Simon Bio

Title/Position

North County Organizer

Department

Advocacy

E-mail address

Pronouns

He, him, his

Simón joined the ACLU of San Diego & Imperial Counties in 2020 as the North County organizer. His journey with our affiliate, however, began in 2012 as a volunteer in Escondido. The ACLU-SDIC became Simón’s first political home and safe place to be “out” as an LGBTQ youth. He was able to take the organizing skills he learned as a volunteer and intern with our affiliate to push for social justice initiatives in other realms of his life.

In his undergraduate career, Simón helped organize students at California State University San Marcos for the creation of the Latinx Center, the Black Student Center, and the hiring of an advocate for survivors of sexual violence. He also worked with the San Diego Dream Team to advocate for the protection of immigrant families from deportation and the advancement of federal programs such as DACA and DAPA.

Before returning to the ACLU-SDIC, Simón developed a strong passion and portfolio for organizing. As the director of community outreach and engagement at the Colectiva Legal del Pueblo, Simón led removal defense campaigns, developed community programs, and conducted Know Your Rights trainings across the state of Washington during the later years of the Trump administration.  

As the national leadership organizer at United We Dream, Simón managed the National Leadership Committee for the network in 2016 and joined the field team in mobilizing immigrant youth and allies across the country to push Congress for permanent legislative solutions for undocumented immigrant youth. Simón garnered additional organizing skills working with unions like the California Faculty Association and SEIU-United Healthcare Workers.

Simón resides on Payómkawichum land with his family and dog, Montes. He hopes to continue the legacy of the organizers before him in providing community members a movement home at the ACLU-SDIC. His ultimate dream is to be a writer that can help children connect to nature and their indigenous roots.