Mexico

Hugo Rodríguez Gutiérrez has over six years of experience in the development sector. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla in Mexico. Hugo has worked for Heifer International for three years, growing his position from Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator to Regional Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Coordinator for a coffee value chain project. Hugo’s work focuses on facilitating cohesion in the three countries where the intervention is implemented. Prior to his experience at Heifer, he worked for Chemonics International and Heartland Alliance International on projects related to crime prevention and labor rights with a gender perspective. While working with these organizations, he advised five social enterprises in the development of theory of change, and currently, he is a volunteer in a civil society organization in Mexico as an advisor on topics of M&E. Hugo is passionate about economic empowerment and poverty alleviation.

Karen Michelle Zapata Herrera has 4 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico, and a Master of Management Science in Global Affairs as a Schwarzman Scholar at Tsinghua University in China. As a Schwarzman Scholar, she specialized in the global governance of migration, leadership in public crisis and emergencies, and civil society organizations, and wrote a thesis titled “The role of national policies and NGOs in addressing the mental health of left-behind and migrant children in China, Mexico, and the U.S.”. She is currently the Social Investment Coordinator at the Mexican nonprofit Alternativas y Capacidades, managing civil society strengthening projects, as well advising donors on how to improve their philanthropic programs. Previously, as a Jr. Project Manager at Hult Prize Foundation, she contributed to young entrepreneurs’ development and leadership by recruiting young leaders across the Americas region and operating the global communication strategy for mentors. Previously, as the Fundraising and Grants Specialist at World Vision, she managed and designed the private international grants proposals in topics such as WASH, education, economic empowerment, child protection, among others. Michelle has also volunteered and interned at several other nonprofits aimed at children and youth development and protection, including Children International, International Youth Federation, among others. Through these experiences, she has developed strong project management, grant writing, business development, and volunteer management skills. Michelle is passionate about child migration, social entrepreneurship, and youth empowerment.

Host Organization: One to World

Role at Host Organization: At One to World, Michelle will be serving as the Fundraising Fellow. Michelle will help implement strategies to meet the organization’s annual fundraising goals, working closely with One To World’s Executive Director, Director of Development, consultants, and Board of Directors. The Fellow will support all functions of the Development department, including gift processing, management of donor data, special events planning and execution, cultivation and stewardship of donors, and private grant prospecting, writing, and reporting. The Fellow is a vital piece of a small team that generates revenue to support the organization’s direct services for K-12 youth and international scholars, and will contribute to meeting a fundraising goal of almost $1 million a year.

Diana Paola was born in Mexico City. She has experience working in the non-profit sector, nationally and internationally. She has a Bachelor’s degree in genomic sciences from the UNAM and a graduate specialization in criminalistics. She has always had a great interest in protecting those who have no voice, and that is why she has been involved in both animalistic and humanitarian organizations. She has collaborated directly with Ecpat México, from the Ecpat International network, where she has helped in different projects to prevent sexual exploitation of girls, boys, and adolescents in its different modalities, such as forced marriages and travel and tourism industry. She has trained several companies in the travel and tourism sector, in the prevention of CSE, and the application of “The Code”. Diana Paola also helped the organization to have a greater public presence, by implementing communications through social networks. One of the things that she considers most enriching about her work is the chance to empower girls, boys, and adolescents to be protagonists of their destiny. She also collaborates as a Corporate Relations Specialist at Mercy For Animals, to stop the worst practices in animal farming. Nowadays she is very interested in sustainability, CSR, and how this may lead to a better world for everyone.

Daniela has over four years of experience in the nonprofit sector working on the administration of social development projects at the local level. With a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations, she has led a variety of projects throughout Mexico to improve the efficiency and management of local government. Her research has helped promote public policies that ensure the adequate distribution of resources, and has assisted in identifying areas of poverty in rural and urban communities. As a result of her findings, Daniela has created projects aimed at correcting the distribution of resources and providing access to basic services to those in severe need. She currently works for the municipality of El Marqués, where she organizes fundraising to support local activities and promote equal opportunities for women. Additionally, Daniela has worked to decentralize services and policies by implementing projects from the federal to local level and promoting the social development of poor towns through national programs. She has also helped to start a new nonprofit organization called “Drink a Dream,” which supports heath, education and social development projects.

