Ana Gonzalez, a dedicated community advocate and organizer, was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and has made Rialto her home for the past 29 years. As a proud mother of two teenagers, Ana combines her passion for community service with her role as a parent, deeply committed to creating a healthier and more equitable environment for future generations.

Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice (CCAEJ), Ana leads a 46-year-old organization that tirelessly advocates for clean air and water in environmental justice communities. Under her leadership, CCAEJ has emerged as a formidable force for change, emphasizing the importance of intersectional solutions that bring diverse communities together to foster resilience and empowerment.

In addition to her advocacy work, Ana lends her expertise as a member of the South Coast Air Quality Management District's Environmental Justice Advisory Group and is the current Vice-Chair of the California Transportation Commission Interagency Equity Advisory Committee. These roles allow her to influence policy and decision-making processes that impact marginalized communities, ensuring their voices are heard in critical discussions about environmental health, safety and social justice.

Ana's academic journey reflects her commitment to education, civic engagement and small business empowerment. She earned her Associate Degrees in Business Administration, Liberal Studies, with an emphasis on Social and Behavioral Science and Humanities, from San Bernardino Valley College. She furthered her education by graduating from Cal State San Bernardino with a BA in Liberal Studies, focusing on K-8 education, and a Minor in Sociology. Her solid foundation in education, nonprofit/business management, and social justice advocacy equips her to address the multifaceted challenges faced by her community.

Additionally, Ana is a small business owner, consulting for small businesses and other non-profits to strengthen their administrative and accounting compliance. She was formally a General Contractor for 8 years, ran a residential construction business from the age of 18 years old, has expertise in permitting, home inspections and renovations. Ana is a passionate and dedicated community leader whose work reflects a deep commitment to service, equity, and empowerment. She has spent years uplifting others — mentoring emerging voices, organizing grassroots efforts, and creating space for those often left out of the conversation. Her advocacy extends to environmental equity at both local and state levels, where she champions access to clean air, safe neighborhoods, and sustainable futures for all. Though she has not pursued formal recognition, Ana’s impact is unmistakable. Her leadership is felt in the lives she’s touched and the movements she’s helped shape. She leads with heart, purpose, and a belief that when one person rises, we all rise.