Vanessa is among the co-founders of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley that grew out of a 2011 City2City Pioneer Valley visit to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where a Healing Racism Institute was formed and housed at the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce. Grand Rapids has also established institutes in their community’s faith and higher education sectors. 

According to Vanessa, "This work began for me after a trip to Grand Rapids with other community leaders. I remember stopping John Davis, another founder of the initiative, in the hallway to tell him I wanted to be part of his effort to address racism in our region. Since then, even when my participation waned, I believed in the importance of this work and the impact it has on participants.” She continued, “The pandemic provides a moment in time where I can be of help in anticipation of hiring a permanent director. This is not a full-time position but as important as any work I have done for the greater good.” 

Vanessa has deep roots in the community. She is currently the Director of Smith College's Urban Education Initiative and serves on state and regional boards, including being appointed by the governor to the Governor’s Latino Advisory Commission. She is the chair of the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission and most recently was asked to join the Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Health Equity Advisory Group. The purpose of this body is to advise Commissioner Monica Bharel and DPH on health equity issues related to, and exacerbated by, the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide suggestions on solutions to be implemented at all levels.

Vanessa graduated from Smith College as an Ada Comstock Scholar. She has a Master’s in Public Policy Administration from the University of Massachusetts.