Meet Jessenia, our new Communications & Volunteer Coordinator
Hi all,
My name is Jessenia, I am the new Communications & Volunteer Coordinator here at Centro Infantil de los Ángeles (CILA), and I’m stoked to join the team. Now that you’re here, I would like to tell you more about myself.
Since I was a kid, traveling has played a significant role in life. I was born in the Bronx, New York, in a Latin American household. At a very young age, my family packed our bags and we moved to Cali, Colombia. I was raised listening to lively music, eating delicious South American food, and learning about our Colombian culture.
When I was 12, we moved back to the states where I then went to high school, all the way to graduate school. I received a bachelor’s in art focusing on both graphic design and photography, but I knew then that I wanted to do more with my artistic skills and contribute to social causes. That’s when I decided to pursue a Master’s degree in Social Work from Monmouth University, concentrating on International and Community Development.
Through this, I married both of my professions. Fast-forward, I now have nearly 6 years of experience working for nonprofits. I started as an intern in both New Jersey and New York City and then moved to a full-time role as a Communications and Development Coordinator in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, where I worked for 3 years.
I knew that I wanted to expand my learning and understand how other nonprofits work. After doing some searching, I was drawn to Centro Infantil’s mission and knew that I wanted to contribute to their cause. That’s when I reached out to Rachel, our Development Director, and I now have joined the team as Communications and Volunteer Coordinator. I will be taking lead on all things related to communications, from social media to managing our sponsorship program, as well as helping in all aspects of our volunteer program.
Due to the pandemic, it took several months for me to finally get to San Miguel de Allende, but I am happy to say that I am here now, ready to learn and contribute to the CILA team and families, and of course, super excited to meet the kids!
Feel free to reach me should you have any questions or to say hello!