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Letter from the President
Board of Directos and Staff

WHO WE ARE

Amigas Punto Com (APC) is a 501©3 non-profit organization established in 2005 by a group of friends to provide Latino women a safe place to connect with other women and receive emotional and spiritual support during challenging and life altering situations caused by loss or adversity.

In 2008, TNT (Transformando Nuestra Tierra -Spanish for Transforming our Land) was created to serve the youth in our community.

What We Do

We empower and equip Latino women, youth, and their families through ongoing comprehensive weekly programs and coordinated services focused on abuse prevention, self-restoration, and emotional strengthening.

APC is a place where women can find refuge, security, trust, and the strength to transform their life, their family, and; ultimately, their community.

Mission

Educate, equip, and empower women and youth with tools to help them overcome adversity, set healthy boundaries,
and restore their worth and self-esteem.

Letter from the President

I think all of us have heard someone say: “There is light at the end of the tunnel.” Have you experienced it?

The founders of Amigas Punto Com went trough very traumatic experiences which we thought would never end. Today, I can tell you that we saw light at the end of the tunnel. Going through the death of a child, divorce, one of your children running away from home or in prison are everyday issues but situations you cannot deal with easily. You need a team, friends and support. In 2005, after several years of prayer and brainstorming, we took a leap of faith and created Amigas Punto Com. We realized that the reason we had been able to overcome our personal circumstances was that we had a support group. Our desire was to make this resource available to as many women as we could; but later, realized that the whole family needed support. Amigas Punto Com, started as a support group for women, but has grown to be a support group not only for women and their family, but for the whole community. Our dream became a reality and we continue to grow. Amigas Punto Com provides the tools to help women and their families overcome adversity, set healthy boundaries, and restore their worth and self steem. After their own personal process, they will discover their potential to fullfil the purpose for which they were created.

Vivian Nieto
President

Our Board of Directors

Vivian Nieto

Vivian Nieto

President Contact me
Vivian Nieto

Vivian Nieto


President

Vivian Nieto is one of the founders of Amigas Punto Com and President of the organization since 2005.  She is a facilitator of the weekly workshops for women and parents.  The topics she specializes in are: Abuse Prevention, Emotional Healing, Setting Healthy Boundaries.

Since 1999, she works as a Certified Medical and Administrative Hearing Interpreter within the State of California.  In 2009, she acquired her Life Coach Certification from  Life Forming Leadership Coaching.   She has a Certificate in Bible Counseling from Koinonia College. 

Vivian is an International Conference Speaker.  Since 2012, she has been a facilitator during the weekly television program “Más que Palabras” in Televisa Californias.

Her passion is to help Latino women and their families emotionally and spiritually.  Taking her personal experience into account, her goal is to support every individual to make changes, restore their dignity and worth, while learning to live  free from abuse and establishing healthy boundaries.

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Martha Zanabria

Martha Zanabria

Secretary Contact me
Martha Zanabria

Martha Zanabria


Secretary

She was born in Tijuana BC Mexico. Martha graduated from Preparatoria Federal Lázaro Cárdenas High School, and graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University in California. She worked as volunteer within the Christian community in Mexico and San Diego organizing events for youth, teens and coached couples teaching premarital classes to prepare for marriage. She has been part of Amigas Punto Com organization from the beginning as part of the executive committee and board. She was a volunteer and member organizing events and teaching workshops for women and couples within our community of San Diego.

Presently, Martha works for Point Loma Nazarene University in the Mission Valley Graduate Regional Center as Conference Services Coordinator and Building Manager and she’s also part of the Human Resources Safety committee and facilities committee.

She worked for San Diego health and nutrition services with San Diego County as a food handlers instructor and trained trainers in Spanish and English.

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Lucina Muzquiz

Lucina Muzquiz

Treasurer Contact me
Lucina Muzquiz

Lucina Muzquiz


Treasurer

Lucina has been a volunteer at Amigas Punto Com since 2011. In addition to serving as the Board Treasurer, she regularly teaches workshops on self-esteem issues, emotional health and codependence.

Lucina very generously serves her community. She is a Chula Vista resident since 1989, where she volunteered in her children’s schools for many years.

Lucina worked as a Tax Associate at H & R Block from 2015 to 2016. She attended Southwestern College Child Development Program, graduating both from the Microenterprise Family Child Care and the Parent School Trainer Program.

