Board & Advisory
Who we are.
La Sala is a non-profit organization fiscally sponsored by Shunpike. Board members and volunteers have powered this organization since its beginning.
Board
La Sala’s board and committees are expanding in 2024! New bios coming soon!
Board President and co-founding member
Catalina Marie Cantú is a retired attorney and Mediator with decades of experience in banking, real estate, land use, risk management, philanthropy, and organizational management. She is a multi-genre writer, interdisciplinary artist, Jack Straw Fellow and VONA/Voices Alum. Her writing has been published in numerous publications and anthologies. Catalina holds a B.A. in La Raza Studies, and a J.D. from the University of Washington, where she was a co-founding member of MEChA and Teatro del Piojo, the first Washington State Bilingual guerilla theater group. As a volunteer attorney, she managed the King County Bar Association Bilingual Spanish Legal Clinic. Catalina is a co-founding member and current Board President of La Sala, past chair of Los Norteños, NW Latino Writers Group, and past board member of legal and community boards.
Board Treasurer
Jim Cantú is an IT Project Manager with over fifteen years direct Project Management experience, including more than ten years’ experience managing budgets of over $20 million. He holds PMP Certification and an MBA. Jim recently joined the staff of El Centro de la Raza as their Operations Administrator, where he works on special projects. Jim is also poet, prose writer, and radio producer. He served as Writer-In-Residence for La Sala’s 2016 pop-up gallery “La Cocina.” He is a graduate of the Artist Trust Writer’s program. He produces and DJs KBCS 91.3 FM’s Latinx music show “Sabor” and KRVU 105.7 FMs weekly Arts program Hearts and Soul. In addition to serving on La Sala’s Board of Directors, he also serves on the boards of KVRU Radio and for the Seattle UNESCO City of Literature. Jim joined La Sala’s Board of Directors in 2016.
Staff
Executive Director
José Luis “Pepe” Montero is a bilingual writer, technologist, and literary advocate. Originally from Mexico, he spent two decades in the tech industry and explored diverse creative avenues including radio, photography, and filmmaking, before turning his focus to storytelling. Holding both an MBA and MFAs in Narrative and Poetry, he adeptly merges technology and creativity across for-profit and nonprofit spheres. His editorial journey includes internships at Copper Canyon Press and Narrative Magazine before joining the Jack Straw Writers Program in 2021. Committed to amplifying marginalized voices, particularly within the Latine/x community, he champions equity and diversity in the arts through various nonprofit roles. A former president of Seattle Escribe, he now leads the board of Seattle City of Literature, an organization that manages this UNESCO designation, and acts as the Spanish-community liaison for 4Culture’s Poetry in Public initiative. His journey with La Sala began with La Cocina, his very first commission, inspiring a commitment to create similar opportunities for fellow Latine/x artists.
Program Manager
Lauren Davis is assistant director of ArtXchange Gallery in Pioneer Square, an intercultural gallery that promotes cultural exchange through art and reflects the diversity of influences shaping the Seattle community. Her involvement with La Sala began with 2010’s exhibition “Sense Us 2010: Latino/a/x Artists in the Pacific Northwest” at ArtXchange Gallery, and she joined La Sala’s board in 2013 before moving to a project manager role. Davis' projects include exhibitions and events with the Office of Arts & Culture, Arts & Social Change Partnership, La Sala Latino/a Artist Network, Bellevue Arts Museum and Columbia City Gallery. She is a graduate of Seattle University’s Masters Program in Arts Leadership. Davis is committed to grassroots community engagement and creating equitable access to arts opportunities for both artists and audiences.
Advisors
La Sala is grateful for the contributions and leadership of our advisors.
Miguel Guillen
Co-founder
Irene Gómez
Co-Founder
Antonio Davidson-Gómez,
Co-founder
Wendy Call
Co-founder