Mayra Soto
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
About:
Growing up as an immigrant in East County Mayra always found herself speaking up for others. At a young age, like many immigrant children, she found herself helping her parents with translation. It was her mother’s constant reminder, “Tienes que hablar para que te escuchen / You have to speak up to be heard,” that fueled her passion for advocacy work. From a young age she was determined to seek opportunities to be heard as a leader and ensure she could help others voices be lifted.
Through a high school leadership camp, Camp LEAD, she developed friendships with student leaders in all of Grossmont High School District. It was with them that she learnt of the advocacy work-taking place in San Diego to support the LGBTQ+ community. It was the summer of 2012 that she began to volunteer and she has not missed a year since! San Diego Pride’s value statement resonates with her on a deep level and it is work that she will always continue to support.
Mayra was born in Tijuana, B.C Mexico and immigrated at the age of four. She has lived in East County since. Mayra has a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology with a minor in Counseling and Social Change. Today Mayra is the Contingent and Volunteer Check-in Co-Manager with Deni Velez-Mack.