Our Team

We have an extremely diverse team, with volunteers from countries as far as Netherlands and India. Many of our team members work virtually, many come down to Granada for a few months and many choose to make this place their home. One feature unites them all – a passion to make a big difference in the lives of children.

Here is a look at all the members of our team…

Kathy Adams – Executive Director/Founder

As a technical engineer, Kathy spent 4 years in Central America working as an engineer with Intel. With the level of poverty and seeing children selling and begging on the streets, Kathy felt compelled to change the situation. In 1998, she purchased the requisite uniforms, shoes and books and enrolled children from two families in schools with her own money.

Today Empowerment International is a US-registered non-profit organization, which gives over 275 children in  Nicaragua access to education. It also currently employs a Nicaraguan teacher to co-ordinate the program locally.

In 2007, Kathy decided to dedicate her efforts full-time to further provide children educational access and enriching communities in Central America. She returned to Central America to live in 2008, leaving her engineering life behind.

Anielka Gutierrez – Program Director, Nicaragua

A former local Nicaraguan teacher, Anielka leads the team  who monitor the programs in both communities. She addresses any obstacles which may prohibit the children from continuing their education and leads a parent committee to provide support to families and spearhead broader community improvement initiatives.

GROUND TEAM

Carla Vanessa Velez Medina – Program Coordinator, Santa Ana

Pamela Huete – Administrative Assistant  and English Teacher

Margarita Arroliga – Home visit coordinator.  (Program graduate university intern)

Jeaneth Gutierrez- Afternoon tutoring Coordinator.  (Program high school graduate and university intern)

Anyelo Lacayo – Morning tutoring coordinator ( (Program high school graduate and university intern)

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Neha Singh – Website Manager. For website related issues, content ideas or suggestions for improvement, contact her at singhneh@yahoo.com (volunteer)

Leonardo Vila – Translator (volunteer)

Kshitiz Anand – Graphic Designer (volunteer)

Danielle Dubois – Graphic Designer (volunteer)

WRITERS

Neha Singh (volunteer)

BOARD and ADVISORS

Charlie Partee – Board Chair

Dan Boyer – BOD Member

Melissa Chiappetta – BOD Member

Kelly Meeks – BOD Member

Marshall McCormick – BOD member

Takwana Nhau – BOD Member

Morgan Smith – Advisor

Our Supporters include:

Cal Ripken Foundation

Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation

Hotel con Corazon

Kenneth King Foundation

YMCA International Club

Rider Family Foundation

And many individuals who make up the majority of our funding.