

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Alexander Valdivia, the son of immigrant parents, was raised in Plainfield, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Developmental Psychology from DePaul University and is a first-generation college graduate.

During his time at DePaul, he emerged as a student leader, serving as President of Alpha Psi Lambda, a Latino-based but not Latino-exclusive co-ed fraternity, and as External Vice President of the Multicultural Greek Council. In both roles, he focused on serving the university and surrounding communities, especially advocating for underserved populations.

Alexander currently works as a Post-Release Services/Home Study Case Manager at Heartland Human Care Services and has four years of experience in the nonprofit sector. His previous roles include serving as a Mental Health Case Manager at Association House of Chicago, a Community Outreach Worker at AgeOptions, and a Case Manager at the National Youth Advocacy Program.

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