Rosa Soto
Rosa Soto is Executive Director of the Los Angeles General Medical Center Foundation, Inc. and The Wellness Center at the Historic General Hospital on the campus of Los Angeles General Medical Center in the Boyle Heights community of Los Angeles, California. During her tenure, the Foundation has grown to establish strong programs and services, fiscal sponsorships and partnerships in community. Her work has enabled referral pipelines and partnerships with more than 50 non-profit partners to help the community address food access and housing evictions, health and healthcare access, domestic violence and mental health.
Ms. Soto is a leader for children's rights and community health and has trained more than 500 community women and mentored more than 50 young women to develop their own voice and advocate for change in their communities. She received the Women's Commission 37th Annual “Women of the Year” Award for the First Supervisorial District in 2022. She leads the Health Innovation Community Partnership, a health equity table, established a Board of Supervisors Motion authored by Supervisor Solis, in 2017. HICP’s work has led to the passage of over a dozen county policies including transitional/permanent supportive housing, the restorative care village, local and target hire, the reuse of General Hospital and comprehensive community benefit policies. Additionally, Ms. Soto sits on the Measure J, Care First Community Investment (CFCI) initiative.
Ms. Soto is a first-generation Latina from very humble but hard-working Mexican parents. She grew up in Los Angeles' communities of East LA and Lincoln Heights and later South El Monte often experiencing systemic injustices and health adversities. She was the first in her family to attend college, earning a B.A. in political science and international relations from the University of Southern California.
As part of the Governance Reform Task Force, Ms. Soto is an At-Large member representing an unincorporated community. She believes that her experience in non-profit, policy and community-based organizing as well as her 20 years of residence in an unincorporated community gives her a unique perspective in addressing reform, representation, and transparency on behalf of LA County residents.
Ms. Soto is profiled in the Emmy Nominated movie, Food, Inc. In addition, she has been recognized by SGV YWCA Woman of the Year in Children's Health and the White House and First Lady Michelle Obama's Drink Up! Campaign for her work in childhood obesity prevention. She is most proud of her family and of being a mother to three incredible young people.