Community Outreach Coordinator
El Monte Promise Foundation
Samantha (Sam) Ruiz is passionate about mobilizing communities of color to address the inequities reflective of the sociopolitical determinants of health. She has 5+ years’ experience in equity orientated work, most of which is centered in youth development and college access. As the Community Outreach Coordinator for El Monte Promise Foundation, Sam facilitates relationships and partnerships with community members, community partners, educational institutions and stakeholders to support the organization’s work in educational equity. Sam is a proud first-generation Latina college graduate currently pursuing her Master in Public Health degree at California State University, Long Beach; she holds a B.A. in Human Biology with a focus in Cross-Cultural Health and Healing from Pitzer College and has a research background in traditional medicine. She plans to start her career in youth impacting policy because she believes that community wellbeing is inextricably tied to policy work.