The daughter of immigrant parents, Dr. Raquel watched her mother attend community college while raising three children, launching a nursing career that changed her family's future. Years later, her own son earned his Associate’s Degree and STEM certificate through Contra Costa College.

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A Richmond resident for more than 20 years, Dr. Raquel has spent her career expanding educational opportunities, from leading the Latino Community Foundation to directing a $30M cradle-to-career initiative in the Mission District, to overseeing education grants for a family foundation.

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Dr. Raquel is running for the Contra Costa Community College District Board because she believes community colleges remain one of the strongest pathways to opportunity and economic mobility