Meet Yazmin
Yazmín Llamas is a devoted mother and committed advocate for education, deeply rooted in the Martinez community. She is raising her three children—one in kindergarten, another in 8th grade, and her eldest in 11th grade—all of whom attend Martinez Unified schools. Yazmín is an active participant in school board meetings and volunteers regularly within the community, at her children’s schools, and in their sports activities. Her involvement in the school community is not just a passion but a responsibility she holds dear.
Yazmín holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ethnic Studies and Education from UC Berkeley and a Master’s of Public Administration with an emphasis in Public Management from CSU East Bay. Her educational background has equipped her with a deep understanding of the complexities within our education system, and her professional experiences have allowed her to apply this knowledge in impactful ways.
She began her career as an At-Risk Youth Counselor and English Learner College Guidance Counselor at Willard Middle School in Berkeley, where she worked for five years. These experiences, during and after her time at UC Berkeley, provided her with the skills to support and advocate for students facing significant challenges.
Yazmín later transitioned into a successful career as a paralegal and court interpreter, where she played a key role in creating the VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Manual, a vital resource used by nonprofits, governmental agencies, and law enforcement to support victims of domestic violence. She then moved into the mortgage industry, where her dedication and hard work led to her promotion as Senior Loan Officer and the opening of a lending branch in Concord, California. Her current focus is on assisting first-time homebuyers, supporting down-payment assistance programs, and securing loans for DACA and Work Visa recipients.
With her diverse professional and educational background in education, law, and real estate finance, Yazmín possesses a unique ability to “think outside the box.” She is known for her initiative, determination, and refusal to accept “no” as an answer, pushing forward until she achieves a “yes.” A testament to her tenacity was in May 2019, when she organized parents in the Martinez Unified School District to address bullying and fights at school, leading to successful action by the district.
Yazmín’s pillars of character—professionalism, ethics, integrity, transparency, tenacity, and empathy—guide her work. As she seeks the position of Contra Costa County Board of Education Trustee, Yazmín is committed to earning the trust and votes of the community, with a vision to advocate for the best interests of all children and families on a broader scale.
