Our team

Meet Jenny Lee, Finance Director Where are you from?  I was born in Australia and my father moved us to the United States (I was 5 years old) to be closer to family.  We spent a couple months in California and came to Minnesota. I’ve been in Minnesota since. Where do […]

By Makeda Toure, Project Specialist Esperanza United (formerly Casa de Esperanza) In March, I took part in a 40-hour Sexual Assault Training hosted by the Minnesota Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MNCASA). Everything I have been thinking about since taking this training can be summed up into a 10-letter word: prevention. It’s […]

Join us for a conversation reflecting on the one-year anniversary since the COVID-19 quarantine began in the U.S. Esperanza United (formerly Casa de Esperanza) staff discuss how our work has shifted during the pandemic and how we’re adapting to meet the needs of our community. 

Meet Cristina Escobar, Director of Communications and Marketing Where are you from? My parents are academics so we moved around a bunch but I’d say I’m from Arizona. I went to middle and high school there. My claim to fame, though, is that I’ve lived in all four US-Mexico border states. […]

Meet Lillie Macias, PhD, Director of Research and Evaluation Where are you from? My family moved around growing up. I was born in California, and I also lived in Utah, Texas, and New Jersey.  Where do you feel most at home? I feel at home whenever I’m with my family and […]

Meet Annika Gifford, Program Strategy and Fund Development Advisor Where are you from? I was born in South Korea and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Where do you feel most at home? Nature. What inspires you, professionally and personally? Many things inspire me – right now given current conditions, I’m most […]

My main responsibilities are to: Help advance the development and implementation of a national Latin@ public policy agenda to prevent and eliminate domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence and support healthy families and communities. Work in conjunction with the Policy, Training and Research divisions to develop resources and enhance […]

Meet Makeda Touré, Project Specialist My name is Makeda Touré and, I am a 25-year-old South Minneapolis resident who gives the sparkling water industry a significant part of my income. I am really into popular culture, comedy and The Sims. At Casa de Esperanza, my main responsibility is to provide administrative […]

  In today’s edition of Meet the Team, we will introduce Nancy Nava, our Research and Evaluation Manager. Meet the Team is an opportunity for readers to get to know a little bit more about the amazing and inspiring people who work with Esperanza United. Below are facts about Nancy Nava, […]

Where are you from? I am from more than one place. I was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Chilean parents and have lived in various cities and towns in Massachusetts and Chile throughout my life. I feel fortunate to have discovered different places and connected with diverse people. Where do you […]