Q&A with New Board Member Nancy Coleman-Chavez

The Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce proudly welcomes a new board member from JPMorgan Chase, Nancy Coleman-Chavez, Community Engagement Relations Manager for Northern California. JPMorgan Chase and SacAsian share a commitment to uplifting communities of color, a mission that Nancy embodies. Nancy shared some insight into her goals and new role in this Q&A.

Scroll past the Q&A to view Nancy’s full bio. Read the full press release on the news here.

Q: Tell me about your role and what drives you?

A: I am a Community Engagement Relationship Manager for Northern California. Part of my role is to ensure our partnerships are strengthened and create new partnerships with organizations throughout Northern California that are doing the work to uplift communities of color who have been marginalized for so long. Part of what drives me is my background. I’ve been involved in social justice and policy most of my life. Growing up, both my parents were journalists and I remember watching them support community equity and justice through their writing. Now, as a new board member for SacAsian, I’m excited to bring new ideas to the table and work with members and the leaders of the Chamber to help make an impact in the community.

Q: With 2022 well under way, what is your goal for making an impact in local communities across Northern California this year?

A: One of my biggest goals for this year is to reach out to smaller organizations throughout Northern California. Although they’re on the smaller scale, their work is mighty. By establishing those relationships, I want to help make an even bigger impact in the community. My mission is to work with local organizations to uplift communities of color, ensuring that they have the tools and funds to create generational wealth, support small business growth, create and preserve affordable housing, and provide financial education and neighborhood revitalization.

Q: What’s some key advice that’s helped you throughout your career?

A: As a woman of color and immigrant, one of the biggest and most meaningful pieces of advice I received in my career has been to work hard, be loyal, and always be open for improvements. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for your seat at the table.

Q: Advice for breaking into your industry?

A: Never forget where you came from. Always be polite and shake as many hands as you can to network. Lastly, ensure that those relationships that you created by networking are fostered and cultivated. There’s always a door open for you to enter this industry.

Nancy Coleman-Chavez is a catalyst for meaningful, positive, and sustainable change in communities across the state and abroad. She started at JPMorgan Chase as a Relationship Manager for the Community Engagement team within Corporate Responsibility on July 26, 2021. She has vast experience in California politics as she previously worked for eight years in the California State Assembly. The past two years as a Strategic Communications Consultant for the Democratic Office of Communications and Outreach for the Speaker of the Assembly; and previously as a Senior Assistant to different Assemblymembers giving her the opportunity to become familiar with different regions in California. During those eight years she also acquire vast experience working on campaigns all through California, from knocking on doors, to helping with communications strategy, Nancy has been able to understand and see firsthand the needs of Californians all throughout the state.

Before joining the Assembly, Nancy worked for the Council of States Governments-WEST (CSG-WEST) filling three very important positions as Coordinator for the Health Committee (thirteen Western States), International Projects (between U.S.A., Canada and Mexico), and the Border Legislative Conference (ten border states between U.S.A and Mexico). She identified, cultivated, and managed local, state and federal alliances to support and enhance CSG-West ability to achieve its strategic goals and objectives. She also helped bridge the gap on different issues affecting communities all over the US like housing, water, immigration, health, trade, justice.

In 2017, she graduated from HOPE’s (Hispanas Organized for Political Empowerment) Leadership Institute, giving her even more tools to confront the disparities in the Hispanic communities across the State. She also has a Bachelor on Interpretation and Translation from Instituto Superior de Interpretes y Traductores in Mexico City. She is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and also speaks French and some Portuguese.

Outside of the office, Nancy serves as a volunteer for two nonprofits. She serves as a board member for the Throwing Starfish Foundation, helping foster kids, people affected by the California Fires and our homeless neighbors. At Haven for Birth, Nancy volunteers on the weekends as a doula helping low-income families have the information needed to have the birth they deserve because justice starts at birth.

Besides being passionate at work and as a volunteer, Nancy is very passionate about her family. She is happily married to her husband of 11 years, Larry, who works for AMTRAK and is also an Air Force veteran currently serving in our Reserves. She has two kids Sofia Hope, 9, and Alexander Honor, 5, and a rescue dog named Hank.

Learn more about the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce Board here.