Meet our team

Our Staff

Team member headshot photo
Hiram Cortez
Executive Director

Hiram Cortez stepped into the Executive Director role at MLOV in February 2023. Hiram comes to MLOV from UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza), where he led monitoring, evaluation, and data management functions for national education and workforce development programs.

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Juliana Ariola
Youth Program Coordinator

Juliana has been involved in various non-profits where she has had the opportunity to work with students of all ages and backgrounds.

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Marvin Buenaventura
Program Assistant

As an alum of MLOV's Youth Program, Marvin leverages this first-hand experience as he supports our programming over the summer of 2023.

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Flor Buruca
Parent Programs Assistant

Flor Buruca is Salvadorian and arrived to the United States in 2005. She is studying at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to work as an educator in early education.

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Sarah Carlson
Interim Youth Program Manager

Sarah Carlson (she/they) grew up as a third culture kid bouncing between East and Southeast Asia and Northern Virginia.

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Yanci Flores
Digital Literacy Instructor

Yanci Flores is a passionate DC native committed to community engagement and a love for creativity.

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Jenny Huarhua
Parent Leadership Program Manager

Jenny Huarhua has built her knowledge, skill and abilities, serving on a variety of roles at different nonprofit organizations working with diverse communities, most of them indigenous communities in her native Peru.

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Graciela Leal
Administrative Support

Gracie is responsible for direct communication with MLOV members and supporting organization leadership.

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Nancy Leon
Director of Advocacy

Nancy Leon was born and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland, she is the proud daughter of Central American immigrants, and first generation college graduate.

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Our Board of Directors

Vivian Chang
Board Chair

Vivian Chang serves as the Civic Engagement & Racial Justice Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, overseeing APALA's programs on voting, redistricting, immigration advocacy, and political engagement.

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Helen Dominic
Secretary

Helen is an educator and researcher experienced in healthcare research with an eye towards how language and communication insights can elevate immigrant patients’ experience, leading to better access to quality care.

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Sujatha Selvakumar
Board Member

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Rebeca L. Shackleford
Treasurer

Rebeca Shackleford is the Director of Federal Government Relations at All4Ed.

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Flor Buruca

Parent Programs Assistant
Flor Buruca is Salvadorian and arrived to the United States in 2005. She is studying at the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) to work as an educator in early education.
Read more

Yanci Flores

Digital Literacy Instructor
Yanci Flores is a passionate DC native committed to community engagement and a love for creativity.
Read more

Jenny Huarhua

Parent Leadership Program Manager
Jenny Huarhua has built her knowledge, skill and abilities, serving on a variety of roles at different nonprofit organizations working with diverse communities, most of them indigenous communities in her native Peru.
Read more

Marvin Buenaventura

Program Assistant
As an alum of MLOV's Youth Program, Marvin leverages this first-hand experience as he supports our programming over the summer of 2023.
Read more

Juliana Ariola

Youth Program Coordinator
Juliana has been involved in various non-profits where she has had the opportunity to work with students of all ages and backgrounds.
Read more

Nancy Leon

Director of Advocacy
Nancy Leon was born and raised in Prince George’s County Maryland, she is the proud daughter of Central American immigrants, and first generation college graduate.
Read more

Graciela Leal

Administrative Support
Gracie is responsible for direct communication with MLOV members and supporting organization leadership.
Read more

Sarah Carlson

Interim Youth Program Manager
Sarah Carlson (she/they) grew up as a third culture kid bouncing between East and Southeast Asia and Northern Virginia.
Read more

Rebeca L. Shackleford

Treasurer
Rebeca Shackleford is the Director of Federal Government Relations at All4Ed.
Read more

Helen Dominic

Secretary
Helen is an educator and researcher experienced in healthcare research with an eye towards how language and communication insights can elevate immigrant patients’ experience, leading to better access to quality care.
Read more

Vivian Chang

Board Chair
Vivian Chang serves as the Civic Engagement & Racial Justice Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, overseeing APALA's programs on voting, redistricting, immigration advocacy, and political engagement.
Read more

Hiram Cortez

Executive Director
Hiram Cortez stepped into the Executive Director role at MLOV in February 2023. Hiram comes to MLOV from UnidosUS (formerly National Council of La Raza), where he led monitoring, evaluation, and data management functions for national education and workforce development programs.
Read more

Board of Directors

Vivian Chang

Chairperson