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.

RESISTING THROUGH

CULTURE AND COMMUNITY

MEET THE TEAM

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.

A proud Guatemalan immigrant and Latina professional with over 15 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, philanthropic, and advocacy sectors. Her work bridges legislative advocacy, community engagement, and culture change, always centering the voices of directly impacted communities.

HR leader with over 10 years of experience building equitable people
operations, with particular expertise supporting Latino and immigrant
workforces. David has extensive experience in HR policy development,
labor law compliance, employee relations, and organizational
development roles across the Yale Club of New York City, Soho House &
Co., OTG Management, and Baldor Specialty Foods. David believes strong people operations are foundational to thriving organizations, and he is committed to creating psychologically safe, culturally responsive workplaces where every team member has a clear pathway for growth.

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.

Yanira holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Social Policy and brings extensive experience in operations management, program implementation, organizational development, and cross-functional team leadership. She is passionate about building effective systems and fostering collaborative workplace cultures. Yanira is committed to creating the conditions that enable staff, programs, and communities to thrive!

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.

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.

Originally from Mexico, Julia Karam studied Architecture at Universidad Iberoamericana Puebla, bringing a creative and design-focused perspective to her work.
Julia first joined Mixteca in 2024 through her university service program and later returned as Development Associate, where she supports fundraising, communications, community engagement, and special events.
Outside of work, Julia has a passion for outdoor activities, travel, and extreme sports. She enjoys new experiences and adventures that challenge her and connect her with people and places in meaningful ways.

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.

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.

Aldonza supports the programs team across all our program pillars. She is a 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.

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.

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.

Holds a law degree from Ecuador and at Mixteca provides legal consultation as a partially DOJ-accredited representative. She is also currently receiving legal training to better support immigrant communities in defending their rights.

Mary is passionate about advancing justice, protecting human rights, and building vibrant and inclusive communities. She brings this lens to her work in resource development and fundraising, working in the field for over two decades. With this experience and work with coalitions and immigrant justice spaces, she is excited to work with the team and Mixteca’s community toward a new phase of work and growth.

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.

Pauline joins the Mixteca team with a background in linguistics and a passion for language education and access, and research of Indigenous languages. She will support the community with all their educational needs and continue to work with our great volunteer taskforce to advance our programming. Her parents are from Colombia and France and she’s eager to serve immigrant New Yorkers and see them thrive.

Works alongside the Finance Director to manage financial records and grants. She brings over 16 years of experience in nonprofit finance, supporting organizations that serve and strengthen community programs.

Bely is passionate about helping others and supporting her community. Through her work at Mixteca, she enjoys connecting people with resources, making them feel welcomed, and being someone they can rely on. Bely is a caring, organized, and positive person who believes that even a small act of support can make a big difference.

Carlos (he/him) is a dedicated bilingual professional skilled in healthcare advocacy, financial wellness, and customer relations. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Promotion & Health Equity from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a first-generation high school and college graduate. Carlos is passionate about empowering folks to make the best decisions for their lifestyles and goals.

A proud Sunset Park native, born and raised in the community. Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, with a minor in Latin American and Latinx Studies, from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Her personal experience navigating inequities in higher education has shaped a strong commitment to advocating for accessible and inclusive educational opportunities for all.

As a Legal Volunteer, Francisco has supported asylum seekers through Form I-589 and I-765 applications, offering trauma-informed care to clients navigating some of the most vulnerable moments of their immigration journey.
A Bronx native and proud native Spanish speaker studying Public Affairs at Baruch College, Francisco brings a deep, personal commitment to immigrant justice, honored with a Citation of Merit for his work uplifting the Hispanic community.
He's excited to keep empowering the families Mixteca serves.