Vanessa R. Aquino

Vanessa is a native San Franciscan whose work bridges community advocacy, the arts, and human connection. After graduating from California State University, Monterey Bay, she spent over 16 years at the Academy of Art University as an Academic Advisor before joining Jetblue Airways at SFO.

As a longtime community organizer in the Dogpatch District, Vanessa has been a vital voice for residents, small businesses, and major developments including Pier 70, the Power Plant, the Chase Center, and the SF Giants' Mission Rock Project. She served as a San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner from 2020-2023 and has been with OCII since 2023, stepping into the role of Vice Chair in 2025. Vanessa takes great pride in her work on the Commission, viewing it as a vital way to give back to her city, ensuring that those who are often unheard or overlooked have representation and a seat at the table. 

Beyond her civic work, Vanessa is a dedicated cyclist and fundraiser. In June 2025, she completed her fourth and final AIDS/LifeCycle ride, a seven-day, 545-mile journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles (561 miles in 2025) benefiting the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation, marking the close of its 30-year run. She also celebrates her fifth year with the Great Cycle Challenge, riding to help kids fight cancer. Her efforts have been nationally recognized, with her face featured on the New York Times Square Billboard honoring riders working toward finding a cure.