Raised in San Francisco’s Mission District by immigrant parents from Mexico and El Salvador, Alvarenga’s early life experiences shaped her lifelong commitment to advancing equity and dignity for working families, women, immigrants, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other underrepresented communities.
She began her career as a Legal Advocate at Bay Area Legal Aid, then from 2008 to 2014, Alvarenga served as District Director for California Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, where she played a pivotal role in advancing landmark legislation including the California Domestic Worker Bill of Rights, Seth’s Law protecting children from bullying in schools, and the Trust Act which mandates that all counties in California limit cruel and costly immigration hold requests by ICE in local jails.
Her leadership continued as Political Director of SEIU Local 1021 and long-time Executive Director of the California Domestic Workers Coalition. In 2025 Kimberly was appointed to lead the County of Santa Clara’s Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR). Alvarenga brings more than two decades of leadership in immigrant rights, worker protections, and social justice advocacy at the local and state levels. As the head of the Office of Immigrant Relations, she oversees initiatives that protect and advance the rights of immigrants in Santa Clara County, build partnerships with community organizations, and ensure that all residents have equitable access to services and opportunities.