Our Staff
Norma López
Executive Director
Norma was raised in a strong union household, and Labor has always been an important part of her life. Her roots in the Labor Movement began with her grandfathers, who represented farm workers, bus drivers, and taxi drivers in Mexico, and continued as she walked picket lines alongside her father, a 28-year member of Steelworkers Local 515. These experiences shaped Norma’s lifelong commitment to improving the lives of working men and women, their families, and the communities they call home.
Throughout her career, Norma has worked to empower workers to have the courage to confront the new and ever-changing challenges facing Labor. She has developed, implemented, and executed plans that educate, organize, and mobilize union members while building a culture in which workers recognize the importance of investing in and strengthening their communities.
The experience and knowledge Norma brings to Labor Community Services in coalition building, organizing and political campaigns, and community outreach exemplify her ability to effectively mobilize workers and communities.
During her 29 years in the Labor Movement, Norma has worked with SEIU, the Teamsters, and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor under the leadership of Martin Ludlow, Maria Elena Durazo, and Miguel Contreras. As the former Mobilization Director for the LA Fed, Norma assisted more than 850,000 union members throughout Los Angeles County during labor disputes, often working in collaboration with Labor Community Services.
Since becoming Executive Director of Labor Community Services two and a half years ago, Norma has helped lead the organization through some of the most challenging moments facing working families in Los Angeles County. Under her leadership, Labor Community Services was on the front lines responding to the Palisades and Eaton Fires, providing affected families with critical food assistance and temporary housing. The organization also stepped up to assist TSA workers who went months without pay during the federal government shutdown, providing food assistance and temporary help with essential household bills.
In 2025 alone, Labor Community Services assisted more than 69,000 families, demonstrating the growing reach and impact of the organization and its ability to respond when working families and communities need help most.
Norma’s extensive experience with organized labor, elected officials, and community-based organizations has prepared her with the skills and relationships necessary to continue strengthening and expanding the work of Labor Community Services. Her leadership remains focused on ensuring the organization can provide essential services to working families and some of Los Angeles County’s most vulnerable communities, including those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, underserved, unemployed or underemployed, as well as seniors and veterans.
Ulisses Sanchez
Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships
As Director of Communications and Strategic Partnerships, Ulisses leads our outreach efforts in the community and abroad. With an extensive resume stretching 20 years in local and state government along with private enterprise, Ulisses has been involved in many large-scale political and marketing campaigns. After serving under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s administration, Ulisses served in the California State Legislature as Communications Director and working on a multitude of public policy efforts dealing with IT Infrastructure, Transportation and Housing Development in Southern California. In 2011, Ulisses left the state legislature and launched his own communications and outreach firm, Centro Strategies, where he has worked with various elected officials, labor unions, businesses and non-profit organizations on their media and community outreach strategies. His efforts have led to success landmark victories which include the successful entitlement process for the Weingart Center’s large-scale, two-tower, transitional and supportive housing facility located in the Downtown Los Angeles Skid Row area (the largest of the Prop HHH-funded developments in the City of Los Angeles) and playing a key role in securing the historic $15 million grant from the State of California for Labor Community Services..
Ulisses has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from CalTech.
Gabriela Clatenco Martinez
Director of Grants Administration
Gabriela serves as the Director of Grants Administration, where she oversees grant administration and supports the organization’s mission through effective grant operations, compliance, and stewardship. She is passionate about advancing economic and educational equity communities. Gabriela holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics with a minor in business administration with a concentration in Finance from UCR.
Prior to joining Labor Community Services, Gabriela worked at the Inland Empire Labor Council, AFL-CIO (IELC) serving San Bernardino and Riverside Counties as Political Coordinator, Special Projects Coordinator, and Special Projects Director. She has worked on different political campaigns across two counties and has played a key role in building relationships with funders and supporting the organization’s long-term sustainability. Through these experiences, she has developed valuable expertise in organizing, coalition building, fundraising, and community engagement.