MICASA Team

José Flores

MICASA Student Success Coordinator

¡Saludos desde MICASA! My name is José and I was born and raised in Los Ángeles. I currently reside in the neighboring community of Willowbrook and I joined El Camino College in June of 2024. I received my B.A. in Latin American & Latino Studies and Sociology from University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) and my M.A. in Education, Option in Social & Cultural Analysis in Education from California State University, Long Beach (CSULB). Prior to joining El Camino College, I served as Program Coordinator for the Men of Color in Education (MCE) program, which is a campus initiative designed to recruit, support, and retain Black and Latino male teacher candidates at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

I am a first-generation college student and an alumnus of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). I am also the child of immigrant parents: my mother immigrated to the U.S. from Jalisco, México when she was a teenager, and my father immigrated from Intibucá, Honduras when he was in his early 20s—a journey that took him two years to complete. Undoubtedly, my lived experiences and relationship with my family have shaped and continue to influence my work and research in education.

As important as this work is to me, I’m also committed to acts of self-care. Outside of work, I spend my time camping, backpacking, and fishing. When I’m not outdoors, you can catch me at a sports game—I’m a huge LA sports fan: go Dodgers, Lakers, Rams, and Kings! Last but certainly not least, I’m an anime fanatic. My top five favorites are One Piece, Attack on Titan, Samurai Champloo, Bleach, and Jujutsu Kaisen.

 

Erika Cabrera

MICASA Student Services Specialist

Hi! My name is Erika Cabrera and I am from Bell Gardens. I have lived in Bell Gardens most of my life, but I have also lived in Sacramento, Santa Barbara, Washington DC, and Massachusetts. I received my B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara (USCB) and my J.D. with a concentration in Capital Lawyering from McGeorge School of Law. At McGeorge, I was the President of the Latinx Law Students Association (LLSA), which is an organization that provides Latinx students a comunidad to lean on during law school. Currently, I work for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) as a part-time law clerk and continue to study for the California State Bar exam.

I am the daughter of immigrant parents that emigrated from Mexico at the age of 15. Both of my parents are hardworking individuals that I admire and am grateful for. My parents are a great support system and the reason I was able to become the first in my family to graduate from law school. My family and journey are the reasons I work so hard to provide resources and advocate for my community.

During my free time I like to attend LA Galaxy soccer games, sing, go on walks, and play with my nephew and nieces. I also love to read and listen to crime podcasts like CrimeJunkie. I enjoy listening to all kinds of music, but some of my favorites are mariachi, banda, and reggaeton.

As a first-generation student I understand how difficult and scary it can be to navigate school and figure out your future. I am here to help and provide support in any way possible."