Originally from Cali, Colombia, Sánchez Frank also has a deep personal understanding of the challenges faced by Latine and immigrant communities. For the last two years, she has served as Vice Chair at the Oregon Secretary of State Translation Advisory Council, working to ensure accurate, culturally appropriate translations to make voting accessible in Oregon. She’s also been an active volunteer with LCA.
“This is a critical time in the lives of immigrants in Central Oregon,” said Sánchez Frank. “I am deeply honored to join the effort to support the work of LCA in tackling the challenges faced by our community, and I am committed to fostering safe spaces, building meaningful connections, and ensuring that the rights of every member of our community are protected.”
“Catalina’s proven local track record in leadership, advocacy, and collaboration makes her the perfect fit to lead our organization,” said Zavier Borja, LCA Board President. “We are confident she will inspire innovation while honoring LCA’s mission to empower our Latino communities to thrive.”
For the past year and a half, Daniel Altamirano Hernandez and Mary Murphy have served as the interim leadership team at LCA while the board of directors searched for a new executive director. “It’s been a privilege to work with the amazing staff at LCA,” said Altamirano Hernandez “I am proud of what we have accomplished together.,” he added, “And I am looking forward to continuing to support the organization in a new and different capacity.”
“Catalina has been a steadfast supporter of LCA’s mission for years, volunteering in programs and championing the organization’s work,” said Mary Murphy, LCA’s Deputy Director. “Her deep connection to the community and passion for empowering Latine and immigrant families make her an ideal leader to guide LCA in these challenging times.”
Residents of Bend for the last 10 years, Catalina and her husband are the parents of a teenage daughter and two dogs. Catalina enjoys yoga and hiking, while her husband is an avid bike rider. Catalina is also active with BENDitas, a collective of migrant women whose mission is to promote cultural events in Spanish and celebrate the diversity of Spanish-speaking countries with the Bend community.
“The Latino Community Association’s board and staff are confident that Catalina’s leadership will build on the organization’s strong foundation, laid through years of dedication by its team, volunteers, and community partners,” added Borja. “Together we look forward to advancing our mission and strengthening the communities we serve across Central Oregon.”
This story is based on submitted information and has not been verified by our news team.
