Emma Zavala-Suarez, JD

Emma Zavala-Suarez, JD is an attorney currently working as a consultant for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation where she supports the contracts team in their global health and financial services for the poor work. She is also the chair of the Board of a nonprofit called Community to Community (C2C), a women-led influential grass-roots organization that raises funds and awareness for farm worker women and their families and the immigrant community in Whatcom County. C2C seeks to empower under-represented peoples to have an equal voice in decision-making processes. Emma is also a long-time member and current chair of the Laurel Rubin Farm Worker Justice Project (LRFWJP), a subcommittee of LAW Fund, the preeminent Washington legal aid foundation. LRFWJP raises funds to financially support law students to engage in legal advocacy work on behalf of farm workers throughout the state of Washington. Emma was recently appointed by Governor Gregoire to the Washington State Board of Pharmacy where she serves as a public member, giving a voice to the public health interests of the under-served residents of Washington. Emma has completed her premed requirements for medical school and plans to apply for fall 2013 entrance. Emma was born in Mexico City and immigrated to the U.S. as a young child. She has seven brothers and sisters, and her parents still work in the fields and are seen at Sea Mar Community Health Centers in the Bellingham area.