I am so excited to join Colorado Academy as the new K-12 Service Learning & Community Engagement Coordinator and REDI Lab Community Liaison. As a first generation Latina and a proud southwest Denver native, I experienced firsthand the power of community, resilience, and the opportunities that come from having people believe in you. Those roots have shaped my passion for service, community, and creating spaces where young people feel empowered to dream big and take action.
Before coming to CA, I spent my career in student advocacy and community engagement. Most recently, I served as Manager of College Success and Internships at DSST: Cole. In that role, I had the privilege of helping students design their pathways to college and careers while building partnerships with organizations across Denver. I’ve also led recruitment, family engagement, and leadership programming at STRIVE Prep and The Challenge Foundation. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that education is at its best when it connects students to real-world issues, community partners, and their own sense of purpose.
At REDI Lab, I’m especially excited to bring that same energy into guiding students as they design projects rooted in curiosity, impact, and innovation. I look forward to co-designing with students as they wrestle with big questions and discover their ability to be changemakers. I’m also thrilled to lead initiatives like Girl Fierce and Latina Leaders by Design, which give young women the tools to embrace their voices, lead boldly, and explore opportunities in ways that reflect their lived experiences.
What excites me most about being here is the chance to connect students with the wider Denver community and to help them see that their learning doesn’t stop at the classroom doors. My hope is to build bridges, spark partnerships, and create opportunities where students not only learn about the world but also shape it. I feel deeply grateful to be a part of the REDI Lab team and can’t wait to see the impact our students will have.
L2XD Description:
Latina Leaders by Design (L2xD) is a leadership and empowerment summer program that supports Latina high school girls in discovering their strengths, building confidence, and exploring creative problem solving skills. The program was born out of a collaboration between the Henry Ford Learning Institute in Detroit and a group of passionate women from San Antonio with deep roots in education and community activism. Together, they envisioned a space that would center and uplift young Latinas, helping them build confidence, develop leadership skills, and really embrace their identities.
REDI Lab has had the privilege of partnering with HFLI on several meaningful projects in the past, and when we learned about this initiative, it felt only natural to bring Latina Leaders by Design to our own Denver community. This year was the first time we hosted the program in Denver, and we were thrilled to welcome 20 incredible participants, with a waitlist of additional students eager to join. Through hands-on projects, mentorship, and community engagement, the girls designed creative solutions to challenges, such as access to affordable housing, access to affordable healthcare, deportations, and fast fashion. The program not only cultivates leadership skills but also celebrates cultural identity, encourages civic engagement, and inspires participants to see themselves as future changemakers in their communities.
Jazmin, K-12 Service Learning & Community Engagement Coordinator