Lizzie Martinez was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah; and identifies as a person of Mexican and Spanish descent. She first became interested in issues of social justice while volunteering on an Alternative Spring Break program in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Since then, she has dedicated her career to fundraising for social justice organizations, including national service advocacy and Latino communities in Portland. She currently works as Director of Development and Communications for Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon and serves on the board of Willamette Valley Development Officers where she co-leads a Fundraisers of Color group.