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Martha Larrañaga

Martha Larrañaga

Board Member Contact me
Martha Larrañaga

Martha Larrañaga


Board Member

Martha Larrañaga currently serves as a Program Director with Amigas Punto Com. She is responsible for addressing all program needs; including the overall operation of weekly workshops as well of special events. Prior to joining Amigas Punto Com, Ms. Larrañaga held the position of CEO at Woodex, Inc./Tableros y Triplay del Centro, S.A. de C.V., an international commodity broker company.

Prior to this, she held the position of Assistant Vice President of the Trade Finance Dept. at First National Bank in San Diego, CA.

Martha is committed to generously dedicating her time and efforts to help families in our community develop an emotionally healthy life; free from abuse and domestic violence. Her favorite aspect of working at Amigas Punto Com is to see women recover their self-worth and blossom in our healing environment with the help of truly dedicated volunteers. Martha enjoys spending time with family and traveling. She is fluent in the Spanish language.

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Nayra Ramirez

Nayra Ramirez

Advisory Board Member Contact me
Nayra Ramirez

Nayra Ramirez


Advisory Board Member

Nayra has been part of APC since 2016, initially as an active member and now as one of our Board of Directors Advisory Team. APC is very dear to her heart because she experienced firsthand the great resources and benefits that were available to her during her difficult times.

Nayra now brings her 28 years of banking experience at Wells Fargo Bank to the organization as she is in charge of overseeing the organization’s expenses and budget strategies for a more successful approach. Nayra attended San Diego State University where she obtained her Computer Science degree.

She is a native of Guadalajara Mexico and has been a local resident most of her life. Nayra is a mother of two amazing young boys that keep her very busy as a soccer mom on her spare time, she loves the outdoors, and is passionate about giving back to the community.

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Alejandra Galvadón

Alejandra Galvadón

Advisory Board Member Contact me
Alejandra Galvadón

Alejandra Galvadón


Advisory Board Member

Alejandra Gavaldón is committed to public service and making a difference. Throughout her 14 year career with the City of San Diego, she has served 4 Mayoral Administrations in areas of Policy, Binational, Government Relations, International Affairs and Protocol. Most recently, Alejandra served 4 years in Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s administration in multiple roles as his Director of Infrastructure & Water Policy, Director of Federal Government Affairs and Binational Director. Currently she serves as Strategic Program Manager for the City of San Diego’s Transportation and Storm Water Department. Alejandra began her career with the City of San Diego in 1999 as Protocol Officer and Binational Affairs Liaison for former Mayor Susan Golding. In December of 2000, former Mayor Dick Murphy retained Mrs. Gavaldón and appointed her Deputy Chief of Protocol and Binational Relations. In 2001 she was selected as the Assistant Binational Coordinator of the City of San Diego’s Office of Binational Affairs. Mrs. Gavaldón then served as the City’s Assistant Director of the Intergovernmental Relations Department. In December of 2005, Mrs. Gavaldón was retained and appointed by former Mayor Jerry Sanders to continue in her Intergovernmental Relations role, as well as his Policy Advisor on Binational Affairs, water, wastewater and storm water issues. She worked in this capacity until August 2009.Consistent with her commitment to focus on areas where she could be most impactful and make a significant difference, she took a break from City Government for 4 ½ years to become a full time mom to her two children and engage in her community. Alejandra shares and utilizes her experience in Government, Public Service and Binational Relations to contribute to those that cross her path, and her community. She has served as former President of the San Diego-Tijuana Sister Cities Society, mentored interns and students and parent volunteer at Nazareth School.Alejandra was raised and educated in both Tijuana and San Diego and is fluent in English, Spanish and French. Mrs. Gavaldón graduated from the University of California San Diego in 1995 with a B.A. in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations.

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Our Staff

Gladys Esponda

Gladys Esponda

Executive Director Contact me
Gladys Esponda

Gladys Esponda


Executive Director

Gladys is a non-profit advocate, she believes that in order to help others and improve their quality of life, we must engage in our community, build strong alliances, and work in collaboration and partnership.

She learned about the challenges and joys of nonprofit leadership: “In our personal and professional life, each one of us has defining moments that shape us. Helping others has come to define my life. The work is always challenging, fascinating and demanding. At the end of the day, the greatest reward is feeling you’ve made a difference in someone’s life”.
She brings extensive experience in generating best practice insights and resources for nonprofits resource development She is inspired by the opportunity to tell the story of APC’S collective impact in the community.

In addition of being a Mortgage Consultant at RC Global Financial, Inc., she is a Notary Public in California and a NNA certified Loan Signing Agent for over 18 years.

