WHO WE ARE

Mixteca is a community-based organization located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. It was established in 2000 by concerned community members to address the critical needs that the Mexican and Latin American immigrant community were facing.


OUR STORY

25 YEARS OF SHOWING UP

Mixteca has been supporting the Sunset Park community since the early days of the AIDS crisis, twenty years ago. In the year 2000, Dr. Gabriel Rincón set out to address a lack of Spanish-language information about HIV/AIDS that was disproportionately affecting immigrants in New York City.

He founded Mixteca Organization, Inc., a nonprofit community center that provides free health and education programs to New York City’s Mexican immigrant community. The mission was to eliminate cultural, social, and economic barriers that hindered the advancement of Mexican immigrants. Mixteca has become a meeting place for people of very different origins who are looking to create a community where thousands of Latino families can find support, information, and the resources that enable them to progress and adapt in this city. 

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RESISTING THROUGH CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

MEET THE TEAM

  • Lorena Kourousias | Executive Director

    A social worker with extensive experience supporting Latinx immigrant communities. She holds degrees in Psychology from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and a Master’s in Social Work from Hunter College, CUNY, and has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work advancing community health and women’s empowerment.

  • Vianey Romero-Mendez | Director of Programs

    A bilingual therapist specializing in mental health and survivor support. She holds a BA in Psychology from The City College of New York and a Master’s in Social Work from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, and has extensive experience supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

  • Marcelino Martinez | Director of Finance

    Finance professional with a Bachelor’s degree from Baruch College. He has extensive experience in cooperative development and administration, having worked with Radiate Consulting NYC and the Democracy at Work Institute to implement accounting and administrative systems and train cooperative administrators and incubators in the cooperative model.

  • Ana Salgado | Senior Coordinator

    Bilingual social worker with a Master’s degree in Social Intervention and more than 12 years of experience working with vulnerable communities in South America and immigrant communities in the U.S. Her work focuses on mental health, women’s empowerment, and supporting survivors of violence through community-based care and advocacy.

  • Maria Ponce Sevilla | Director of Development

    Professional fundraiser with more than 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, advocating for immigrant communities in New York City and supporting deported youth in Mexico. She has led literary and cultural initiatives that amplify immigrant voices and advance community empowerment.

  • Ángel Melgoza | Development Associate

    Journalist, filmmaker, and social researcher. He holds an MA in Liberal Studies from The New School for Social Research, where he researched extractivism and energy humanities.

  • Aldonza Buerba | Mental Health Coordinator

    Psychologist experienced in community and clinical work with immigrants, LGBTQ+ communities, and people in vulnerable situations. Her work is rooted in holistic wellness, promoting community care and advocacy beyond traditional clinical settings.

  • Yenifer Soriano | Paralegal

    Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Latinx Studies from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She previously served as a Community Fellow at Immigrant Justice Corps, providing legal screenings and support with immigration applications. Continues at Mixteca as a partially DOJ-accredited representative connecting community members with accessible resources and services.

  • Van Xelo | Community Organizer

    Van (they/she) works at the intersection of social, environmental, and immigrant justice. They hold an MS in Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management and a BA in Urban Studies from The New School. They bring experience in community organizing and coalition building.

  • Ana Galeana | Health Coordinator

    Holds an Associate in Science in Health Professions from BMCC and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology from Hunter College. She brings her own lived experience as an immigrant and mother to guide and support the community she serves.

  • Laila Figueroa | Education Coordinator

    Brings experience in community empowerment and financial education. She previously worked at the Consulate General of Mexico in New York, where she helped develop initiatives such as “Mexicana Emprende,” a program supporting women building sustainable small businesses and services.

  • Narcisa Loza | Social Worker

    Clinical social worker with decades of experience providing mental health services to immigrant families. She holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and Social Work from NYU and leads community-based initiatives that support survivors of domestic violence and family well-being.

  • Yair Aparicio | Community Advocate

    Supports immigrant and underserved communities through health advocacy, case management support, and outreach. He is bilingual and has an academic background in Architecture and Forensic Psychology, bringing a systems-based perspective to community work.

  • Alejandra Aragon | Community Advocate

    Alejandra Aragon | Community Advocate

    She holds a degree in Law from the Universidad Central del Ecuador. At Mixteca provides legal consultation as a partially DOJ-accredited representative, and is also currently receiving legal training to better support immigrant communities in defending their rights.

  • Karen Reyes Mosqueda | Community Advocate

    Karen Reyes Mosqueda | Community Advocate

    She holds a degree in Psychology from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) and a diploma in Socio-Pastoral Accompaniment to Migrants from Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla. She supports migrant communities through human rights–centered advocacy, research, and community accompaniment.

  • Sofia D' Acosta | Community Advocate

    Supports Latinx immigrant communities through trauma-informed individual and group care. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master’s in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the Sociedad Psicoanalítica de México.

  • Carolina Moreno | Community Advocate

    Provides evidence-based mental health support to immigrant families and leads political education workshops. Her work centers on empowering Latinx and Indigenous communities through culturally grounded care and community advocacy.

  • Ellie Estrada | Community Advocate

    Supports and provides case management to community members accessing Mixteca’s services. She studied Communication and Counseling at San Francisco State University and brings experience in mental health advocacy, survivor support, and community-based care.

MEET OUR BOARD

  • Daniel Garibay | Board Chair

  • Raquel Schneiderman | Treasurer

  • Mayra Aldás-Deckert | Board Member

  • Sarah Bishop | Board Member

  • Susana Camarena Bernard | Board Member

    Susana Camarena Bernard | Board Member

  • Sarah Libby | Board Member

  • Guisela Marroquin | Board Member

  • Cole Riley | Board Member