I was fortunate to have older siblings who were very involved in community work, so that was a great opportunity for me as a young woman to really be involved in a lot of initiatives, funded and initiated by the church. I had an opportunity through the church to do a lot of literacy teaching. I think I was mentored and trained early in my life to do community work and to work with low-income families.

I was born in 1964 in Colombia. I come from a family of eight siblings and a large extended family that maintains close ties. I lived with my family in Pasto until I met my husband, Jack, a student from the University of Minnesota, who had traveled to Colombia in a study abroad internship. We were married in 1987 and moved to Minnesota where I learned English, worked various jobs, and completed my education. I have two degrees from the University of Minnesota: a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies and a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs from the Humphrey Institute.