Alma Guerrero Madriz immigrated from Mexico City at the age of seven, along with her mother and two younger brothers, to reunite with her father, who had settled in East Palo Alto in the mid-1980s.

She was raised in East Palo Alto, attended schools in the Ravenswood School District, participated in College Track, and graduated from Carlmont High School. Alma went on to earn a B.A. in Sociology from San Jose State University, becoming the first girl in her family to obtain a college degree.

One of her first roles was as the PODER Joven Coordinator for Nuestra Casa. Over the past 20 years, Alma has remained deeply committed to serving the East Palo Alto community. She has held leadership positions including Operations Manager at College Track and Director of Operations at KIPP Valiant Community Prep.

Currently, Alma serves as the part-time Chief of Staff at AssistHub, an organization that helps Californians access public benefits. She also works as the Finance and Operations Coordinator at Castilleja. Her passion for supporting youth and emerging professionals extends to her role as a mentor with the Peninsula College Fund.

Outside of her professional life, Alma finds joy in guiding her son through life, often while listening to him explore his latest musical interest. She also enjoys watching documentaries with her husband and going on hikes.