Juan Gomez, Co-founder and Executive Director of MILPA, is a proud father and member of the Tap Pilam Coahuiltecan Nation, with Chicano heritage from Zacatecas. Raised with strong community values, he serves as a cultural broker and movement builder. At MILPA, he cultivates youth leadership and healing-centered team building, drawing from his extensive experience in youth justice. 

He provides technical assistance for organizational development and strategic facilitation, and oversees grant and resource development at MILPA, building on his work at The California Endowment. Currently, Juan is pursuing a Master of Arts in Leadership and Sustainability at the University of Vermont, where he is a Henrietta Mann Fellow. He enjoys road trips, bird watching, and historic site exploration, enriching his perspective and fueling his commitment to community.