Ysabel Duron
Executive DirectorIn 2003, San Francisco Bay Area award winning journalist, Ysabel Duron, created Latinas Contra Cancer, a 12-year-old non-profit in San Jose, CA and a leading advocacy and service agency.
For the benefit of stakeholders, researchers, clinicians, CBO’s and the community, the agency also convenes the biennial National Latino Cancer Summit to cast a spotlight on the disease, provides a bilingual resource website and for a decade hosted the annual Mother’s Day Walk Against Cancer. In 2009 LCC received the Health Agency Award from the Latino Caucus of the American Public Health Association.
In December 2013, Duron was awarded the Purpose Prize from Encore.org. The honor recognizes her second act, as a person over 60, in her work for Latinos with cancer. The New York Times calls the Purpose Prize the MacArthur Genius Award for senior citizens working for the social good.
A cancer survivor, Duron was appointed in 2011 to the Congressionally-mandated IBCERCC Committee, to investigate the state of the science on breast cancer and the environment. The 270-page report was released in February 2013.
Duron retired from Bay Area television in April 2013 after 43 years in the broadcast business. Mayor Ed Lee named April 11th, Ysabel Duron Day in San Francisco.
Duron has received numerous accolades for her journalism and was inducted into the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame in 2009. She is the winner of two EMMYS, an RTNDA award and a first place honor from the Society of Professional Journalists.
Duron was also given the Juliette Gordon Lowe Award, the highest honor from the Girl Scouts, and received statewide acclaim from the American Federation of Teachers for her 3-part award winning series called Trouble with Teachers.
In 2001, the Chicana-Latina Foundation honored Duron with a Living Legacy Award.
In 2005 she was named one of the top 25 Hispanics in the Bay Area. In 2011, the San Jose Chapter of the NAACP presented her with the W.E.B Dubois Award.
Meet our other members of the Board of Directors below.
Sandra Madrigal, Board President
Executive Director, Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley
Sandra has over 20 years of leading local non-profits in Silicon Valley and Northern California, with expertise in creating an organizational vision, developing strategic plans, developing a board of directors, and raising significant capital. Her grant writing and major gifts projects have helped to raise millions of dollars for United Way Silicon Valley. She also served as the Executive Director for the Woodland Healthcare Foundation where she led a successful multi-million dollar capital campaign.
Sandra’s successes have been recognized by her community. She received a Commendation from former Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez and a congressional recognition from Congressman Mike Honda through her work with the Third Street Community Center. Most recently, Sandra has worked both as a coach and consultant for several Silicon Valley non-profits. Sandra is a local professional who grew up in San Jose and graduated from University of California, Santa Cruz.
Dr. Robert Beltran
Senior Executive Medical Director, Brand New Day Health Plan
Dr. Robert Beltran is the Senior Executive Medical Director at Brand New Day Health Plan. He is President of Quality Health Care Management, Inc. a healthcare management company focusing on care management and health services for diverse ethnic communities, specifically the Latino Population in California and the United States.
He also serves as Chairman and President of LatinoMed Policy Institute – a health policy consortium focusing on parity, equity and equality in health and health care for the Latino Population
Dr. Beltran, M.D., MBA, FACMQ, CHCQM has over 20 years experience in senior clinic roles for healthcare companies. His career focus for the past eight years has been directing utilization managements, credentialing and quality improvement programs for health plans and IPAs in California. They include Care1st, L.A.Care, Universal Care and Monarch Healthcare. In addition, he has experience in leading, training and mentoring a team-centric clinical staff in medical cost and quality management.
Prior to launching his health care management career he practiced clinical surgery for 22 years.
Al Castellano
Founder, Castellano Family Foundation
Alcario Castellano was born in Artesia, New Mexico. When Al was nine years old, his migrant family moved to California. Upon graduation from high school in Hollister, Al joined the U. S. Army. Al worked in the aerospace industry and as a supermarket retail clerk until his retirement in 1990.
Al and his wife, Carmen, established the Castellano Family Foundation in December 2001. The Foundation is dedicated to the cultivation and enrichment of Latino family values through support of organizations promoting the arts, Latino culture, Latino leadership, the educational pursuits of Latino students, and special interests of the Trustees. The Castellano Family Foundation has awarded grants to more than 150 organizations totaling over four million dollars.
Al and Carmen have been honored with the following: Portraits of Success Award, ABBY Award from the Arts Council Silicon Valley, Tequio Award from the Mexican Consulate, Distinguished Philanthropist of the Year Award from the Latino Community Foundation, Si Se Puede award from the Chavez Family Foundation, PACT 2009 Leadership in Action honorees, “La Familia” award from the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, California Chicano News Media Association, and Alcario was named Father of the Year by the American Diabetes Association in 2006.
In addition to serving on the board of Latinas Contra Cancer, Al has served on the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and the American GI Forum. He is an avid videographer and photographer, and has an archive of local community events.
Lorena Montes
Corporate Communications Manager, Cisco Systems
Lorena Montes has worked at Cisco for over 10 years. Lorena provides communications leadership for Cisco events, including the Cisco Live event in San Diego. Her skills and areas of expertise include immigration and corporate communications. Her hobbies and interests include traveling and running.
Lorena attended California State University-Sacramento and received her MBA from the School of Business at George Washington University.
Cristina is an ELLA graduate of 2013 and has been working with Latina Coalition since Fall of 2013. She is heavily involved in LCSV’s marketing efforts, community outreach, the ELLA program, membership and every aspect of Latina Coalition’s progress. Aside from her work with LCSV, she works as Alliance Marketing Operations Coordinator at SugarCRM. Previous to Sugar, she worked in Channel and Partner Marketing for Latin America at Plantronics, a fortune 500 tech company headquartered in Santa Cruz.
Cristina is a 2015 APALI Civic Leadership Program fellow and a 2015 Latino Board Leadership Academy (LBLA) fellow through the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. Her passion is helping Latinas thrive in their communities and serve as inspiration to others. She works to serve as a mentor to other Latinas and help people find their passion. More than anything, she hopes to serve as a resource and mentor to aspiring leaders because with hard work, dedication and passion, she believes everyone can work to achieve their dreams.
Cristina is an ELLA graduate of 2013 and has been working with Latina Coalition since Fall of 2013. She is heavily involved in LCSV’s marketing efforts, community outreach, the ELLA program, membership and every aspect of Latina Coalition’s progress. Aside from her work with LCSV, she works as Alliance Marketing Operations Coordinator at SugarCRM. Previous to Sugar, she worked in Channel and Partner Marketing for Latin America at Plantronics, a fortune 500 tech company headquartered in Santa Cruz.
Cristina is a 2015 APALI Civic Leadership Program fellow and a 2015 Latino Board Leadership Academy (LBLA) fellow through the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley. Her passion is helping Latinas thrive in their communities and serve as inspiration to others. She works to serve as a mentor to other Latinas and help people find their passion. More than anything, she hopes to serve as a resource and mentor to aspiring leaders because with hard work, dedication and passion, she believes everyone can work to achieve their dreams.
