Being intentional as an organization about hiring representative staff is not just a commitment to diversity; it's a dedication to fostering inclusivity and equity within our workplace.

Francina joined ourBRIDGE for Kids in April of 2022 as a Program Coordinator for Elementary. She possesses over 10 years of experience in education, specifically as a Montessori teacher for Early childhood. Francina moved from Dominican Republic to Colorado in 2015, and decided to call Charlotte home in April of 2021. She is a joyful woman who enjoys spending time hiking, discovering local coffee shops and playing video games.

Today, Francina is the Program Manager for K-8 at ourBRIDGE for kids, East location. Her main responsibilities include supervising a team of 16 people during the implementation of the afterschool activities daily. She is in charge of planning for clubs, curriculum implementation and cultural celebrations. Her main goal is to ensure that students that come to the center each day feel seen, appreciated and connected to their community.

Her favorite LERD value is education. In her words: Education is to me like many doors awaiting to be opened. With the right tools and support system, learning something new or improving a skill can widen one’s perception of the world and the beautiful people in it.

Hi, my name is Lourdes! I was born in Arequipa, Peru and moved to Charlotte, NC when I was 7 with my family. Growing up in Charlotte, my family greatly benefited from community programs focused on promoting higher education for first generation students. Being able to have these kinds of resources so easily available made me want to advocate for families who did not have the same kind of access. I graduated with a B.S. in Political Science from Appalachian State University, where my interest in educational equity deepened. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with families and students in both Charlotte and Greensboro.

I’m currently a Master’s student in Project Management at Wake Forest University and in my free time I love being outdoors. I like going to the White Water Center, training for races with running clubs, spending time with my friends, family and two cats I share with my sister, Wednesday and Hermoine, and going to Yunta for their ceviche A LOT. I’m so excited to be a part of the OurBridge team, meet all the families and students that make this place so vibrant, and make a meaningful impact in our community this year.

How long with ourBRIDGE? This is my first year with ourBRIDGE.

What does your role entail? I connect families to resources, provide advocacy and offer different types of support.

Favorite Lerd Value and Why? My favorite LERD Value is Diversity because whether it’s through travel or working with a young student who teaches you a word in their native language, it’s very special to connect with people through even the smallest of gestures that mean a lot to them and makes them feel seen, respected and welcomed by you.

Liliana Jaramillo, daughter of Mexican immigrants, was born in Oakboro, North Carolina. At Pfeiffer University she not only graduated with a Bachelors in Human Services and Psychology, but was also captain of their Varsity Women’s Volleyball team. Growing up in a small town, Lili noticed how her parents struggled to stay connected with resources due to the lack of translation and organizations willing to work with immigrants. This grew her passion for working with bilingual families who needed a bit more support with navigating the system.

She began her internship at ourBRIDGE in 2018 and was then able to support the organization’s COVID relief work in 2020 as an employee. After studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain Lili returned to help deliver 140,000 meals to families throughout the pandemic. Not long after that she became a Classroom Facilitator for the 5th grade class and began her role as a Family Support Navigator. Since then, Lili became a core member of our team, and she is now our Family Support Manager for High School students. At ourBRIDGE Lili oversees 100 high school students and their families and is able to connect them to various resources in Charlotte. She also makes sure to keep them involved in community events and their child’s school by doing regular check-ins . Throughout her time as a manager she has successfully made over 100+ food referrals for families and has created new partnerships with organizations who also have a great passion for supporting families!

Lili spends her free time playing volleyball and hanging out with her family. She hopes to continue supporting our families in a place where everyone feels like they belong and that is why her favorite LERD value is Diversity. She is grateful that ourBRIDGE makes sure to build a team that can also represent their children’s cultures.

Sandra joined ourBRIDGE for KIDS as the Community Engagement Manager in the Fall of 2022. In her role, she oversees ourBRIDGE community relationships and develops partnerships with mission-aligned agencies and organizations in the greater Charlotte, NC community. Her passions are centered around the promotion of economic mobility and opportunity for all, long-lasting systemic change, equity, access and community development.

Congolese, born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda, Sandra is a native speaker of both French and Swahili. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth with a dual degree in Political Science and Psychology.

An avid podcast listener, Sandra enjoys the art of storytelling, being creative through writing, spoken word, design, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Favorite L.E.R.D value is: Love. Sandra believes that love is the intentional force that drives and maintains a community where everyone is seen, known and valued.

