Esmeralda Vazquez
Executive Director
Esmeralda Vazquez is a lifelong resident of the Inland Region, with humble roots stemming from L.A. Since 2005, Esmeralda has served her community as a social justice, community, education, and labor advocate. She is an Alumni from Crafton Hills College, UC San Diego, and Georgetown University, where she received her Masters in Policy Management. Having previously worked in K-12, Higher Education, and the California State Assembly, Esmeralda is now the Executive Director for the Inland Empire Labor Institute; leading the I.E.’s community-led Regional Investment Initiative known as Thrive Inland SoCal in partnership with California Jobs First, and other union-focused impact programs to empower and sustain our working families. Her goal is to obtain quality jobs and build prosperous communities for all through equitable and inclusive economic development centering disadvantaged communities, as part of California’s transition to a clean energy, carbon neutral economy. Her most important role, however, is as a mama, raising her little girl, alongside her partner.
Fatima Nelson
Director of Programs & Outreach
Fatima Nelson has over two decades of dedicated service and expertise in external engagement and program management. With a career spanning diverse fields from education to community engagement, Fatima has consistently excelled in orchestrating impactful initiatives for underserved communities. Notably, she spearheaded the organization of major community engagement events related to data, research and policy while serving as the Community Engagement Specialist for UCR’s Center for Social Innovation out of the School of Public Policy. She is currently working as the Outreach Coordinator for the Inland Empire Labor Institute. Fatima and her husband made the Inland Empire their home in 2021 along with their three school-aged children.
Athena Tan
Senior Research and Strategy Specialist
Dr. Athena Tan (she/her, they/them) brings to the Inland Empire Labor Institute a background in qualitative research, communications, community organizing and advocacy, collective leadership, and mutual aid practices. She is committed to fostering an economically democratic Inland Empire that’s built by and for working people around principles of solidarity, degrowth, and regeneration.