Lori is an interdisciplinary advocate, educator, and organizer working strategically to empower historically marginalized communities. Prior to her current consulting work, Lori was the Director of Civic Engagement at the Dolores Huerta Foundation (DHF). DHF’s redistricting campaign was the most comprehensive grassroots community mapping effort ever in the history of the Central Valley and led to two bills in the state legislature to establish Independent Redistricting Commissions for Fresno and Kern Counties. Lori earned her Juris Doctorate from UC Hastings College of the Law and has worked in a variety of public interest contexts including the San Francisco District Attorney’s office under Kamala Harris, the Kern County Public Defenders Office, public employee unions, legal aid organizations, and higher education.
Lori Pesante
Central Valley Community Advocate