Lan Kolano is a Professor of Education and Chair of the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K12 Education at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She completed her Ph.D. in the Culture, Curriculum, and Change program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2004 after working as a public school teacher in Virginia and North Carolina. Dr. Kolano teaches undergraduate and graduate level foundations courses on language, immigration, and anti-racist pedagogies. Her research focuses on the academic, language, and identity development of immigrant learners, and in the fostering of critical multicultural efficacy in teacher preparation programs. She has been awarded the College of Education’s Excellence in Teaching Award, the Sustained Service to Public Schools Award, and Diversity Award for her innovations and contributions to teacher education. Recognized as an advocate for social justice education, she also serves on critical advisory boards for several non-profit organizations serving local refugee/immigrant communities.

Dr. Claire Cronin is a passionate counselor and trainer who has been assisting children,families and the communities that support them for over 15 years. Claire is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) with advanced training in counseling children, adolescents and families. Claire provides training and technical guidance to organizations seeking to provide trauma informed and developmentally appropriate care to children and families from diverse backgrounds. Claire likes to integrate play, joy and fun into her trainings, as these are foundational to supporting healthy youth and staff alike. Another major focus of technical guidance and training is supporting frontline care workers to reduce compassion fatigue and burnout. Claire is constantly in awe of the work that ourBRIDGE does as it is one of the most child-centered, dynamic and play based programs she has ever had the privilege of working with! ourBRIDGE is a model for care in diverse communities due to its innovative approaches to learning, integration of cultural pride and acceptance through LERD values, and diverse staff reflective of the communities it works with. She is honored to be part of the team supporting the incredible children and families of ourBRIDGE.

Natalie joined OBFK in 2019 as Program Director. Through the years, she has stayed connected to the organization through running diverse projects, programs, and workstreams. She is the author of the OBFK Curriculum Guide as well as many key components of the OBFK handbook and staff manuals. As the HR Executive Leadership Coach, she continues to offer her expertise to enhance overall organizational health, sustainability, and resilience. Natalie received her BA in Middle Eastern Studies from The Florida State University and her MS. ED in Global & International Education from Drexel University. Additionally, she received her SHRM-CP in 2022. In her full-time role, she works as the Director of People Operations and culture with the Acacia Center for Justice – a nonprofit that seeks to deliver and advocate for meaningful and effective access to freedom for immigrants at risk of detention or deportation.

Natalie has been involved with ourBRIDGE for over 6 years and in many capacities. Currently, she supports, coach, and advise ourBRIDGE leadership in creating a highly impactful workplace culture and environment. I’m here to ensure that all community members at OBFK have access to incredible leaders who prioritize their well-being and growth. From staffing to curriculum to organizational structure, I’m here to work through any challenges that arise.

Her favorite LERD value is Diversity. It takes all of us! “All people carry talents, gifts, and ideas. I believe in human-centered approaches that focus on the unique aspects of individuals and communities. Where diversity thrives, so does justice, creativity, and progress.

Dr. Taryn Greene is a US Air Force Veteran and Health Psychologist, whose research focuses on understanding factors that contribute to thriving, healing, and posttraumatic growth. Working with immigrant and refugee children and families is a mission that has been close to her heart since serving in the military overseas in Afghanistan in 2010 and 2011. She previously worked at Heartland Alliance in Chicago, aiding unaccompanied children who crossed the border into the United States, particularly those who experienced high levels of stress and trauma. She has continued to serve the military population through research work at the Boulder Crest Institute and the Women Veterans Network, organizations developing and implementing interventions that support service members coping with transition stress, PTSD, and other mental health-related issues. She was trained in program evaluation during her doctoral studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and genuinely enjoys working with organizations to understand how the “active ingredients” of their carefully constructed programs are helping families.

How long with ourBRIDGE? 10 months

What does your role entail? Leads the conceptualization, development, and implementation of our trauma-informed, strengths-focused, community-based, comprehensive program evaluation. Over time the Director of Research and Evaluation will also establish an emerging research portfolio and produce publications and presentations based on the methodologies and impacts of ourBRIDGE for KIDS that can be presented at national conferences.

Favorite Lerd Value and Why? Love, because I believe every child deserves unconditional love and affirming relationships in their life.