Melinda Cordero-Bárzaga

With 34 years of experience, Melinda Cordero-Bárzaga has dedicated her career to advancing community health initiatives and amplifying community voices. As a founding member of Visión y Compromiso, she played a pivotal role in establishing the organization in 2000, initially serving as the Director of its California Network of Promotoras and Community Health Workers (CHWs).

Currently, as the Associate Director of Programs, Melinda drives the strategic growth and expansion of Visión y Compromiso. She leads state and national programmatic initiatives, overseeing key efforts such as the annual national conference, innovative workforce initiatives, the organization’s social enterprise, and the development of the Promotoras Institute. Her visionary leadership has been crucial in advancing the organization’s mission and broadening its impact nationwide.

Throughout her career, Melinda has been committed to supporting women, girls, and promotoras. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the 1999 Los Angeles Women’s Foundation Mentor Award and recognition from the California Assembly in 2009 for her impact on the Promotor movement. In 2011, she received the Helen Rodriguez-Trias Award for her dedication to improving women’s health in California, and in 2013, she was honored with the MENDing Poverty Nonprofit Leadership Award.