Our MISSION
We increase access to international education for students across the Americas by building a vibrant network of globally-minded teachers and connecting them with intercultural classroom resources.
Our VISION
We imagine a world where every single student in the Americas has access to international education and where every language teacher is equipped with resources that spark intercultural confidence, connection, and curiosity for their students as a part of their basic education. We work for a future where each child discovers a world larger than their own, where they welcome a lifelong global awareness, and where they seek to understand their neighbors in different countries with curiosity, empathy, and respect.
OUR VALUES
Cultura Connect is guided by our values.
In our community, we:
STAY CURIOUS.
We meet each other with curiosity every day. We are open minded, and know that each student, teacher, or team member has something unique to teach, and something new to learn.
FOCUS ON OUR SHARED HUMANITY.
We are warm, kind, welcoming, accepting, humble, and human. We are eager to recognize and understand others’ stories, and create a safe space to do so.
DO EVERYTHING WITH JOY.
We are so grateful for the purpose, vibrancy, and positivity this work brings us. Our biggest joy is building and sharing intercultural learning with the community.
always Support each other.
We are a reciprocal community and each person’s participation matters. Every community member is important, and each perspective increases access to international exchange.
lead with inclusivity.
We advocate for equity, respect each other always, and are a bilingual organization. We are grounded in fighting for access to international education for all students across the Americas.
encourage innovation.
We are life-long learners and like to rethink things. We are always grateful for feedback and invite it as a chance to grow, expand, and improve.
Meet Our founding BOARD
Our passionate and dedicated board brings together a diverse range of skills and expertise from across the Americas. From teachers, to international travel experts, to nonprofit leaders, to higher education professionals, and more, we are all committed to increasing access to international education across the Americas.
Kimberly Peña
President
Program & Data Manager at Invest in Kids
Kimberly Peña is the Program Support Manager at an educational nonprofit, Invest in Kids, implementing statewide social emotional programs in schools. Kimberly studied Economics and Social Work as a first-generation scholar at Colorado State University. She has a background supporting community members in employment services as they navigated resources/services needed for economic advancement. Additionally, she has international program management experience in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic where she coordinated a youth leadership program to promote global competence, social responsibility, and access to opportunities. Kimberly has worked with students in many capacities and is passionate about using her background and bilingual skills in English and Spanish to advocate for equity in international education. In her free time, you can find her dancing on her salsa team, outdoors, traveling, cooking, and reading.
Jessica Contreras Álvarez
Vice President
Educational Advisor at Escuela de Suboficiales de Carabineros SOM Fabriziano González Urzúa
Jessica is an English Teacher who has taught in Chile and China, whose main experience is at the university level, preparing future teachers. She has a Master’s degree in Education, and several specialized Bachelor’s degrees. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s in Gender and Social Intervention. She now works as an educational advisor at a police school in Chile. She loves sharing her experience with others, and listening to their stories, believing that people’s true essence can be found in them.
Elizabeth O’Brien
Treasurer
Director at Cultura Connect
Elizabeth O’Brien has extensive experience in the nonprofit and international education sectors, both in the U.S. and Latin America. She has taught students from early childhood through high school in Chile and U.S., as well as adult learners in Colombia, and brings a nuanced understanding of diverse educational contexts. Elizabeth has partnered directly with middle and high school teachers to develop international exchange opportunities in the U.S., and has recruited and supported teachers for in school exchange programs in Colombia. Most recently, she was the Director of Programs & Operations at a nonprofit association where she led membership, marketing, partnerships, and programming. Her background in education, international exchange, and nonprofit leadership equips her to drive equity-centered collaboration across the Americas.
Audrey Townsend
Secretary
Director of Experiential Learning at University of Denver
Audrey received an undergraduate degree in International Studies and Natural Resources Recreation and Tourism. She has been working in higher education for over a decade. Her research interests include internationalization of education, racialized identity development, and study abroad . She received her Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Denver. In addition to her full-time work, she serves as an adjunct instructor for the Internationalization Division teaching Exploring Global Citizenship. Her hobbies include listening to podcasts and audiobooks, taking and teaching group fitness classes, and spending time with her family.
Jessica Addington
Founding Board Member
English Language Development Teacher at Academy 360
Jessica was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado, and attended Colorado State University. With a teacher for a mom, she always knew she wanted to work in education. Unsure of the age group, she majored in Human Development and Family Studies to explore all stages of development. After graduation, Jessica moved to China to teach English, then continued teaching English online in the Netherlands. These experiences deepened her passion for working with multilingual learners. She returned to Colorado during COVID and taught ELD at a middle school near Sloan’s Lake before joining Academy 360 in 2023. Jessica has a passion for working with students from different backgrounds and experiences and loves celebrating students’ multilingual superpower. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling, concerts, trying new food and coffee spots, spending time outdoors, and binge-watching movies and TV.
Diana Hurtado Vera
Founding Board Member
English Teacher at Institución Educativa Municipal Emilio Cifuentes and Fundación Universitaria San Martín
Diana was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and attended Francisco José de Caldas Distrital University. She has extensive experience as an English and Spanish teacher in different stages of education. She has also led a school wide bilingual program, an intercultural exchange program with international co-teachers, and international student travel programs to Canada. Currently, she works as an Elementary teacher in a public school outside of the capital city, Bogotá. She believes in the importance anti-racist teaching principles and believes in the decrease of xenophobia through education as the only way to improve the society. In her free time, she likes reading, traveling, sports, and learning new things through poetry, languages, and cultures around the world.
Michael Jauregui
Founding Board Member
Head of Sales and Traveler Support at Roads & Kingdoms
Michael Jauregui grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and studied at San Diego State University. He taught English in Prague for a few years before returning to the States to live in Denver. There, he began working with educators at an international travel company to give students opportunities to travel abroad. An avid Golden State Warriors fan, Mike loves going to live shows and arguing about almost anything.
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