Kati (kah-tee) Villeda is the Director of Policy at Health Equity Solutions. In this role, Kati will lead HES in identifying, developing, and executing its policy agenda.  

Prior to HES, Kati worked as a Policy Analyst at Community Catalyst where she conducted policy research and analysis, with a particular focus on immigrants’ access to health care. There she provided technical assistance to 10 states’ campaigns focused on state-level solutions for more equitable access to healthcare for immigrants and cultivating power among directly impacted communities. Kati also served as a member of the advisory committee of Community Catalyst United, the workers’ union.

Before Community Catalyst, Kati worked as an Organizing Specialist at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England and Planned Parenthood Votes! CT. At Planned Parenthood, Kati provided legislative and organizing support for the HUSKY4Immigrants campaign to expand HUSKY to all income-eligible residents, regardless of their immigration status, and on the Doulas4CT Campaign to achieve Medicaid certification and reimbursement for doula services in Connecticut. Kati got her start as a community organizer with CT Students for a Dream, where she served as a facilitator for their college access program and as a field leader on their #AffordToDream campaign, which won access to institutional aid for undocumented students in Connecticut. Later she served on the Board of Directors, holding several positions on the executive board, including Co-Chair. 

Kati holds a Bachelor of Arts in Health and Social Inequalities with minors in Latino studies and Human Rights from the University of Connecticut. In her free time, Kati enjoys hiking, traveling, training her two birds, and spending time with loved ones.