Joel Martinez is the Project Manager of Partnerships and Research at CA FWD. In this role, he coordinates partnership events and supports research initiatives that advance CA FWD’s strategic priorities in building a new California economy that is resilient, sustainable, and inclusive.

Prior to joining CA FWD, Joel was a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress (CAP), where he helped develop CAP’s strategic priorities on U.S.-Latin America policy. Throughout his career at CAP, he also managed international initiatives that brought together young professionals and emerging leaders from across different countries in the Americas for educational exchanges and network-building opportunities that promoted regional collaboration on clean energy and economic development.

As a Mexican-American with deep cross-border roots, Joel brings a unique perspective to program management, partnership development, and policy advocacy focused on empowering communities and elevating local leadership. His bilingual fluency and binational upbringing fuel his passion for advancing equity and community-based priorities that help local economies thrive.

Joel received his master’s degree from the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California, San Diego, where he focused on international politics and economic development. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Latino studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz and is also a proud alum of Ohlone Community College in Fremont, California.