AVANCE-Houston Welcomes New Advisory Board Leadership

Community leaders bring expertise, passion, and a shared commitment to strengthening families and creating pathways to opportunity.

AVANCE-Houston is proud to welcome five distinguished community leaders to its Advisory Board, strengthening the organization’s leadership as it continues to walk alongside children and families to achieve social and economic justice.

Effective July 1, 2026, Claudia Ortega Hogue was approved by the National AVANCE Board of Directors to serve as Chair of the AVANCE-Houston Advisory Board. Saul Valentin serves as Advisory Board Vice Chair. Joining them as Advisory Board Members are Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover, Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez, and Angelia Tucker.

Together, these leaders bring expertise spanning education, business, law, public affairs, advocacy, civic engagement, and community development. More importantly, they share a commitment to AVANCE-Houston’s belief that investing in parents and children together creates stronger families, greater educational opportunity, and lasting change across generations.

“Our Advisory Board members were selected not only for their professional accomplishments, but also for their demonstrated commitment to AVANCE and the families we serve,” said Luz Flores, Executive Director of AVANCE-Houston. “Each of these leaders has already helped us strengthen partnerships, expand opportunities, and deepen our impact. Their leadership will be especially important as we continue creating pathways for parents and children to learn, grow, and build brighter futures together.”

Claudia Ortega Hogue, Advisory Board Chair
Claudia Ortega Hogue is the Immediate Past President of the League of Women Voters of Houston. She has been a valued advocate for AVANCE-Houston’s public policy and advocacy efforts. Her extensive experience in civic engagement, government relations, coalition building, and community leadership will help strengthen AVANCE-Houston’s voice on issues affecting children and families while building greater awareness of the organization’s mission throughout the community.

Saul Valentin, Advisory Board Vice Chair
Saul Valentin, Founding Principal and Managing Principal of Collaborate, brings more than two decades of experience leading community-focused projects and developing strategic partnerships. His collaborative leadership and deep commitment to community will help AVANCE-Houston strengthen relationships across sectors and identify new opportunities to advance its mission and expand its impact.

Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover, Advisory Board Member
Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover, President of Southeast College at Houston City College, has been instrumental in strengthening AVANCE-Houston’s partnership with HCC and supporting the expansion of the AVANCE to College initiative. Her leadership is helping create educational pathways for parents pursuing higher education while raising their families, advancing AVANCE-Houston’s two-generation approach to educational and economic mobility.

Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez, Advisory Board Member
Sara Montelongo-Oyervidez has been a dedicated champion of AVANCE-Houston’s fundraising and community engagement efforts, most recently serving as Chair of the organization’s Inspiring Dreams Luncheon. Her experience in public affairs, nonprofit leadership, and community development will help expand AVANCE-Houston’s network of supporters and strengthen the partnerships and resources needed to serve more families.

Angelia Tucker, Advisory Board Member
Angelia Tucker, Associate General Counsel at Memorial Hermann Health System, brings extensive expertise in governance, legal affairs, organizational leadership, and community service. Her experience will provide valuable strategic guidance as AVANCE-Houston continues to grow, strengthen its organizational capacity, and respond to the evolving needs of children and families.

Leadership in Service to Families
AVANCE-Houston’s Advisory Board serves as a strategic partner in advancing the organization’s mission. Board members help strengthen community and corporate partnerships, increase awareness, support resource development, champion AVANCE-Houston in the community, and help create new opportunities for the families the organization serves.

Through its two-generation approach, AVANCE-Houston recognizes that the success of children is deeply connected to the success of their parents. By providing early childhood education, parent education, adult education, college pathways, workforce opportunities, and family support, AVANCE-Houston helps families build the knowledge, confidence, and resources to shape their own futures.

The addition of these five leaders represents more than a new chapter in Advisory Board leadership. It reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that families throughout Houston have equitable access to education, opportunity, and the resources they need to reach their fullest potential.

Because when we invest in parents, empower children, and strengthen families, we create lasting change for generations.