Vera Institute of Justice

MJ Vides is a program associate with Vera California, supporting policy ideation, advocacy initiatives, and power building in the Bakersfield/Kern County region and at the state level to advance care first investments and create well-resourced communities.

Before joining Vera in 2022, MJ was a fifth-grade reading teacher in Dallas and, more recently, a policy advocate with the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles. Her work in Los Angeles County helped secure an investment in legal services for immigrant communities through Represent LA. She also played a key role in advocating for pandemic recovery investments as part of the Immigrants Are Los Angeles campaign.

In addition to her work at Vera, MJ is a board member for Teach For America’s Immigration & Education Alliance.

MJ holds a BA in public policy analysis from Pomona College and an MEd in urban education from Southern Methodist University.