Fellow
Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute 2016
Jessica Cobian was raised in the border town of Tijuana until the age of 12. Her exposure to immigrant’s issues and economic inequality inspired her to advocate for underserved communities. Jessica attended Otay Ranch High School in Chula Vista and then graduated with a Bachelor’s in Political Science/International Affairs from the University of California Riverside. While at UCR Jessica was a Resident Advisor for the Chicano/Latino Hall and was a community leader with the Inland Congregations United for Change. After graduation she went on to becoming a Health Care Reform Organizer with the faith-based organization PICO National Network in Riverside and San Bernardino County. Now Jessica is the Lead Organizer for the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment in San Diego and works to develop community leaders who are shaping policies for racial and economic justice and are challenging the accountability of local elected officials.
During her spare time Jessica is also a Binational Community Organizer for the Non-Profit, Espacio Migrante, which provides job training skills to deportees in Tijuana. Jessica hopes to use the tools from the Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute to continue to advocate for underrepresented communities in Chula Vista.
