Board of Directors
Eli Fresquez, Esq.
President
Eli has served as the Director of the Office of Children’s Rights at the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. He has extensive experience in civil rights, ADA compliance, and disability advocacy, including certification as an ADA coordinator and through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. Eli is a licensed attorney in Federal, New York, and New Mexico and has served in roles such as Assistant General Counsel at the New York City Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and Human Rights Specialist at the New York State Division of Human Rights. He holds a JD from New York Law School and two BAs from the University of New Mexico. He recently graduated from Harvard University’s National Preparedness Leadership Initiative. Eli is committed to creating a more equitable society.
Yvonne Encinias
Vice President
Yvonne Encinias is a dedicated community advocate with a lifelong passion for public service. A native of Santa Fe, she has spent over 25 years as a civil servant and continues to give back through various leadership roles. With more than two decades of volunteer service with the American Red Cross, including eight years on the Board of Directors, she has been instrumental in disaster relief and community support efforts. As the General Manager of the Santa Fe Fuego, she brings leadership and vision to local athletics while fostering community engagement. Her unwavering commitment extends to supporting the disability community, seniors, at-risk youth, and veterans, through the nonprofit Be The Blessing she cofounded that works to ensure that those in need have access to vital resources and opportunities.
Angelique Montoya-Chavez
Executive Director of Charities
Angelique Montoya-Chavez is a commissioner on the New Mexico Governor’s Commission on Disability and a member of the Santa Fe Mayor’s Committee on Disability. For over twenty years, she and her husband, Salvador Chavez, have advocated for the rights and inclusion of people with disabilities, inspired by their experiences raising two children with disabilities. Angelique organizes inclusive events like the annual Special Needs Prom in Santa Fe, featured in various media outlets. Her advocacy extends through her work on the Mayor’s Committee on Disability, where she helped launch the inaugural Accessibility Awards. Angelique’s belief in inclusivity drives her work, ensuring people with disabilities can participate fully without unnecessary barriers.