ABOUT
Who we are.
Sembrando Flores was founded by health professions educators who kept meeting talented students in underserved communities. Many of them had never met a health professional who looked like them. We are changing that: one cohort, one school, one community at a time.
Our mission
To cultivate the next generation of health leaders from underserved communities by providing authentic representation, career exploration, and structured support, so students can see themselves in healthcare and commit to returning home to serve.
Our vision
Young people from rural, medically underserved areas pursue health careers with confidence, equipped with skills, mentorship, and a commitment to serve their home communities.
THE PEOPLE
Meet the board.
Christopher G. Martija-Flores
Co-Founder
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PhD student at the MGH Institute of Health Professions · M.S. in Health Professions Education, Loma Linda University · B.S. in Dental Hygiene, Loma Linda University. Currently Assistant Professor at the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry, serving the periodontics predoctoral department and the dental hygiene department.
Jessica Flores-Martija
Co-Founder
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M.A.T. in Teaching · B.A. in History, La Sierra University. Social Studies teacher at Redlands Unified School District, specializing in project-based and collaborative learning.
Daniela Hernandez
Director of School Partnerships
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M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, Harvard Graduate School of Education · B.A. in Liberal Studies, Cal State San Bernardino. Co-developed a bilingual, LCAP-aligned family engagement curriculum delivered across California.
Nonprofit status: Sembrando Flores is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation and an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.