Vanessa Aramayo serves as the CEO and President for Alliance for a Better Community, and is responsible for overseeing the execution of the organization’s strategic plan, establishing policy priorities, and managing the coordination of ABC’s advocacy efforts aimed at improving the well-being of Latinas/os in Los Angeles County.

Vanessa brings over 20 years of experience in developing policies and building power within communities to deliver lasting and positive systemic change. She has led policy advocacy efforts and campaigns at all levels that include significantly increased investments in parent engagement at the local school district level, delivering a more equitable state budget in California, and expanding access to quality and affordable health care and pushing for comprehensive immigration reform at the national level. 

Vanessa’s experience working in California’s Legislature, the United States Congress, and more recently leading nonprofits for 12 years has given her insight to the vast opportunities and needs to more urgently address the impact of systemic racism. She has consulted on outreach and communications strategies for political campaigns and across California with various rural and urban communities of color. 

Daughter of a single immigrant mother, Vanessa was the first in her family to graduate college. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a concentration in International Relations from UCLA. Vanessa lives with her husband and twin daughters in Northeast Los Angeles.