Executive Director

alex@sociedadlatina.org

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 serves as a Community Advisory Board representative for Children's Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Beth Israel and the Brigham & Women’s Hospital, and Tufts University Tisch College Community Research Center. Alex also served on the Boston Public School Committee for 5 years and was the previous co-chair of the Greater Boston Latino Network (GBLN). Alex is a trustee of Emmanuel College, a trustee of the Anna B Stearns Foundation, a board member of Hale Reservation, the Friends of the Hernandez and is also a member of her local Ward.

In recognition for her hard work and dedication to the Latino community in Boston, Alex has received a number of honors and recognitions over the years. In 2023 Alex was slected as a Pahara Fellow. In 2021, Alex was named as one of Boston’s most influential leaders by Boston Magazine. In 2018, Alex was selected by The Partnership to participate in the Next Generation Executive Leadership program and was named one of Boston’s Most 100 Influential People of Color by Get Konnected. 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 Mayor Thomas Menino, the Boston Police Department, and Boston City Council. Alex holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Emmanuel College and a Master’s in Public Policy from Tufts University.

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.

Program Director

arodriguez@sociedadlatina.org

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.

Associate Director

juan@sociedadlatina.org

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.

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.

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.

Manager of College & Career Pathways

jose@sociedadlatina.org

Jose Martinez is the Manager of College & Career Pathways at Sociedad Latina. Originally from Puerto Rico, he moved to Massachusetts in 2012 and was first introduced to Sociedad Latina as a youth participant seeking direction after high school. Inspired by the support he received, Jose later returned as a College Coach, driven to give back to the community that helped shape his journey. He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Lesley University and brings years of experience supporting youth in career exploration and post-secondary planning. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Jose is passionate about building strong connections with youth and families across communities. He is committed to helping young people identify their strengths, set meaningful goals, and build bright futures. Jose is proud to be part of a team that uplifts and empowers the next generation through Sociedad Latina’s Pathways model.

Grants and Accounting Manager

rputala@sociedadlatina.org

Vik earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Finance & Accounting from Bentley University. Before joining Sociedad Latina, he worked as an accounting consultant, assisting various charter schools and nonprofits around Boston with financial tracking and maintaining accounting standards. With a background in STEM, Vik is particularly interested in the aerospace and automobile industries. He joined Sociedad Latina with the aspiration to follow in the footsteps of his late grandfather, who was honored by the President of India for his noteworthy involvement and contributions to community service.

Alexis received her bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Languages and Intercultural Studies from Coastal Carolina University. Alexis comes to Sociedad Latina with an extensive background in non-profit youth work, having worked with St. Stephen’s Youth Programs, a non-profit based in Boston's South End, throughout high school and college. As an undergraduate student, Alexis held multiple positions peer-advising and supporting multilingual learners and international students, all of which were rewarding and further solidified her plans to continue non-profit work after college. Passionate about higher-education access, uplifting youth and fostering confidence, Alexis is incredibly excited to join the Sociedad Latina team.

Social Media and Marketing Associate

cjimenez@sociedadlatina.org

Cristina joined Sociedad Latina in the summer of 2024 as our Social Media and Marketing Associate, following the completion of her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Northeastern University. As a student, she researched growth marketing opportunities within human services and minority advancement-based nonprofit organizations. She looks forward to this new step with Sociedad Latina and working on expanding their connection with Mission Hill youth.

Born and raised just outside of Washington DC to Puerto Rican parents, she is (mostly) bilingual in English and Spanish and is passionate about environmental sustainability, nurturing strong community ties, and the power of collective action.

Youth Development Specialist Youth Community Organizers

jmorales@sociedadlatina.org

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.

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.

Youth Development Specialist - Health Education

rsanchez@sociedadlatina.org

Reyna joined Sociedad Latina in the spring of 2024 as a Youth Development Specialist focusing on health education. With a background as an orthodontic assistant and treatment coordinator in a dental office, she brings extensive experience working closely with children and youth. Her time in Maui involved significant community engagement, fostering a passion for nonprofit work and youth development.

In search of a new change of scenery, she relocated to Boston and was immediately drawn to Sociedad Latina's mission. Reyna is thrilled to grow with Sociedad Latina, empowering youth through educational, cultural, social-emotional, and professional support. Utilizing Sociedad Latina's Pathways model, she is committed to helping youth and families build long-term relationships, develop essential skills, and take pride in their cultures.

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.

Youth Development Specialist Environmental and Food Justice

Vtaylor@sociedadlatina.org

Veronica joined Sociedad Latina in the summer of 2023 as our Community Gardening Consultant and then transitioned to our Youth Development Specialist for our Environmental and Food Justice program in the fall of 2023. She is a Boston native and has a strong passion for improving her community through direct action initiatives. 

Veronica has collaborated with city groups such as Earthworks, Urban Wilds Initiative, Friends of Nira Rock, Boston Natural Areas Network, Boston Parks Advocates, and the Trustees of Reservations to organize and execute neighborhood and greenspace cleanup efforts throughout the city. Through her role as Youth Development Specialist, Veronica strives to share this passion for community work and teach youth tangible skills that foster empathy, healthy relationships, community building, healthy living, environmental preservation, and sustainability. She is bilingual in English and Spanish.

Office Associate

wtropman@sociedadlatina.org

Wandel was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and moved to the United States in 2021. He has been interested in music from a young age, specifically salsa and merengue orchestras from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. When he moved to Boston, he joined Sociedad Latina for our music program. He is an alumnus of our Youth Artists Mastery Program, specializing in percussions. He graduated English High School in 2024 and joined our staff as a Junior Alumni Fellow before being hired as our Office Associate. Wandel continues to work at Sociedad Latina because of the familial and respectful culture and contribution and promotion of Latine cultures.