Sofia Martinez

Senior Research Associate

Sofia Martinez is a Senior Research Associate at Daley Strategies with a background in public policy, government affairs, and cross-sector collaboration. A UCLA graduate with degrees in Political Science and Economics, Sofia is passionate about bridging the gap between government decisions and the needs of the people they serve.

At Daley Strategies, Sofia supports clients including the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and A Step to Freedom through policy research, advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications. She brings a collaborative and community-centered approach to her work, drawing on her experiences across sectors to help clients advance meaningful change across Los Angeles.

Before joining Daley Strategies, Sofia completed the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, a nationally competitive fellowship that provided immersive experience across the nonprofit, private, government, and labor sectors throughout Southern California. Through month-long placements and in-depth projects examining issues including housing and homelessness, transportation, the entertainment industry, and water and power, she developed a broader understanding of how different sectors approach shared challenges. The experience strengthened her ability to collaborate across perspectives, ask the right questions, and translate complex issues into thoughtful, actionable solutions.

Sofia’s interest in public service began at PATH, where she was introduced to the systems and policies shaping homelessness in Los Angeles. This experience sparked her curiosity and led her to pursue opportunities across different levels of government. At the state level, Sofia interned in Governor Gavin Newsom’s Legislative Affairs Unit, where she researched legislation and supported memos informing the Governor’s decision-making. She later worked in Congressman Salud Carbajal’s Washington, D.C. office, where she engaged directly with constituents and saw firsthand how federal policies affected communities in her hometown and across the Central Coast.

These experiences deepened Sofia’s interest in developing policy that is both well-informed and responsive to the people it is intended to serve. As she continues her professional journey, Sofia remains committed to ensuring that policy is informed by diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and collaborative conversation, approaching her work with curiosity and thoughtful questioning.

When she’s not at work, you can catch Sofia at the nearest coffeeshop, dancing Flamenco in her hometown, or unwinding at the beach.