JUNTOS2COLLEGE - Key Persons
Alejandro Flores-Munoz is a seasoned entrepreneur, activist, and author who has made it his mission to advocate for marginalized communities. As an outspoken queer, DACA, Latinx person Munoz's life's work aims to champion for the next generation of intersectional entrepreneurs. Brought to the United States by his mother in 1997, Alejandro had strong progressive values instilled into him from a young age. His family upbringing and willingness to overcome adversity is what inspired him to open his businesses: Unum Sunglasses, Progressive Button, Stokes Poke, and Combi Tacos. He recently published his first book, "No Papers No Fear You Can Do Business Here," a how to guide for undocumented immigrants looking to start their business. His willingness to be open about his experiences have landed him commentary roles at leading media outlets like Univision along with coast to coast speaking tours. Alejandro proudly served as the Program Director for America Votes Colorado and most recently has been awarded both the Transformative Leadership for Change and Immigrants Rising Fellowship.
Johnny Salazar was born and raised in Northeast Los Angeles and moved to Humboldt County in 2010 to pursue his degree in Social Work. Currently the General Manager, he joined the Seventh Generation Fund team in 2014 as a Data Entry Intern. Johnny's passion for social justice is rooted in his uncle's involvement as a revolutionary guerrilla fighter in the Salvadorian Civil War fighting for the betterment of the common people. Johnny hopes to continue the legacy of his uncle by engaging and assisting relatives across Turtle Island who fight for self-determination, environmental justice, and decolonization. In his free time, Johnny likes to spend time with his dog Lady hiking, backpacking, and going to the beach. Other hobbies include: playing chess and doing mechanical work.
Jorge is an entrepreneur and sales leader, highly involved with his community. Previously, he spent 14 years leading and developing teams in the Marine Corps as well as 4 years as a financial advisor with a leading investment company. Most recently he was the Head of Sales for an EdTech company growing them to the #2 player in the market in 3 years. Jorge currently serves as President of the Board for Beads of Courage, an international non-profit. Jorge received his MBA in Entrepreneurship and Strategy from IE Business School in Madrid and his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Arizona, in Tucson, AZ. He and his wife live in Denver, Colorado, where they love camping, hiking, and doing other fun mountain things year-round.
Job Titles:
- CEO of ILearn Collaborative
Judy is the CEO of iLearn Collaborative and has been identified as a national level expert in K-12 online and blended learning by the U.S. Department of Education. Prior to founding the iLearn Collaborative, she directed district-wide blended learning at Jeffco Public Schools and led their online school from turnaround status to Performance accreditation. Judy's career in education includes science teacher, assistant principal, principal, district leader and CAO for the Charter School Institute at the Colorado Dept. of Education. In her 29-year career as an educator, she led districtwide and statewide implementations in innovative learning environments impacting 50+ Colorado school districts. She led and developed Colorado's largest statewide multi-district online school middle school and a districtwide blended learning program for Colorado's largest school district. She is a recognized national expert in blended and online learning contributing to research for the U.S. Dept. of Ed, iNACOL, State of Colorado, and numerous publications. Judy has consulted for the Secretary of Education Manizales, Colombia, S.A., Universidad Nacional de Colombia, The ASCENT Initiative, and other international agencies. She most proud of her role as mom of blended learners.
One day in October 2019, Luis remembers sitting down in his car outside a school, debating whether or not he should go in to the Ed Tech competition he signed up to pitch Juntos2College. "My idea is studpid. People like me don't do these things. They're hard." and then he remembered what his parents did: they left their home country to migrate to a new country where they don't speak the language, and know nobody. "Now that's hard. This is going to be a place where we all speak the same language, and talk about education and helping other people, now that's easy." Luis got out his car and the rest is Juntos2College.
Job Titles:
- CoFounder and CEO of Bondadosa
Ricardo Rocha is the CoFounder and CEO of Bondadosa, a logistics and technology platform designed to facilitate access to groceries and goods for low to moderate income families. Ricardo is a passionate community leader who utilizes his knowledge, skills, education, and life experiences to assist the members of our communities. He seeks to create change through entrepreneurship, public policy, and the implementation of organizational processes. Formerly an undocumented immigrant from Guanajuato, Mexico, Ricardo graduated from MSU of Denver and was nominated for a 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Award and received the Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce American Dream Award in 2017. Some of his favorite distractions are snowboarding, design, eating great food, music, and drinking coffee.
Victor is the first Political Field Director for United for a New Economy after 8 years at the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. He leads voter integrated organizing programs and door campaigns that have impacted over 200,000 voters and community members. Victor has led to bi-partisan work on license legislation that increased access to driver's licenses to undocumented Coloradans; he worked on campaigns that won passage of ASSET (instate tuition for undocumented students), and Law Enforcement and Community Trust Act which did away with Colorado's "Show me you papers" law. Victor brings with him all of the passion and skill he has developed through his work in the immigrant rights movement. Victor is dedicated to organizing voters year round to engage on the issue of economic justice through the lens of our most disenfranchised members of our community. "It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains." -Assata Shakur