Your Voice, Your Future
Wednesday, November 12, 5:30pm
Your Voice, Your Future
Join us to learn how communication plays a role in making change in our communities. Elected officials will share tips for the best ways to get your message across and how they communicate with constituents. Natalia Alarcon, Carpinteria City Council District 2 representative, and Mónica Solórzano, District 1 representative, ran for office because they wanted to make an impact on the areas they love. Take a page from their success! Natalia and Mónica will speak about their professional journeys, successful communication strategies, and their perspectives on the best ways to advocate for yourself and others.
Location: Workzones Santa Barbara
Members free, Guests $25, Includes refreshments
About our presenters:
Natalia Alarcon, Carpinteria City Council District 2 Representative
Natalia Alarcon is a dedicated community advocate and public servant with roots in Santa Barbara County. With a career built in the nonprofit sector, she has worked to support youth, families, and underrepresented communities through programs focused on equity and access.
She currently serves as the Mayor of the City of Carpinteria, after making history in 2020 as the first Latina elected to the Carpinteria City Council. In this role, Natalia brings a collaborative and inclusive approach to leadership, grounded in listening, equity, and community connection.
A first-generation college graduate, Natalia earned her degree from UC Santa Barbara and later completed a master’s in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. Her background in mental health and community work has shaped her belief in the power of empathy, education, and effective communication to drive meaningful change.
Mónica Solórzano, District 1 Representative
Mónica J. Solórzano was elected in 2022 to represent Carpinteria’s First District on the City Council, where she works to build a more inclusive, responsive local government that reflects the voices and values of the community. She brings nearly two decades of experience in higher education administration at UC Santa Barbara, where she has worked to advance research, strengthen university-government partnerships, and support faculty leadership through roles in the Office of Research, Office of Government Relations, and the Academic Senate.
Before her work in higher education, Mónica served in both Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles as a Congressional staff member for former U.S. Representative Xavier Becerra, where she focused on federal policy, constituent services, and community engagement. Deeply committed to public service beyond City Hall, Mónica currently serves on the boards of the Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District and the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, and has been an active participant in UCSB’s staff-to-staff mentorship program, Gaucho Mentor Connection, for the past ten years. She is also a long-standing leader in the Aliso Elementary School parent community, championing educational opportunities and family engagement.
Mónica earned her Bachelor’s degree in History from Princeton University and a Master’s in Education from Columbia University.