What we do

 Director of Culture and Outreach

The daughter of Mexican immigrants from Mexico City and Sonora, Anna was born in Southern California and moved with her husband and sons to Central Point, Oregon in 1979. The family later settled in Sams Valley, where Anna raised her four sons.

Before retiring in 2013, Anna worked in the Central Point School District, beginning at Sams Valley Elementary, then Hanby Middle School, and finally Scenic Middle School. Early in her career, she supported Spanish-speaking students, helping them adjust and succeed in the classroom.

Although Anna grew up fluent in Spanish, she spoke it less often after moving to Oregon, when opportunities to use the language were limited and bilingualism was not widely valued. Her sons never learned Spanish, but today she is delighted to see several of her grandchildren embracing the language through the district’s Two-Way Immersion program.

Anna now lives in Prospect, Oregon with her husband and their two dogs. A lifelong advocate for fairness, she helped found ENRICH because she believes every community deserves access to the resources they need to grow and thrive.

Director of Planning 

Joe brings extensive experience in land use and community development to ENRICH. Following the 2020 Almeda Fire, he served more than four years with the City of Phoenix as Community and Economic Development Director and Deputy City Manager. During this time, he saw firsthand how organizational capacity can transform recovery into long-term growth.

By leveraging post-disaster recovery funding, Joe helped Phoenix expand staff capacity, complete essential long-range planning, stimulate economic growth, and secure approximately $35 million in outside funding for critical infrastructure projects. These efforts not only accelerated fire recovery but also set the city on a path for lasting success.

A certified planner through the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) since 2011, Joe also holds a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Community and Economic Development from Penn State University. His passion lies in helping communities thrive by pairing strong planning with actionable strategies.

Associate

Aaron is an Oregon-based land use specialist with more than a decade of experience in urban planning and community development. He holds a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor’s in Urban Planning from Portland State University, grounding his career in sustainable, community-focused planning.

His professional experience spans the City of Coos Bay, City of Medford, and City of Corvallis, where he managed Comprehensive Plan updates, reviewed land use applications, and advanced long-range planning initiatives. He currently serves as a Senior Planner and supervisor with the City of Beaverton.

A certified planner (AICP) and fluent Spanish speaker, Aaron is passionate about building sustainable and equitable communities. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling the world, backpacking across the Pacific Northwest, and playing tennis.