The Cohort Chronicles: Behind Her Face, Her Future with Lauren Tarin

Interview by Carmen Lidia Fajardo

As an advocate and champion for the next generation, the way AI and deepfake technology are reshaping how young people experience truth, identity, and trust online deeply matters to me and to the mission of The Madrina Project.

As part of my journey with the Latina Leadership Institute’s Cohort 10, our group was tasked with leading a fundraising initiative to support the future of LLI.

But we all shared a deep conviction: we didn’t just want to raise funds, we wanted to raise awareness. We wanted to empower not only the future of LLI, but the future of all little Latinas.

From our very early brainstorming session, the professional work and personal insight of Lauren Tarin, Emerging Technology Research Lead for the City of San Antonio, became the heartbeat of our project. Her perspective helped shape a vision that was both urgent and impactful, ultimately leading to the creation of our event:

Her Face, Her Future: The Deepfake Dilemma

After weeks of research, collaboration, and community building, we’re excited to share why we chose this issue as the centerpiece of our conversation and our call to action.

Lauren Tarin with the City of San Antonio

To kick off The Cohort Chronicles, I sat down with Lauren, a fellow member of LLI Cohort 10, Group 4, to talk about what drew her into this issue and why it matters now more than ever.

What was your first experience with deepfakes or synthetic media, and how did it make you feel?

Lauren: "To be honest, I only knew about deepfakes in the world of politics, videos that mocked public figures, made for laughs or political jabs. I didn’t think much about it beyond that surface level. It wasn’t until a project at work, where we were exploring how emerging tech like AI could affect city operations, that this issue really landed for me.

What started as a policy and business conversation quickly became something much more personal. While digging deeper, I came across dozens of Texas legislative bills tied to youth protection and explicit content. That moment stopped me in my tracks. I don’t have young kids in my immediate family, so this wasn’t something I would’ve come across otherwise.

But it hit me: if we’re not paying attention to how these tools can harm our most vulnerable, who will?"

That realization is heavy. How did it start to shift your thinking personally or professionally?

Lauren: "This journey made me rethink everything I thought I understood about consent in a digital world. If someone can take your face, your voice, and make it say or do things you never agreed to without your knowledge or permission what does consent even mean anymore?

That question keeps coming back to me.

For young girls especially, who are still forming their sense of self and identity, how do they protect something as intimate as their image when tech like this exists?

I kept finding examples where deepfakes were used to manipulate and exploit, often for profit. The idea that someone could use your likeness to scam others or threaten your safety… it created a kind of anxiety I didn’t expect.

What would I do if this happened to me? How would I even begin to fight back?

That’s why this topic became more than a research project. It became a call to action."

What do you hope people walk away with after attending Her Face, Her Future?

Lauren: "My hope is that folks walk away understanding this isn’t just about “tech” or something happening far off in the future. Deepfakes are already here and they’re already causing harm, especially to girls and women in our communities.

I want people to feel both informed and empowered: to know the red flags, to know what resources exist, and to feel equipped to talk about these issues with the young people in their lives.

Most importantly, I want us to start asking better questions about consent, accountability, and community safety in the digital age.

Because the truth is, this isn’t just a tech issue. It’s a human one. A community one."

Lauren, myself, and our entire group would love for you to join us as we explore these urgent questions together at our upcoming community event on AI, deepfakes, and the digital future of our youth. Your voice belongs in this conversation.

Her Face, Her Future" The Deepfake Dilemma

📍 The DoSeum, San Antonio 🗓 Tuesday, September 23, 2025🔗

Register Here

Michael Kors Carry On Bag

And don’t forget our Purse with Purpose Drawing is now live! 🎟️ We’ll be raffling off three incredible bags, each curated with intention and packed with amazing goodies:

🧳 The Travel Bag A sleek Michael Kors sling paired with a matching carry-on, filled with travel-ready essentials.

(Now live!)

🏀 The Spurs Night Out Bag  Game tickets + stylish Spurs swag for the ultimate night out. (Goes live Wednesday, August 20th)

💄 The Beauty Bag Packed with self-care favorites and glam must-haves.

(Goes live Wednesday, September 10th)

All proceeds support the Latina Leadership Institute and our mission to empower the next generation of Latina leaders.

👉 Learn more and grab your drawing tickets at:www.themadrinaprojectsa.org/herfaceherfuture