Our Board

Carmen Méndez

Carmen Méndez was born in Yakima; growing up, she spent her time between Yakima and her family’s hometown Colima, Mexico. She returned to Yakima in 2004, where she graduated. She attended the University of Washington and Heritage University, where she graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and a minor in Spanish.

She has worked in the nonprofit sector for over eight years locally and state-wide, working with elected officials and community engagement; Carmen started her career with Northwest Harvest in April of 2020 as the Agricultural Procurement Specialist and currently the Director of Hunger Response Network and Distribution for Northwest Harvest.

She has served proudly as one of the first Latinas elected to the Yakima City Council in 2016. Carmen serves on the TVW-Washington State Public Relations Board, SOZO Sports of Central Washington Board, and a Yakima Downtown Rotarian.

Carmen enjoys spending time with her daughter, and two dogs Zana and Onyx. Carmen and her daughter like traveling, trying new food, cooking together, snowboarding, and spending time with family. Carmen also enjoys staying active, including playing intramural softball, paddle boarding on the Yakima River, and riding bikes.

Carmen Méndez has been a member of the Arcora Foundation Board since 2017.