2017 Latina of Influence | Rosa M. Fregoso
Hispanic Lifestyle is pleased to recognize trusts and estates attorney attorney Rosa M. Fregoso as a 2017 Latina of Influence. Ms. Fregoso along with our entire list of 2017 Latinas of Influence are invited to participate in Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2017 Latina Conference taking place April 5 – 6, 2017 in Ontario, California.
Rosa M. Fregoso is a trusts and estates attorney with the Velasco Law Group. She has been an attorney, licensed to practice in the State of California, since 1992. Ms. Fregoso is fluent in Spanish and she is active in the community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Variety Boys and Girls Club in Boyle Heights and Lideres Campesinas, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on assisting farm worker women. She is a member of the Latina Lawyers Bar Association, the Mexican American Bar Association, the Los Angeles County Bar Association Trust and Estates Section, The California State Bar Trusts and Estates Section. Rosa also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Latina Business Women’s Association, Los Angeles Chapter (NLBWA) whose mission is to encourage Latinas to develop their business and professional skills through education, business referrals, networking and building relationships.
About the interview: Rosa talks about her background and passion for educating underserved communities.
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California San Diego, graduating cum laude.
- Master of Arts degree in Latin American Studies from the University of California Berkeley
- Law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law at the University of California Berkeley
Her personal story is inspiring on every level. She was the only little Hispanic girl growing up in her neck of the woods, Sherman Oaks. Rosa experienced racism at an early age because she stood out to be different than her classmates. (Of course, she was a Latina) This was no difference when she attended Law School. She was one of a handful of Latinas in her class. She still experienced hostility from others that did not share her passion for diversity.
Rosa M. Fregoso, Esq.
She is very accomplished, graduated from Berkley. She began her career as a staff Attorney at the Legal Aid foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) as an Immigration Attorney. One of her experiences includes working with” Lideres Campesinas” which is a Non Profit devoted to empowering farm worker women in the State of California. Their mission statement, is to develop leadership among campesinas so that they serve as agents of political, social and economic change in the farmworker community. This leadership has created an organization by and for campesinas. The approach emphasizes capacity building, democratic decision-making, advocacy, peer training and leadership development as well as a mixture of traditional and innovative education, outreach and mobilizing methods such as house meetings, arts, and theatrical presentations at community venues”. Rosa currently serves on their Board of Directors.
Rosa’s experience includes conducting hearings before the United States Immigration Court, briefing and arguments before the Board of Immigration Appeals, state courts of appeal, and the United States 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ms. Fregoso also worked as a Trial Attorney with the Los Angeles County Alternate Public Defender’s Office. She represented clients charged with criminal offenses through every phase of the criminal process, including preliminary hearings and jury trials.
Rosa M. Fregoso joined Velasco Law Group as a Trust and Estate Attorney in 2014. She also serves on the Board of Directors for “Boys & Girls Club” in Boyle Heights and on the National Latina Business Women Association.
I describe Rosa M. Fregoso as an Attorney that has a heart that beats , is compassionate, caring, and tenacious. She always looks for the best interest of others. Submitted by Teresa Granados
