Jessica Paz-Cedillos

Jessica Paz-Cedillos is the Chief Executive Officer of the School of Arts and Culture at the Mexican Heritage Plaza (SOAC) where she has led transformative growth for more than six years. A proud daughter of immigrants from Mexico and El Salvador, Jessica has spent over a decade working in East San Jose’s Mayfair neighborhood — advancing equity through arts, culture and community development.

Under her leadership, SOAC has become a powerful hub for cultural and economic vitality. She has launched La Placita, a $30 million capital campaign, and championed the creation of the La Avenida Cultural District to strengthen economic mobility and preserve cultural heritage in historically underinvested communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessica guided SOAC to become a trusted anchor for East San Jose, mobilizing resources for food distribution, testing and vaccination efforts.

Jessica serves on the boards of the Bill Wilson Center, the SPUR San Jose Advisory Committee, and the San Jose State University Latino Advisory Council. She is also a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum Silicon Valley (Class XLI) and a graduate of Mount Holyoke College and Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders.

Grounded, strategic and collaborative, Jessica is known for her ability to bridge communities, government and philanthropy to drive bold initiatives that deliver lasting impact.