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Before she became the first person to fill this newly created leadership role, the first such position with the LA Chargers and the NFL, Pérez had a few obstacles to overcome. Pérez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and at the age of 2 immigrated to the United States with her mother. She grew up in Pico-Union, located west of downtown Los Angeles. Undocumented until she was 18, Pérez said that she felt a looming fear of deportation, especially throughout her time in elementary school. “There would be emigration vans and sweeps,” she said. In July 2019, Pérez was approached for the first LA Chargers’ Senior Director of Cultural Affairs position. That happened four seasons ago. What she lacked in knowledge about football and sports, she made up for in her understanding of LA’s cultural landscape and her ability to network with leaders among multiple industries due to her years in politics.