about ana

Ana Gonzalez is a mother of 2, community advocate and has been a dedicated resident and leader in the City of Rialto since moving here at the age of 9 in 1996.

Her early commitment to civic engagement began during her time at Eisenhower High School, where she served as MEChA Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice President before graduating in 2005.

From 2006 to 2013, Ana was a small business owner while actively supporting local youth sports, particularly Rialto Little League programs at Birdsall Park, where her son played for many years. Her passion for community service deepened in 2015 when she began her civic volunteer work, leading high school voter registration efforts with LULAC Inland Empire and successfully registering over 840 students.

In 2016, Ana completed the Rialto Institute of Progress, further strengthening her understanding of local government and the importance of civic participation. Her leadership continued to grow as she was appointed to the Rialto Budget Advisory Committee from 2017 to 2018, where she contributed to addressing key city financial issues, including the Rialto Utility Tax.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ana played a vital role in supporting Rialto and other Inland Empire families by assisting with rent and utility relief efforts and advocating for small businesses facing economic hardship. From 2022 to 2024, she served on the Community Advisory Committee for the Rialto General Plan Update, where she helped shape the Environmental Justice Element and other elements. This effort successfully brought the city into compliance with California Senate Bill 1000 in 2024.

Ana’s academic achievements reflect her commitment to education and community empowerment. She earned Associate Degrees in Business Administration and Liberal Studies, with an emphasis in Social and Behavioral Sciences and Humanities, from San Bernardino Valley College. She later graduated from California State University, San Bernardino with a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, focusing on K-8 education, along with a minor in Sociology.

Today, Ana serves as the Executive Director of the Center for Community Action and Environmental Justice, a 47-year-old organization dedicated to advocating for clean air, clean water, and improved quality of life. In this role, she recently represented over 105 Rialto residents in successfully advancing the compliance of the Rialto Housing Element. Ana also supported 16 Rialto families who lost everything in a catastrophic apartment complex fire at the end of 2025.

Ana Gonzalez’s lifelong dedication to Rialto is rooted in service, leadership, and advocacy. She remains deeply committed to uplifting and empowering all residents and continues to be a driving force for positive change in her community.

Ana’s leadership and service have been widely recognized locally and state wide:

2017- Ana received the Woman of Distinction Award from the Chicano Latino Caucus of San Bernardino County and LULAC.

2017 – Ana was later honored as one of Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes’ “30 Under 30” leaders.

2020 – Ana received the 2020 League of Women Voters Citizens of Achievement Award, for outstanding leadership in civic engagement.

2022 – Ana was named Woman of the Year in Civic Engagement by the Art and Science Cultural Center of the Inland Empire.

2023 – Who’s Who Award for Community Service Champion from the Rialto Democratic Club.

2025 – Ana was awarded the prestigious California State Senate California Woman of the Year Award by State Senator Eloise Gómez Reyes.

2025 – Ana was honored with a certificate of recognition by LULAC de Ontario for Civic Engagement Leadership and the 2025 LULAC conference at Pitzer College.

2026 – Ana was awarded the first annual Rialto Women’s History Month Award by Mayor Joe Baca.