Alexandra Oliver-Dávila, Executive Director
Executive Director
For more than 20 years, Alexandra Oliver-Dávila has worked to create a community that supports Latino youth, values their input, and believes in their ability to create positive social change. Serving as Executive Director since 1999, Alex has transformed Sociedad Latina into a cutting-edge, data-driven creative youth development organization. Under her leadership, Sociedad Latina has increased and diversified its budget, expanded board membership, increased the number of youth and families it works with, and expanded programming.
Through her grassroots community-based approach, Alex has forged cross-sector collaborations with dozens of partners, including colleges, hospitals, businesses, foundations, and schools. This broad network of partnerships has enabled Sociedad Latina to leverage resources and offer youth greater access and opportunities to thrive. In addition, Alex has served as a Community Advisory Board representative for Children's Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, New England Baptist Hospital, Beth Israel, and Boston After School and Beyond. Alex previously served as the Chair of the Boston Public School Committee, a trustee of Emmanuel College, a board member of the Coalition of Schools of Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC), the Co-Chair of the Greater Boston Latino Network (GBLN), and a member of the Coalition for Career Development Advisory Council.
In recognition for her hard work and dedication to the Latino community in Boston, Alex has received a number of honors and recognition over the years. In 2018, Alex was selected by The Partnership to participate in the Next Generation Executive Leadership program. For several years in a row, she was named one of Boston’s Most 100 Influential People of Color by Boston Magazine. In 2016, Alex was named one of YW’s 150 Women of Influence. Alex has been honored several times on El Planeta’s Powermeter 100 Most Powerful People for Massachusetts’ Latinos. In 2012, Alex received an Honorary Doctorate from Emmanuel College and the Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award from the National Football League. In 2007, Alex was honored as a Barr Foundation Fellow – a program that recognizes Boston’s most gifted and experienced leaders. She also received the Freedom House Community Leader Award in 2006 and the Boston Celtics’ Hero Among Us Award in 2002. During her career, Alex has also received honors from former mayors Thomas Menino and Martin J. Walsh, the Boston Police Department, and Boston City Council. Alex holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Emmanuel College and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Tufts University.
Juan Maldonado - Associate Director
Associate Director
Juan Maldonado earned his undergraduate degree in Professional Music, with a concentration in Music Education, from Berklee College of Music. Prior to joining Sociedad Latina, Juan founded and directed a music school near Boston. He is a skilled musician, appearing in events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, Bean Town Jazz Festival, Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, Sarasota Jazz Festival, and Heineken Jazz Festival. In 2014, Juan was awarded the Berklee Urban Service Award for his outstanding work with youth in Boston and selected as a chair for Boston Creates, a community-wide effort to harness creativity and build a shared vision for arts and culture in Boston. As Associate Director, Juan oversees all partnerships and supports with the day-to-day management of the organization. He is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Maria Grande - Director of Development
Director of Development
mariag@sociedadlatina.org
Maria received her undergraduate degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Providence College in 2015. After graduating from college, she worked as an AmeriCorp VISTA in the ServiceWorks program at Boston Cares and Sociedad Latina. Maria was hired in the Development Department at Sociedad Latina after completing her service year, and has made her way to Director of Development over six years. At Sociedad Latina, she oversees the organization’s fundraising efforts and marketing & communications, and supervises the Development Associate.
Angelica Rodriguez - Program Director
Program Director
Angelica Rodriguez’s passion for teaching and giving back to the community through education flourished during her seven years working for the nonprofit organization Community Actions Program Inter-City, Inc. She earned her undergraduate degree in Music, with a minor in Women Gender Studies, and her Master’s of Education, with a track in Learning, Teaching, and Education Transformation from University of Massachusetts, Boston. In 2017-2019, Angelica taught Spanish for grades 6-8 in the Public Schools of Brookline. As the Program Director, she oversees the implementation of our Pathways to Success programming, supervises management staff, and liaises with partners.
Sarabjit Kaur - Finance and Operations Director
Finance and Operations Director
skaur@sociedadlatina.org
Sarabjit Kaur earned her undergraduate degree in Management, with a double concentration in Accounting and Management Information Systems, from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. She received her Master’s degree in Business Analytics from Northeastern University. Prior to joining Sociedad Latina, Sarabjit was employed at UMass Boston in various positions, including serving as an Administrative Assistant at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and tutoring undergraduate students in the College of Management. At Sociedad Latina, Sarabjit began working as the Finance and Human Resources Manager, managing the daily operations of the finance department of the organization. After completing three years at Sociedad Latina, Sarabjit was promoted to the Director of Finance & Operations position, overseeing the finance, HR, and administrative functions of the organization.