She likes to spend her free time with her family. She is an avid tennis player.

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Marcela Dongo

Marcela Dongo

Workshop Coordinator Contact me
Marcela Dongo

Marcela Dongo


Workshop Coordinator

Marcela Dongo has been a volunteer at Amigas Punto Com for fourteen years, currently serving as a Workshop Coordinator. Has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Has worked in the hospitality, travel and government transportation industry for many years. She is currently a Cruise and Travel Consultant for Expedia Cruiseshipcenters.  She is also tutoring elementary age children at an after-hours program and is an Area Coordinator for international exchange students under the Children Around the World Corporation Program.

Marcela recently completed a Medical Interpreter Bilingual Certification program and is very excited to start a new career in this field.

 In addition; Marcela is also a volunteer for the San Diego Street Choir which serves underprivileged people, some going through homelessness and other severe issues. The program provides meals, clothing, coaching as well as an art and music program.

Together with her husband she established several dental clinics and was directly involved in marketing,  logistics, payroll as well as special events coordinator.

Marcela enjoys spending time with her two sons whenever they are home from college. Enjoys playing and regularly participates in tennis tournaments.

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Magda Pérez-Núñez

Magda Pérez-Núñez

Program Coordinator Contact me
Magda Pérez-Núñez

Magda Pérez-Núñez


Program Coordinator

Magda was born in Baja California Mexico. She holds a BA in Business management from University of Baja California, Mexico. She has extensive experience in administration and bookkeeping.

Magda has strong values built around helping other. She is a great team member. She has volunteered in Amigas Punto Com since 2015 with diverse crossed functions. Magda gives support to APC’s workshops as Program Coordinator.

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Gloria Vázquez

Gloria Vázquez

TNT Youth Program Director Contact me
Gloria Vázquez

Gloria Vázquez


TNT Youth Program Director

Gloria is originally from Mexico City. She studied High School at Teresa de Avila Institute in México City. She worked as a bilingual executive secretary in important companies in Mexico such as Hylsa and Dinámica S. A. de C. V. both of these belonging to: Grupo Alfa among others. Gloria studied and earned a degree in Biblical Counseling at Christ for the Nations in  Dallas, Texas. She worked as a bilingual secretary and interpreter at Christ for the Nations and at   U. S. Probation Office, Dallas, Texas Division.

Gloria and her husband collaborated in different community programs in Mexico City and created a youth leadership model. For 10 years they had a youth group of  800 students or more weekly. During that time they trained a number of youth leaders and traveled worldwide  sharing their experience with youth leadership.

After the death of her daughters and her husband, Gloria wrote a total of three published books: “La Neta del Planeta de los Jóvenes”, “La Cuna Vacía”  and “Dónde Está Dios Cuando Más Lo Necesito” In addition to writing in collaboration with other authors in different books, magazines and columns.

Currently Gloria works as a Certified Interpreter. She is one of the founders of Amigas Punto Com and director of the youth group TNT Transformando Nuestra Tierra, which stands for: Transforming Our Land. She is the guest speaker in countless events worldwide and participates in weekly radio and television programs.

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Martha Escobedo

Martha Escobedo

Youth Program Coordinator TNT Contact me
Martha Escobedo

Martha Escobedo


Youth Program Coordinator TNT

Martha Escobedo is currently employed as an Administrative Assistant at Russell Trailer Leasing, Inc., She is serving as a Program Coordinator for our Youth Program; TNT (Transformando Nuestra Tierra – Transforming Our Land).

Martha graduated from the School of Tourism at the Universidad Autónoma of Baja California, Mexico. After graduating, she worked for the State Tourism Agency of Baja California, Mexico.  Her work was instrumental in getting business owners to donate much needed supplies to orphanages in Rosarito, B.C. and Tijuana, B.C., Mexico.

Martha has generously served as volunteer in several Non-Profit organization for many years. She volunteered at El Taller del Alfarero Church as a Sunday School Teacher for many years.  She also launched a monthly News Bulleting for the church and participated in every fund-raising event the church organized.

In 2009 Martha moved to San Diego where she continued her volunteer work as part of the Women’s Ministry at La Roca Church. There she had the opportunity to grow and be a part of the team in charge of organizing conference breakfast, retreats, etc.  She was also involved in starting a program that provided much needed help to the General Hospital of Tijuana, B.C., Mexico.

Martha enjoys spending time with her three children and her granddaughter Isabella Grace.

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