Al Hernandez-Santana, JD, MCP

Executive director of the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. Al joined LCHC from the California Catholic Conference, where he assisted Catholic Charities and directed the Division of Hispanic Affairs as their senior lobbyist and coordinator of Hispanic ministry in the Far West region covering California, Nevada, Guam and Hawaii.  He is responsible for the administrative and fiscal management of LCHC, as well as providing the leadership and vision for the organization along with its board of directors.  Mr. Hernandez has an extensive public policy background in health care, housing, immigrant rights and the budgetary process. He represented the California Primary Care Association, the state association of community clinics and health centers, as the Assistant Director of Government Programs; served as legislative aide for the Hon. Martha Escutia, State Assemblywoman for the 50th District, and as consultant in the California State Assembly Judiciary Committee; and also worked for Consumers Union, not-for-profit publisher of Consumer Reports, in their San Francisco office as the national Fellow for Economic Justice.  In his twenties, Mr. Hernandez earned an officer’s commission in the U.S. Army and was stationed primarily in Texas and under NATO command in Europe.  He holds a graduate degree in Urban Planning from UC Berkeley and a Juris Doctorate from University of California, Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. He has two daughters and lives in Sacramento.