Born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Pilar Montenegro (she/her/hers) received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2018 and is now an experienced survivor advocate. She has worked with survivors of intimate partner and sexual violence for the past 6 years, but has focused on institutional advocacy within higher education for the past 3 years.
She has volunteered with various agencies, including both nonprofit and governmental organizations, such as Peace Over Violence, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, and the El Monte Promise Foundation, for the past 10 years. She promotes volunteering as a way to remain grounded and community-oriented. Pilar thoroughly believes in the importance of confidential support that centers autonomy, accessibility, and accountability.
She enjoys using art as a tool to connect with students, help process trauma, and encourage reflection and change. In her free time, Pilar enjoys photography, sewing, non-fiction books, and spending time with her two cats: Olaf and Capucine.