Stephanie Aguayo - Manager of Arts, Culture, & Civic Engagement
Manager of Arts, Culture, & Civic Engagement
saguayo@sociedadlatina.org
Stephanie Aguayo received her undergraduate degree in Interrelated Media from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. She joined Sociedad Latina in 2016 as a work study arts instructor through the Center for Art and Community Partnerships at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. In 2019, Stephanie was hired as our Youth Community Organizers (YCO) Coordinator, working with our youth to create identity-driven and arts inclined programming to elevate youth voices and opinions on civic issues impacting their lives. She currently serves as our Manager of Arts, Culture, & Civic Engagement, having a passion for working with community members to create spaces of exploration, conversation, and change while fostering a broad sense of community. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Victoria Garcia - Wellness Manager
Wellness Manager
Victoria Garcia is a proud Latina and first generation college student. She received her undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from Endicott College and hopes to earn a Master's Degree in Adolescent Mental Health Counseling from Boston University's Wheelock School of Education. Victoria is an alumna of Sociedad Latina’s Youth Leader program, joining our Health Careers for Youth program in high school. With 10+ years of experience in the nonprofit sector, she continues to support underrepresented communities through initiatives like Boston Private Industry Council’s Youth Transitions Task Force, The Jeremiah Program, and Boston's Girls Empowerment Network. She is also a Board of Director for Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services and Sitters for Scholars. As the Wellness Manager, Victoria oversees our health and wellness programming and social-emotional development curriculum. She is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, Bullying Prevention & Intervention, and Circle Keeping Best Practices. Victoria is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Andrea Gilbert - Office & Facilities Manager
Office Manager
acosta@sociedadlatina.org
Andrea Gilbert obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Administrative Services from The University of Piura in Lima, Peru before setting her sights on further academic growth in the United States in 2016. Currently enrolled in a Master’s program in Business Administration at Lesley University, Andrea strives to broaden her knowledge and skills in this field. Fluent in English, Spanish and French, Andrea’s multilingual abilities have enriched her experiences and interactions across cultures. As an immigrant and proud Latinx, Andrea is fueled by a sense of empowerment to make a difference in the lives of youth and her community, dedicating her efforts to the success of others at Sociedad Latina.
Emily Lewis - Manager of College & Career Pathways
Manager of College & Career Pathways
Emily Lewis received her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Emmanuel College. She joined Sociedad Latina as a volunteer in 2012, serving as a college mentor and tutor. Throughout her time with the organization, she has supported several programs including STEAM Team, Health Education, Arts & Culture, and Civic Engagement, and most recently she supported Program Evaluation. As the Manager of College & Career Pathways at Sociedad Latina, Emily oversees volunteer engagement and takes a holistic approach to engaging youth in the exploration of education and career pathways. She is passionate about public health, community empowerment, and supporting youth in discovering their passions.
Juan Molina - Environmental & Food Justice Program Assistant
Environmental & Food Justice Program Assistant
jmolina@sociedadlatina.org
Juan Molina is currently pursuing a degree in Computer Technology at Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. He joined our Music Clubhouse Weekend Community Classes in 2015 and later became a Youth Leader in our Youth Arts Mastery Program. He worked his way up to becoming an Office Assistant and is currently the Program Assistant for our Environmental & Food Justice Program, assisting our Environmental & Food Justice Youth Development Specialist with the facilitation and implementation of program activities including our gardening classes. Juan is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Julia Morales - Youth Development Specialist Youth Community Organizers
Youth Development Specialist Youth Community Organizers
Julia Morales received her undergraduate degree in Political Science, with a focus on Performance Art & Social Change, from Northeastern University. During her time as an undergrad, she worked with Peace Through Play, which led her towards working with youth. Julia also collaborated with Revolutionary Spaces, with a focus on the power of words and visual art pieces as a catalyst for social change.
She joined Sociedad Latina in the beginning of 2024 and currently serves as our Youth Development Specialist for our Youth Community Organizing program. Julia is ecstatic to join the team at Sociedad Latina and aspires to help youth use their voices. She is passionate about youth empowerment, involvement, and expression surrounding civic and social issues that affect Sociedad Latina’s youth.
Raquel Navarro - Youth Development Specialist Music Clubhouse
Youth Development Specialist Music Clubhouse
rnavarro@sociedadlatina.org
Raquel Navarro joined Sociedad Latina in 2012 as a Youth Artist and made her way up to a permanent staff position. She is a vocal performer and learned to play the bass and piano at Sociedad Latina. As a Youth Artist, she composed three original songs and performed at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), House of Blues Boston, the Museum of Fine Arts, and other events across Boston. She is currently attending Roxbury Community College, where she is pursuing music. At Sociedad Latina, Raquel is the Youth Development Specialist for our Youth Artists Mastery Program, leading workshops, ensembles, and afterschool programming. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
John Slaughter - Saturday Music Clubhouse Coordinator
Saturday Music Clubhouse Coordinator
jslaughter@sociedadlatina.org
John Slaughter received his Associate degree in Electrical Engineering from Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology. He is currently pursuing a degree in Theology at Northpoint Bible College. First beginning at Sociedad Latina as a Youth Leader, John participated in our Youth Community Organizing and Music Clubhouse programs. As the Saturday Music Clubhouse Coordinator, John leads the implementation of music education and instrumental lessons in our Saturday Music Clubhouse. John is appreciative to continue at Sociedad Latina as a staff member because he feels that, as a Youth Leader, he received tangible skills for the workforce, discipline, teamwork, and collaboration and wants to share this knowledge and experience with the next generation of youth.
Josh Snyder - Development Manager
Development Manager
Josh Snyder studied Guitar Performance and Composition at Berklee College of Music. Upon graduating, he joined Sociedad Latina in 2014 as the Music Clubhouse Coordinator. With almost a decade of teaching experience, he has an unwavering passion to support burgeoning musicians and help them reach their artistic potential. As The Development Manager, Josh’s mission is to assist the organization's fundraising efforts in order to provide high-quality programming for young people across all of Sociedad Latina's programs and services. He is a recipient of The Outstanding Music Instructor Award through Berklee's Office of Community Affairs and Campus Engagement, as well as an alumni of Massachusetts Cultural Council's Music Educators and Teaching Artists (META) fellowship.
Alan Veloz - Youth Development Specialist Workforce Development
Youth Development Specialist Workforce Development
aveloz@sociedadlatina.org
Alan Veloz is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Community Health, Peace, and Justice, as well as a Master's Degree in Public Health. He initially joined Sociedad Latina as a Health Education intern and has since become a Youth Development Specialist in Workforce Development. Alan aspires to serve as a bridge to resources that benefit Sociedad Latina's youth, families, and community, while also seeking opportunities to address the challenges of poverty, racial inequity, and much more. Alan is bilingual in English and Spanish.