Leslie holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a minor in Nutrition and Diversity.
Joined the CISWA State Office team in July ’26
About Leslie: Leslie Gomez serves as the Policy & Advocacy Manager at Communities In Schools ofWashington (CISWA), where he supports statewide efforts to elevate youth voice, strengthen advocacy relationships, and connect community needs with policy priorities.
Born and raised in Yakima, Washington, Leslie’s journey with Communities In Schools began shortlyafter college. Wanting to return to his hometown and be part of something larger than himself, he joinedCIS as a Site Coordinator. From there, he grew into roles as a Site Lead and later as a Program Managerwith Communities In Schools of Central Washington. After five years with CIS, Leslie transitioned intohis current role with the CISWA State Office, bringing with him deep experience in direct studentsupport, school-based programming, and community-centered advocacy.
In his role, Leslie helps develop and implement youth feedback mechanisms aligned with CISWA’s policy priorities, builds relationships with legislative representatives and community partners, and supports the creation of standardized guidelines for site visits. His work is grounded in a commitment to advocating for those whose voices have too often been made silent, especially young people. Leslie is passionate about helping communities better understand the needs that exist in their own backyards and the role they can play in supporting students.
Outside of work: Leslie enjoys gardening, working on home projects, and going to the cinema withfriends whenever a new horror movie comes out. A lifelong learner, he is always teaching himselfsomething new and is currently learning how to cut hair, detail cars, and make music.
One of Leslie’s long-term dreams is to own a large piece of land where he can design and build his ownhome.