Estela Galvan-Niño grew up in the rural community of Kerman in Fresno County. A proud daughter of California’s Central Valley, she sees herself as a product of the land, with roots deeply intertwined with the fields her family has worked and harvested for generations. Estela stands on the shoulders of those who came before her, honoring their labor, wisdom, and resilience. Despite the many challenges facing the region, she remains firmly committed to the place she calls home.

Since 1999, Estela has served in various roles with the Pan Valley Institute of the American Friends Service Committee. She was part of the organizing committee that successfully organized five Tamejavi Festivals in the Central Valley, creating spaces for cultural exchange, storytelling, and community building among immigrant and refugee communities. The festival was part of a national study of outdoor art festivals conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to the festival, Estela has contributed to Pan Valley’s other initiatives supporting capacity building, civic participation, and cultural preservation with immigrant and refugee communities, especially among youth, women, and across intergenerational and multi-ethnic groups.

Estela earned her degree in Liberal Studies from Fresno State University. She considers it a humbling experience to be of service and finds both purpose and joy in accompanying underserved communities in their pursuit of an equitable life—one grounded in dignity, justice, and respect.