Karla was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and moved to Charlottesville at the age of ten. She spent seven years as a Teaching Assistant with Albemarle County Public Schools before joining the Center for Community Partnerships as a Family Coordinator for the Starr Hill Pathways program.

Passionate about helping others, Karla is deeply committed to advocating for her community. As a resident of the Southwood neighborhood, she strives to be a strong voice for her neighbors and works to ensure that youth have access to essential resources and opportunities.