Host Organization: Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Blanca has five years of nonprofit experience promoting corporate social responsibility in Latin America. She has held a wide range of positions in this field, including international project coordinator, consultant, professor, and researcher. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), and a Master’s Degree in Corporate Responsibility from ESERP Business School in Barcelona. Blanca has previously worked as Manager of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program at ITESM where she trained executives from around the world and collaborated with a multicultural team of colleagues to create the CSR strategy for an environmental organization in Spain. Blanca has also worked on educational projects to promote capacity-building for the disabled in order to provide social integration, and became the POETA Program Coordinator at Monterrey Tech in 2007. As an active member in disability and social integration associations, Blanca learned sign language and became an interpreter to the hearing-impaired. She has been a regular lecturer for companies concerning strategies to better integrate the disbaled into the workforce. During her career, Blanca has been chosen by several international organizations, including the Inter-American Development Bank and the UN Global Compact, to participate in conferences related to Corporate Social Responsibility.

Host Organization: CentroNia

Katya Garcia has more than three years of experience and studied at the American School Foundation of Monterrey. Katya’s interest in social justice and civic engagement began early in her academic career. In January 1999, she worked as a participant coordinator for the State of the World Forum for Emerging Leaders that took place in Monterrey and a few months later she received a scholarship to participate in the week-long conference for the State of the World Forum/European Business Summit in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She then continued her studies at one of Latin America’s finest schools, Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, where she earned a BA in Communications. In 2005, the university selected her to study abroad at Teikyo University in Maastricht, Netherlands, where she studied foreign affairs, international political terrorism, and culture and gender studies. She became a consultant soon after earning her BA. Then in 2007, Katya co-founded Paz Es, a nonprofit organization that promotes a peaceful environment in the community by generating, supporting, promoting, and participating in positive actions. She became Director of Communications and Public Relations for Paz Es, working directly with Mexico´s most recognized media and private companies such as Televisa, Multimedios Televisión, El Norte newspaper, Cemex, Xignux, and Cervecería Cuahtemoc Moctezuma.

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Host Organization: U.S. Peace Corps

Alejandro Bonilla gained five years of work experience after obtaining his Bachelors degree in Journalism from the Universidad Centroamericana in El Salvador. He holds a Masters degree in Management of Corporate Communications from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, in Barcelona, Spain. In 2003, Bonilla began his career in the nonprofit sector with the Communications Department of CARE in El Salvador. In 2006, Bonilla joined Children International Mexico as the Communications Coordinator. Promoted to Communications & Development Coordinator for Children International Mexico in 2008, Alejandro manages fundraising activities, develops and maintains collaborations with public and private companies, as well as governmental and international organizations. In 2009, Bonilla raised more than one million dollars of new funds, and trained Development Coordinators in many Latin American countries on planning and fundraising. Bonilla recently completed a Strategic Marketing Diploma at the Jesuit University of Guadalajara and a Fund Raising Diploma at the School of Fund Raising, University of Indiana. Children International recommended Bonilla’s expertise in strategic fundraising as a “best practice” and Bonilla became the SME fundraising expert in Latin America for Children International. Alejandro Bonilla is a member of the Mexican Center of Philanthropy and Children Human Rights in Mexico.

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Host Organization: Service for Peace

Aldo has six years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He holds a degree in Marketing and Communications and two postgraduate diplomas in Fundraising and Project Management & Education and Employment of Youth. Since he was 17 years old, he has been involved with social development organizations. Aldo was a volunteer at Amnesty International Mexico as well as a Program Officer in a human rights foundation. In 2008, he founded the nonprofit organization, Puerta Joven (“Youth Door”), which provides internet access and arts and technology programs to improve the education of the youth in poverty (with a primary focus on indigenous and people with physical disabilities). As the Founder and Program Coordinator, he gained experience to get support and funding for his own programs and projects from international aid agencies and foundations such as: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), UNPD Mexico, UNESCO Brazil, Oxfam, and the Adobe Foundation. As a fundraiser, he has also done campaigns to get individual donations through media campaigns and mobile phones. Aldo was named Action Partner by Oxfam International Youth Partnerships. He has participated in key global forums like the World Youth Conference, organized by UN agencies where he was a member of the Global Council of NGOs and was also invited to run workshops about Fundraising. Aldo has knowledge in graphic design, web development, social media, and nonprofit marketing.

