Type: Staff

Suzy Jacobson

Executive Administrative Assistant

Suzy is the new Executive Administrative Assistant for Californians Together.  She has worked in nonprofit environments for almost a decade in settings that support leadership training for immigrants and young folks of color in the greater Puget Sound area, work to create cities that embrace good planning and good government, and that strive to create a fair, equitable, and peaceful world for everyone. Suzy supports the work of our leadership team, coordinates the Californians Together Coalition, and is the Executive Board Liaison.

Szabi Kiss

Brand Manager

Szabi is a designer with a knack for creating pragmatic and innovative visuals with a focus on community and creativity. He has crafted branding and graphics for organizations in a range of fields, including entertainment, music, nonprofits, and advocacy organizations. He graduated from MIT with a degree in Urban Planning and Architectural Design, focusing his studies on community development, and community-engaged art.

Born and raised in Budapest, Szabi learned English at the age of 9 from his mother and at the small public elementary school he attended. His multicultural and bilingual background is integral to his work in design and his other passions, like visual art, music, and fantasy world-building.

Tamara Orozco

Director of Communications

As Director of Communications at Californians Together, Tamara Orozco leads the development and execution of strategic communications that amplify the organization’s mission, increase visibility, and drive engagement with key audiences. She oversees multichannel efforts across digital, print, and media platforms—including social media, email, website, and public relations—to support policy and advocacy initiatives on behalf of English learner students.

With more than 12 years of experience in nonprofit communications, Tamara has worked at the intersection of equity, education, and community impact. Her leadership has transformed internal processes, expanded reach, and brought storytelling to the forefront of organizational strategy. Prior to joining Californians Together, she led marketing and communications at the Museum of the African Diaspora and United Way Bay Area (UWBA), where her team earned an Emmy Award for a short video highlighting UWBA’s work.

Tamara is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and a Chicana, and was raised hearing stories in both English and Spanish on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Her bicultural upbringing and bilingual education continue to inform her values and approach to communications.

She holds a Master of Arts in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Arts in Raza Studies from San Francisco State University. She lives in Oakland, California, and enjoys travel, time with family, the arts, and exploring nature.

Vannarith Ou

Administrative Assistant

Van was born in a refugee camp in Cambodia and was brought to the US when he was 4 months old. He is bilingual in Khmer, which he uses regularly in his community. He has been with Californians Together since 2011 where his technical and administrative skills are deeply appreciated. He is committed to the vision of Californians Together and is dedicated to helping build capacity and outreach to educators and students. He enjoys his work because it is challenging and he enjoys the people he works with.

Victoria Weiss

Senior Director

Victoria serves as Senior Director at Californians Together, where she champions access and equity in education. She believes firmly that all children can learn and thrive when given the right tools, motivation, and a nurturing environment that encourages exploration and builds confidence. Central to this vision is her commitment to strategic professional development—Victoria works to deepen educators’ knowledge and effectiveness, equipping them to create inclusive, engaging learning experiences that resonate with diverse student populations and translate into meaningful classroom instruction. Literacy sits at the heart of her approach to education: she believes teachers should not only teach reading but model it themselves, using the practice to sharpen their own critical thinking and creativity. By embodying these habits, educators inspire students to collaborate more effectively and engage more deeply with their own learning. For Victoria, cultivating a culture of literacy is essential to shaping thoughtful, innovative, and collaborative members of society.

Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez 

Deputy Director

A native Californian, Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez is very proud to be both a fifth-generation Azusa, CA resident and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant. Understanding the similarities and differences between the life experiences of her parents in California schools has driven her passion to be an advocate for all students in California public schools. Aligned with this passion, she currently serves as Deputy Director for Californians Together, a statewide coalition that champions the success of multilingual learners and as co-chair and co-founder of the National Newcomer Network. She also served 21 years on the Azusa USD Board of Education and has served on the boards of several statewide and national non-profits, including serving as President of the California School Boards Association in 2020.