Adriana Sanchez-Ochoa’s 10 Years at NextGen
Let’s Talk… Adriana Sanchez-Ochoa’s 10 Years at NextGen
NextGen California’s Chief Deputy Director Reflects Back on a Decade of Fighting for Equity and Justice
October 15, 2026
Since our inception 10 years ago, I’ve had the privilege of being a part of the executive leadership team of NextGen Policy, serving as its Chief Deputy Director for much of that time. I’ve watched as our original team of six former legislative staffers has grown into a thriving and hardworking group of now over 20 policy advisors as well as program, development, political, and communications professionals. Over the last 10 years, that original very small NextGen team has evolved into one of the more powerful policy and advocacy forces in and around the State Capitol but also across the state. We’ve supported hundreds of bills, secured billions of dollars in budget resources, and built strong relationships with a very diverse group of nonprofit organizations, policy coalitions, philanthropic partners, and elected officials. The work we’ve done to advance our mission of creating a more equitable, prosperous, and climate resilient California for all has been a humbling experience and nothing short of extraordinary.
As NextGen celebrates its 10th anniversary, I can’t help but reflect back on how far we’ve come and how my career led me to work with this wonderful team.
My Early Days at NextGen
When Arnie Sowell Jr. approached me to join NextGen in 2016, I was hesitant. Having spent 18 years in various capacities within the California Legislature, I felt comfortable where I was. Taking the leap to start a new organization meant stepping outside my comfort zone and into unfamiliar territory. However, on September 1st, 2016, I began my career with NextGen and I’ve never looked back. The team that we’ve built is a dedicated, hardworking, and passionate group of individuals committed every day to making a meaningful impact on the world around them. To us, the pursuit of economic, social, racial, and environmental justice goes far beyond just speaking on behalf of others—it’s about actively working to shift the political power dynamics, reforming inequitable systems and policies, and uplifting and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. The bills we work on, the budget requests we advance, the programmatic and regulatory changes we tackle, and the coalitions we partner with, are all about building intentional strategies that ultimately will result in structural, justice centered reforms. These shared values motivate me every day to show up and fight to improve the lives of ALL Californians.
Over the past decade, we’ve collectively championed budget items that provide additional funding to under-resourced communities, sponsored legislation that accelerated the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy, and worked to close program loopholes that excluded those most in need from essential services, like clean drinking water, affordable housing, and quality healthcare. Our mission remains focused on rebalancing power and building a just system that works fairly for everyone. Our long-term vision centers on deepening our partnerships with diverse community coalitions across the state to build lasting power where it matters most. By listening to grassroots leaders and aligning our advocacy efforts with their lived experiences, we’re strengthening our ongoing commitment to shaping a more just, inclusive, and equitable future for California.
A Top Moment from the Past Decade
Among the many impactful moments that I have been a part of over the last 10 years, one in particular stands out—a moment that, to me, confirmed that I was in the right place, with the right group of people, doing the right work. Given my years of working on immigration policy, one would think this would be a story focused on immigrant rights but it is a story focused on the lack of access to quality and affordable broadband services that face millions of Californians.
During the pandemic, the stark reality of digital inequity became impossible to ignore. The infamous, heartbreaking image of two young girls sitting in a car outside a Taco Bell in Salinas so they could use their Wi-Fi in order to do their homework served as a powerful wake-up call that digital access was a pressing issue facing millions of Californians across our state – and one that could not be ignored. Driven by a shared conviction that we could not stay silent, a close colleague and I began convening partners in this space to talk more about this issue and begin to craft a policy action plan. From those initial discussions, six core organizations came together to launch the California Alliance for Digital Equity (CADE)—a coalition focused on expanding digital inclusion across the state.
CADE has now been in existence for over 5 years – it has secured billions to build broadband in rural, tribal, and underserved urban areas across the state; passed bills that improve digital access, affordability, and inclusion; grown its membership to over 25 organizations; and received almost $100,000 in grant funding to carry on its work. Helping to establish CADE and initiating NextGen’s efforts to become a co-founder of this incredible organization has been one of the most memorable and proudest highlights of my career at NextGen.
Reflecting on My Life’s Work
My career in politics and public service has spanned more than 25 years and I am who I am today because of my work and all the opportunities afforded to me by so many amazing mentors. These experiences shaped my way of thinking and confirmed that anyone with the drive and desire to succeed can do so – even an immigrant from Colombia who came to this country undocumented at the age of four, because her mother believed in the dream. Not necessarily the American dream, but the dream that all things are possible.
Navigating two cultures, overcoming language barriers, and witnessing my family's perseverance taught me early on that lived experiences are the most powerful tools for policy change. Those early lessons in resilience directly fueled my commitment to advocating for marginalized communities and ensuring that our public institutions serve everyone, especially those who are too often left behind.
That same resilience has carried me through one of the hardest personal struggles of my life: navigating my health as a stage four breast cancer survivor. Facing such a diagnosis while continuing to show up for the communities we serve has deepened my sense of purpose, empathy, and urgency in the fight for health equity and healthcare access. As I look toward retirement in 2029, I’m as committed as ever to using every remaining day in this role as NextGen’s Chief Deputy Director to fight for equity, justice, and the communities that inspire me. My journey—from an undocumented child to a breast cancer survivor to the Chief Deputy Director of a powerful nonprofit—has taught me that no battle is too great when we stand together for what is right.
Thanks for reading,
