Ava Hernández has been a community activist for over ten years. In 2005 she relocated to Milwaukee from Louisiana with her husband Lee and their two children, Adam and Alberto. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. She currently sits on the Steering Committee for Latinas en Acción and the Grants Advisory Committee of the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee. Ava has also served on the board of the Baton Rouge Progressive Network, and worked for the Louisiana Environmental Action Network and the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, two environmental justice non-profit organizations based in Baton Rouge, LA. Ava is a 2006 graduate of the Latino Nonprofit Leadership Program and in 2008 was named a top ten Latino leader under 30 by Aquí Milwaukee magazine. Prior to joining the Public Allies Milwaukee staff, she worked at the Roberto Hernández Center as a Program Associate. In her spare time, Ava enjoys cooking, photography, and writing.