We’ve got some fresh faces around the Careyes Foundation office! Director Sarah Lerman will be going on maternity leave for the duration of the current school year. She’ll be staying involved—as she plans to return to her position in 2021—but our interim director, Elijah Monroe, will be taking over the day-to-day leadership of the foundation. You may also have noticed a recent pulse in our social media accounts thanks to the newly hired Nicolás García Barraza, who will be teaching English and managing social media. We're excited to have them both on board.
Elijah brings many years of international experience in social development to the Careyes Foundation. He grew up in a rural community in California, but has spent his career traveling and working around the world. While living in India, he co-founded two social enterprises, one working on ecotourism in the Himalayas, and the other developing youth leadership through student travel. He sees his long term future being based in Mexico. As Covid-19 presents unprecedented challenges for the Careyes Foundation and the communities with which we work, Elijah's entrepreneurial nature should be appropriate for the uncertain year ahead, one which will require constant innovation and responsiveness.
Nicolás is passionate about art, design, film, music, and social media. He clearly embodies many of the Careyes values! His experience working in galleries and on set design will do more than just add a new aesthetic to the foundation's brand, it will boost the creativity in our work with students and in our engagement with the community. His fun inquisitive nature has already been evident in recent Instagram posts. We're very much looking forward to Nicolás bringing his creative vibrancy to these challenging times.
Be sure to say hello to these two if you see them around. When they are not working in the pueblos, they are in the Careyes Foundation office on the weekdays. Nicolás can often be found enjoying the scene at Coscolina after work. Elijah is likely to be on the basketball court or taking walks with his partner, Ana, after working hours.