From Rural Mexico to Tech Advocate: Karla’s Journey of Resilience, Representation, and Inspiration 

Karla is pictured alongside a group of individuals who identify as Latino, Latina or LatinX at the NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

Karla, Canal Alliance’s Salesforce Analyst, is an inspiring advocate for equity, education, and community support. Born and raised in a rural community in Mexico, where educational opportunities for women were scarce and early marriage was the norm, Karla has defied her own expectations. She became one of the few women in her hometown to graduate from high school, and the first to earn a master’s degree. Now, with expertise in managing community programs, Karla is deeply committed to creating systems that support underserved populations. 

According to Karla, while she has always been determined, Canal Alliance has played a critical role in her journey. Starting as a volunteer in the food pantry while attending Dominican University of California in 2018, Karla quickly moved into an internship position. In her capacity as an intern, Karla worked with the Policy Advocacy & Civic Engagement (PACE) and the marketing team on the 2020 census efforts and the development of a Canal Alliance app. Karla was then hired worked as a navigator and supervisor across Social Services (Rental Assistance) and Community Education (English & Citizenship). Her leadership skills, ever present, continued to shine through as she ran citizenship classes and began training one-on-one with a Salesforce consultant. 

Karla’s hunger for learning and propensity for problem-solving led her to a promotion 2024 as a Salesforce Analyst in the Information & Technology (IT) department, where, by her own account, she continues to grow. Recently, she was invited to NTEN’s Nonprofit Technology Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, where she was invited as a panelist. Karla presented a session on eradicating imposter syndrome in data and tech—a topic she deeply relates to as a woman of color in her industry. 

Reflecting on the conference, Karla shared her pride to be there as a presenter, her hope to see more Latina representation at future iterations of the same event, and for Latino culture to be represented in conversations about AI and tech.  

Karla is quick to acknowledge the tremendous value of her voice in this space, and in the role she can play in creating visibility and positive change. At the conference she began a conversation with NTEN’s Equity & Accountability Director to advocate for more Latino representation, and to talk about the importance of inclusion.  

Karla also took it upon herself to speak to the room during lunch, saying, “I am Karla from Canal Alliance. I identify as Latina, and I would love to see my Latino community out here. If anyone identifies as Latina, Latino, LatinX, then come to the stage. I want to meet you and would love to take a picture together!”  

Out of the 1,800 attendees, Karla says that 16 people came to the stage. While not the numbers she was hoping for, Karla says she remains hopeful for the future, and is increasingly aware of her ability to bring representation and awareness to spaces where decisions about the future of technology, such as Artificial Intelligence, are being made. 

Looking ahead, Karla says, “AI has the power to enhance and streamline our work, giving staff more time to spend meaningfully with our community.” 

More recently, the Canal Alliance IT team was invited to participate in the AI capacity-building program with Project Evident and the San Francisco Foundation. This new funding will strengthen Canal Alliance’s use of generative AI to better serve the community and provide junior staff with valuable professional development opportunities through a vibrant community of practice.  

In May, Karla attended the Latinas in Tech Summit in San Francisco, where she made  connections with Latina leaders across the tech industry. There she met Diane Gonzalez, Vice President of Technology at Amazon and executive sponsor of Latinos@Amazon, who is leading tech efforts and building programs to recruit more LatinX talent. From LinkedIn, she connected with Claudia Flores, Product Risk Manager, and Noe Lemus, Lead Strategist and head of the Hispanics of LinkedIn Alliance (HOLA). She also built relationships with Valeria Avila Guerrero, President of #LatinaGeeks’ Silicon Valley chapter, and Diana Pacheco, Chief Development Officer at Conectado Inc, an organization focused on expanding tech access and opportunity for underrepresented communities. These connections continue to inspire and support Karla’s mission to increase representation and equity in tech. 

Karla hopes that these new connections an opportunities will benefit Canal Alliance and also allow the organization to teach the community about the potential of emerging technologies. “AI is rapidly evolving and woven into nearly every software we use. Yet generative AI wasn’t created by people who share our culture, language, or lived experiences. That can lead to inaccurate or biased results. My hope is to ensure our voices are part of shaping this technology so it reflects and serves our communities accurately.” 

Karla is optimistic about the growth of Canal Alliance’s IT program. “In the years ahead, I hope our IT program continues to grow and expand, ultimately serving as a pathway for more Latinas to enter and thrive in the field of technology.” 

Karla’s story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of representation. She continues to pave the way for future generations, not only as a professional in tech but as a beacon of hope for her community. 

Canal Alliance team with Diana Pacheco, Conectado Inc Chief Development Officer at our Canal Alliance Headquarters.