Host Organization: National Audubon Society

Niza has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Law from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (UANL), in Mexico, and a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Humanitarian Law from Pantheon-Assas University in France. While working for the International Forum of National NGO Platforms (IFP), based in France, she provided legal advice on the legal incorporation of the IFP and helped promote an enabling environment for nonprofit organizations. Previously, she undertook an internship at the OHCHR in Switzerland, where she reviewed and analyzed National Human Rights Institutions independence, legal mandates, and cooperation with nonprofit organizations. In Mexico, she worked at the Human Rights Commission of Nuevo Leon, where she handled and processed complaints for human rights violations. Niza has also worked as a professor for the Mexican Ministry of Public Education and the UANL for 2 years. Throughout her career, she has volunteered in two projects, nationally and internationally: at Peace Brigades International France, for protecting Latin-American human rights defenders, and at the Penitentiary Institution for Minors of Nuevo Leon, for teaching computer and English courses. As a result of these experiences, she developed strong skills on project coordination, monitoring and implementation, as well as analytical reasoning and legal research. Niza is fluent in written and spoken Spanish, English and French. She enjoys focusing on the topics of human rights, education and social development.

Host Organization: AYUDA

Role at Host Organization: Niza will conduct interviews with clients and draft client statements. She will prepare applications, petitions and forms collecting documentary evidence. She will perform statutory, case law, public records and country conditions research, and she will also prepare certified translations of legal documents.

Renata has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Tecnologico de Monterrey and two Certificates in Woman, Gender and Development and International Relations from The University of British Columbia. While working as Communications Coordinator in Cinco Panes y Dos Peces A.C., a Mexican nonprofit organization, she helped indigenous communities in isolated regions in Mexico to apply a Risk Prevention, Control and Management Plan. Simultaneously, Renata taught a certificate in Financing Strategies and Fundraising for nonprofits. Previously, she coordinated two international volunteer projects in Belgium at the Red Cross Center for Asylum Seekers and at the ArAsylum Seekers and at the Arthur Regniers Center for motor and brain handicapped people. Renata has volunteered in ten projects nationally and internationally concerning a wide range of topics such as: orphan children, Down’s syndrome children, reforestation, Elkhorn Coral Planting, fundraising, and reconstruction. Through these experiences, she developed project coordination and implementation, fundraising, web development and research skills. Renata enjoys topics related to philanthropy and has a strong passion for poverty relief and refugees. As a result, from her passion in the nonprofit sector, she has cofounded Amarte A.C., and Hoor A.C., two Mexican nonprofit organizations.

Host Organization: American Red Cross

Role at Host Organization: Renata will support the information and knowledge management needs of the Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC). This includes providing immediate support for data collection and analysis, maintaining and refining an effective knowledge management system for a state-of-the-art resource center, and piloting of complementary knowledge management initiatives in conjunction with the wider American Red Cross International Services Department (ISD) and the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Teresa Gonzalez has ten years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor of Arts Honors Degree in Communication Studies from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, in Mexico City. She also earned a Master of Arts Degree in Cultural Engineering from The European University of Madrid, in Spain.

Host Organization: UN Foundation

Role at Host Organization: Maria Teresa will contribute to the internal operations of international and national level campaigns focusing on girls’ education, engaging young people in development

Arturo has three years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He earned his MA in International Relations from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, where he was awarded with the Vice-Chancellor’s Commendation for Academic Excellence. He received a BA in International Relations from Tecnologico de Monterrey, where he graduated top of his class and received the highest honors for his performance in dramatic arts and social development projects. In 2013, he started LiberArte, a social development project that stimulates human expression in teenagers living in vulnerable communities through creative and artistic education. Arturo designed activities and imparted practical and theoretical courses for the program, as well as managing a group of volunteers. His project emphasizes on mentoring young people and giving them the opportunity to express their own personal story, their feelings, their daily hardships, and providing them with information regarding sexual health, drug addiction, violence, and professional orientation. He has volunteered in three different social development programs in Mexico, ranging from rural education strengthening, to community values communication in urban environments. In 2011, he received the “Best Student in a Social Development Program” award from the Institute for Sustainable Social Development at Tecnologico de Monterrey for his participation in a performance arts education program for people of all ages without any access to art sources, he later went on to coordinate this program himself. In the same year he also started and managed a social project, where volunteers implemented human rights education through artistic activities. In 2010, he conducted research and published a paper on the causes, effects and victims of unconventional gender violence in young adult couples in urban settings. Arturo is very passionate about innovative social education, making art a social right, building peaceful relations among conflicting groups, and fostering gender equality.

Host Organization: Kids’ Food Basket

Fellow Role at Kids’ Food Basket
Arturo will join Kids’ Food Basket (KFB) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He will represent KFB in the community and perform several outreach efforts to communicate what KFB is all about to distinct audiences and community sectors. He will also participate in the daily operation and the management of volunteer groups.