Mercedes spent her early childhood in Everett, Washington prior to moving to New Mexico in 1998. Raised by a single mother, she is the third in line among her two brothers and one sister. Mercedes is happily married to her husband Henry and enjoys being an aunt to the three nephews and four nieces they share. Mercedes moved to the Land of Enchantment with her family as an elementary school student. They came with nothing but a few suitcases and spent their first few month’s living at Albuquerque’s Joy Junction shelter. Mercedes watched her single mother struggle to make her way here and was motivated to become the first in her family to obtain a college degree. After graduating high school, Mercedes earned an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from CNM. She then transferred to New Mexico Highlands University where she earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Social Work. As a low-income first-generation college student herself, Mercedes was honored to work with the LNESC Upward Bound college prep program. She spent several years serving the students at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School, empowering and educating them to maximize their potential, pursue their college and career goals, and become the best versions of themselves. Mercedes is excited to continue her public service as the Capacity Building Coordinator and is eager to serve the African-American community in New Mexico.
