Board of Directors
Dave Slaymaker, President
Dave began working as a volunteer with Oaxaca Youth Empowerment in 1997. He and his wife, Lorrie, live in Colorado, where Dave is retired from careers as a police Captain, and later, Assistant Dean in the University of Arkansas system, where he led a STEM digital learning initiative and Global Languages program
Ken Lorenze, Treasurer
Ken and his wife, Fran, a longtime volunteer at Centro Esperanza Infantil, have sponsored children through OYE for 10 years. Ken lives in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. He has a background in commodity purchasing for food manufacturers such as Nabisco and Kraft, and in serving as a consultant for similar types of companies
Bertina Fernández
Nancy has volunteered with OYE since 2009 and spends three months a year at Centro Esperanza Infantil. She has a master’s degree in social work and extensive experience working with children and young people in medical and public health settings. She has served in her local community as a board member of two non-profits
Nancy Hatcher
Bertina is a language teacher and a passionate activist for the Triqui language. She was a beneficiary at the Centro de Esperanza. To her, education is more than just a path; it's the very cornerstone of childhood, a stepping stone towards a brighter future. Bertina is eager to give back a little of the support she's received.
Colleen Meiman
Colleen joined the board in 2018. She discovered OYE when she and her then-14-year-old daughter volunteered at Centro Esperanza Infantil. The impact of the work on so many children and families amazed her. Colleen works on making health care affordable and accessible for everyone. She lives outside of Washington D.C.
Tim Porter, Vice President
Tim is a photographer and journalist with an extensive background in newspaper, magazine, and web publishing. For the last nine years, he has concentrated on documentary photography in Oaxaca, working with single mothers and with families who have returned to Mexico after living in the United States.
Leo Méndez Altamirano
Leo is passionate about serving and giving back to his community. Born in Oaxaca and raised in Nashville, Tenn., he uses his bachelor's degree in marketing to serve the children and families in Oaxaca. He has experience volunteering with nonprofit organizations and marketing in Nashville, where he lives.
Alex Holderman, Secretary
Alex discovered OYE when he was on an exchange program in Oaxaca for high school in 2009. Alex is a branch manager for Mutual Security Credit Union in Connecticut. He has extensive background working at US Hunger, formerly known as Feeding Children Everywhere, a non-profit based in Orlando, Fla.
Make your tax-deductible gift today so the future of Oaxacan youth remains bright.
Oaxaca Youth Empowerment, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Our Tax ID is: 35-1988669