About
A proud girl dad, Dominican, Afro-Latino, and Afro-Caribbean leader, Jason proudly calls Montgomery County home. With over 15 years of experience in public policy, constituent services, and grassroots organizing, he has been a driving force in expanding economic opportunities, advancing social justice, and uplifting underserved communities. Whether coaching his daughter’s soccer team or mentoring future leaders, he is dedicated to inspiring the next generation. His deep-rooted commitment to equity, opportunity, and community-driven leadership continues to shape his work in legislation, advocacy, and coalition-building across Maryland.
In his role as Chief of Staff to Delegate Deni Taveras, Jason has played a crucial part in shaping Maryland’s legislative landscape. He has drafted over 50 bills and led the passage of significant policies that expand economic opportunities, protect immigrant communities, improve transportation safety, and promote climate and clean energy solutions. His leadership has been vital in advocating for affordable and sustainable housing while ensuring that investments in clean energy, environmental justice, and infrastructure prioritize disadvantaged communities.
Among his notable legislative achievements, Jason successfully championed Rudy’s Law, a nationally recognized consumer protection bill that mandates testing for heavy metals in baby food. He also collaborated with the Motor Vehicle Administration to implement Spanish-language CDL exams, breaking barriers for Latinx workers in the transportation industry. His commitment to ensuring equal access to opportunities has positively impacted countless lives across Maryland.
In addition to his legislative work, Jason is deeply committed to constituent services. He has resolved hundreds of cases to help families access housing, healthcare, legal aid, and small business support. He actively collaborates with over 200 stakeholders on local and state initiatives, ensuring that underserved communities receive the resources they need. As Chairman of the Latinx Diversity Leadership Council, he focuses on increasing Latinx voter turnout, fostering youth leadership, and building strong partnerships with community organizations to amplify political power.
Yolanda R. Quintanilla is a financial and policy specialist and proud HBCU grad and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Graduate of Emerge Maryland. Born into both black and Puerto Rican heritage, she has dedicated her life to advocacy work for vulnerable communities. Yolanda has over 15 years of experience in community advocacy for youth development, immigration reform, human trafficking, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education as well as a Master in Public Administration from Bowie State University.
A self-described “soccer mom” for her 9-year-old daughter, Yolanda has fought and advocated to create a better future for her family as well as her community.
Karen Guzmán (she/her/ella) is the Director of Community and Economic Development for Prince George’s County Council Member Olson in District 3. Prior to joining the Prince George’s County Council, Karen served as a Parent Community Organizer at Prince George’s County Educators’ Association, where she worked on innovative virtual organizing with core teams of parent/teacher circles in community schools throughout Prince George’s County, Maryland. Karen also served as a Health Services Promoter Peace Corps Volunteer in Inharrime, Mozambique supporting Youth Development, HIV, and Malaria prevention initiatives and treatment retention, specifically amongst women and adolescents. Before joining the Peace Corps, Karen worked at Partners of the Americas, where she streamlined and managed the organization’s grassroots volunteer network and higher educational institution portfolio. Karen began her career as a Community Organizer for United We Dream Affiliate Organizations in Maryland, advocating for immigration rights on a national and local level. She is passionate about data-driven results, social justice issues, advocacy, and empowering others. Karen holds a B.A. in Sociology and minors in U.S. Latino/a Studies and International Development and Conflict Management from the University of Maryland-College Park. She is a proud Bolivian- American and Prince George’s County resident. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, traveling, and writing poetry.
Carlos Miguel Paulino Jr. is a Bronx-born artist and military veteran passionate about creating captivating artwork and helping others achieve their goals. Growing up surrounded by graffiti artists, he developed an eye for simplicity within chaos. With a Bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and Animation, he founded TruthBeTold Life Designs in 2021. Carlos has extensive experience in design, working as a bilingual content creator, brand designer, and VFX artist. He has created high-quality ad campaigns, designed logos and brand manuals, and edited videos for various clients. His creativity and dedication to maintaining brand integrity make him a valuable asset in any creative project.
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Kony Serrano Portillo has lived in Maryland for over 5 years and currently serves as a Council Member for the Town of Edmonston in Prince George’s County. Ms. Serrano-Portillo also works as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Prince George’s County Council. Ms. Serrano-Portillo was born and raised in El Salvador and came to the United States at 9 years old. She was raised in an advocacy environment for human, civil, and immigrant rights. Ms. Serrano-Portillo lobbied in the Maryland General Assembly for two years, advocating for healthcare access for all, regardless of immigrant status. She currently continues to work on advocating for immigrant’s rights, the gender wage gap, and health care access. Outside of her work at the County Council. Ms. Serrano-Portillo loves to travel and spend time with her family, friends, and rescue dog, Kahlo.
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Carlos Hernandez Tavares Carlos Hernandez Tavares was born in Venezuela before immigrating to Maryland when he was a year old, growing up in Montgomery County. Carlos worked as the Latino Community Organizer during the 2024 campaign and has legislative experience at both the state and federal levels, along with experience working with unions, voting reform groups, and think tanks. He is most proud of his time working with UNITE HERE Local 25 to help organize prominent D.C. restaurants. He believes that the future of Maryland and our country lies in its growing Latino population and that Maryland can serve as a model for Latino political organization and advocacy. In his free time, Carlos enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, playing the guitar, and hanging out with friends, usually while enjoying a board game or two.