PA LA GENTE
FOR THE PEOPLE

Mission Statement

At Pa La Gente For The People, our mission is to build community-owned solutions through tenant organizing, cooperative housing development, worker-owned businesses, and food cooperatives. We empower underserved communities through grassroots organizing, popular education, leadership development, and technical assistance—offering programs such as tenant rights workshops, community organizing, ESL classes, and digital literacy training as entry points to cooperative and collective models. Our work bridges immediate community needs and long-term structural change, advancing housing stability, economic resilience, shared leadership, and collective self-determination.

Vision Statement

We envision a world where all people—especially those historically excluded—own and govern the resources they need to thrive. Our goal is to spark a cooperative movement rooted in dignity, equity, and community power. We seek to build a deeply civically engaged society where the vision and needs of the people are realized, and every neighborhood can create lasting prosperity from the ground up.

Core Values

Community Ownership / Propiedad Comunitaria – People closest to the problem should own the solution.
Equity & Justice / Equidad y Justicia – We challenge systemic barriers and prioritize those most impacted.
Popular Education / Educación Popular – Learning as a collective, empowering process.
Cooperation Over Competition / Cooperación sobre Competencia – Shared power and mutual aid over extraction.
Sustainability / Sostenibilidad – Long-term solutions, not temporary fixes.
Cultural Pride & Inclusion / Orgullo Cultural e Inclusión – Honoring cultures, languages, and lived experiences.
Transparency & Accountability / Transparencia y Responsabilidad – Integrity, trust, and community leadership.

Team

Meet Our Dedicated Team

Our team is made up of passionate individuals who are dedicated to making a difference in the community. They bring diverse backgrounds and experiences to the table, working tirelessly to fulfill our mission.

Maria Belen Gomez-Jordana

Board President

Belén Gómez-Jordana is a journalist and Executive Director of UTO, where she leads education and youth empowerment programs. She brings expertise in communications, leadership development, and equity-centered program design to Pa La Gente For The People’s board.

Maria Canela

Vice-President

María Canela is a housing advocate and former NACA staff member with experience in housing counseling and financial empowerment. She supports Pa La Gente For The People’s mission through her expertise in housing justice and community-centered solutions.

Cristina Martin Del Campo

Secretary

Cristina Martín del Campo works at Central Piedmont Community College and is a graduate of UNC Greensboro. She supports Pa La Gente For The People through her experience in education access, student advocacy, and community engagement.

Zamara Saldivar

Treasurer

Zamara Saldívar brings extensive experience in nonprofit operations, backend management, and organizational systems. She supports Pa La Gente For The People through financial oversight, governance, and operational strategy.

Alia Trindle

Co-Executive Director

Alia Jazeela Trindle is a national housing justice strategist and former Director of Political Strategy at Right to the City Alliance. She brings over 20 years of experience in cooperative development, political organizing, and movement building to Pa La Gente For The People.

Jessica Moreno

Co-Executive Director Founder

Jessica Maria Moreno is a housing justice strategist and community organizer with over a decade of experience advancing tenant power and cooperative solutions. She is the Founder of Pa’ La Gente For The People and former Director of Housing Justice at Action NC.

PA LA GENTE FOR THE PEOPLE