Karissa raya

Karissa Raya is a photographer, birth worker, and community advocate based in Santa Ana, California, with a professional background spanning reproductive health, family advocacy, and nonprofit partnership development.

Born and raised in Santa Ana to parents who immigrated to California as children, Karissa brings firsthand understanding of the communities she serves. For over six years, she has worked as a birth worker, providing direct support to families through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum, while advocating for equitable access to reproductive health care.

Karissa spent two years serving as Partnerships Director for Latinx Parenting, an organization dedicated to promoting non-violent, culturally-responsive parenting practices, where she supported organizational growth and strategic collaboration efforts. This experience, alongside her mentorship under Latinx Parenting founder Leslie, deepened her commitment to raising liberated children through non-violent parenting and reinforced her belief in the power of community-centered advocacy.

Karissa brings extensive experience in partnership and collaboration building, combined with a demonstrated commitment to family well-being, reproductive justice, and culturally responsive care. Her multidisciplinary background — spanning creative practice, direct service, and nonprofit leadership — positions her to contribute meaningfully to initiatives centered on community health, family support, and equity.