I am the daughter of Ana Isabel, grand daughter of Enedina, and great-grand daughter of Maria de Jesus.
As a legacy of my maternal lineage, I walk this earth as my mother's first-born child and carry my grandmother's name, Enedina. I am my mother's daughter, hija de mi madre.
[Cue “María la Curandera” by Natalia Laforcade (2024) and “Mija” by Val Nine (2019)]
Karla Enedina Gómez-Pelayo
A vegan Taurus sun with a Leo rising and a Sagittarius moon dog mama.
Hola, thank you for being here!
I am Karla E. Gómez-Pelayo (she, her, ella), a Chicana born in Jalisco, Mexico, and raised in Napa Valley, California, on the land of the Patwin, Pomo, Miwok, and Onasatis. As an organic, food-certified intellectual, I have dedicated my life to growing liberatory futures and cultivating the connections that make them possible an educator, scholar, artist, organizer, leader, and storyteller. My tenure on the Board of Directors for Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center supported various programs and initiatives that directly benefited working-class, immigrant, and Latina/o/x communities. From 2020 to 2021, I served on the Board of Directors of the Napa Farmers Market to understand the essential role of local food systems in combating hunger and expanding access for working-class communities. Since 2023, I have volunteered with Rooted Santa Barbara, a disease-prevention organization that equips diverse communities with culturally relevant, plant-centered nutrition knowledge.
I am the oldest child and a first-generation scholar, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Chicana/o Studies and Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, proudly through Napa Valley College. After five years teaching in a K-12 Ethnic Studies program, I returned to graduate school, earning an M.A. in Women, Gender, Spirituality and Social Justice from the California Institute of Integral Studies, followed by a second M.A. in Chicana and Chicano Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). Currently, I am a doctoral student in Chicana and Chicano Studies at UCSB, examining the rise in contemporary production, consumption, and cultural impact of vegan Mexican food.
Beyond my teaching, research, and community commitments, you will find me experiencing life alongside my Chilean dog companion, Quilla (moon). My Earth sign joys also include hiking, farmers' market, salsa dancing, quality time with loved ones, and of course, vegan food.