Cynthia R. Gallegos, Executive Director

Cynthia is the daughter of an immigrant mother and has experienced first-hand the limited resources provided to Spanish-speaking families. She was raised and now lives in the Curtis Park neighborhood, one of Focus Points' target areas. Cynthia received her B.A. from the local Metropolitan State College and entered the work force as an administrative assistant at Cross Community Coalition Family Resource Center. She later served as  the Accountant and Business Manager for Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios. As part of her leadership development, she participated in the Latina Leadership Circle 2003, Community Resource Center’s Colorado Nonprofit Leadership & Management Program 2005 and the White House Project 2005. She is currently a steering committee member of the Expanding Nonprofit Inclusiveness Initiative through the Denver Foundation, an alumni/mentor for the Latina Leadership Circle and a member of Denver Department of Human Services Child Abuse & Neglect Advisory Board. She is also in the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce Leadership Denver class 2008.

Stuart Steers, Grant Writer

Stuart worked for many years as a journalist, most recently as a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, where he covered politics and social issues like homelessness. Last fall he decided to make a career transition into the nonprofit world. Stuart has been impressed by the many services available to help immigrant families at Focus Points, and he enjoys raising money to fund all the exciting work that Focus Points has undertaken. A Colorado native, Stuart earned a B.A. in English at the University of Colorado and a master's degree in Journalism at the University of California at Berkeley.

Alejandra López, Administrative Assistant

Alejandra graduated from Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios in 2004 and completed a two-year term as an AmeriCorps volunteer HIPPY Home Educator with Focus Points. Alex has been a volunteer in Focus Points’ ECE program since she was 12 years old, when she first came to Colorado from Mexico. She has taken several trainings at Focus Points has offered: CPR training for adults and children and nutrition training. Her goals include going back to school for nursing and starting her own restaurant business.

Jolene Goerend, Adult Education Director

Jolene received a B.A. from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, with a degree in Communications and a minor in Spanish. She began working at Focus Points as an Urban Servant Corps volunteer, teaching English as a Second Language and helping in the Early Childhood Education program. Jolene's nonprofit experience includes an internship in the marketing department at The Children's Hospital in Denver and work at Cerebral Palsy of Colorado and Special Olympics Colorado. As part of her continued professional development, she received her Literacy Instruction Authorization through the Colorado Department of Education. Jolene sits on the board of directors of CAEPA (Colorado Adult Education Professional Association) and MPAEA (Mountain Plains Adult Education Association). She is also on the board of directors of the Urban Servant Corps.

Sue Reichard, Adult Basic Education Coordinator

Sue has a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Illinois State University. Sue worked as a teacher for several years in Illinois and Colorado. She then became involved in software development, training and sales for several local companies, including Storagetek, Timet and Level3. When an opportunity presented itself to "retire" from the business community and pursue opportunities to serve others, Sue sought out involvement in non-profit organizations which allowed her to return to full-time teaching. Open Book has opened up a whole new world of opportunity and challenge for Sue to serve and meet wonderful people who want to learn to read and get their GED. In 2008, Sue began including pre-GED classes in the Open Book curriculum. Enrollment has increased and relationships with students and other organizations has expanded and grown.

Karol Gorman, Adult Education Assistant

Karol received her undergraduate degree in Marketing from Universidad Latina de Costa Rica. Karol first came to Focus Points as an ESL student and later worked evenings in Focus Points’ Early Childhood Education (ECE) program. Karol also worked for Summer Scholars in the summer of 2008 and moved into her present position as the Adult Education Assistant in August 2008. Karol’s other employment and education history includes customer service, credit analysis, retirement planning and training in Early Childhood Education. She is continuing her study of English and plans to obtain a master’s degree in child counseling and psychology.

Crystal Muñoz, PAT/HIPPY Coordinator

Crystal received an Associates Degree from the Community College of Denver in computer programming. In her previous capacity, she  worked for Denver Public Schools as an administrative secretary for 11 years. During her employment with Denver Public Schools, she attended several seminars including:"How to Deal with Difficult People,""Breakthrough Coach," and "Discipline with Love and Logic." She is certified in Parent as Teachers (PAT) as a supervisor/home visitor. She also attended the Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) pre-service training for supervisors of this national curriculum. Crystal is married and has two children who are currently attending a magnet Montessori program in the Denver Public School system. As a continued part of her professional development, Crystal has returned to school to receive her Bachelors Degree.

Elvira Rivera, PAT/HIPPY Home Educator

Elvira is a long-time, Spanish-speaking resident of the Focus Points neighborhood who began her association with Focus Points as a parent participant of both the PAT and HIPPY programs with her three young sons. She became certified in early elementary education through the Community College of Denver in collaboration with Focus Points and served at the center as an AmeriCorps volunteer. At Focus Points, Elvira also participated in CPR and First Aid through the American Red Cross and Centro San Juan Diego; Es Difícil Ser Mujer (It's Difficult to be a Woman) through La Clínica Tepeyac; and nutrition classes through S.O.S. As part of her leadership development, Elvira has participated in Bond Deep 101 & Bond Deep 102 with the Colorado Family Resource Network and Razalogía with the Colorado Statewide Parent Coalition.

María de Jesus Fernandez, PAT/HIPPY Home Educator

Maria earned her GED in 2002 and completed a two-year term as an AmeriCorps volunteer with Focus Points as a HIPPY Home Educator. Maria is a certified PAT home visitor and has taken various trainings in parenting, marriage and family. She is also a Certified Nursing Assistant. She is currently attending ESL classes and church groups. Maria has five children and five grandchildren and resides in Henderson, Colorado. Her goals include being proficient in the English language and feeling more comfortable talking in front of large groups.

Linnea Bjorkman, Family Programs Coordinator

Linnea earned a B.A. in Religion from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. She began her career in non-profit work as an Urban Servant Corps volunteer working as the Coordinator for Urban Plunge as well as Coordinator for the Local Assistance Ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church. She served as relief staff for Family Tree House of Hope for two years and spent one year working as a Woman’s Resource Advocate at The Gathering Place. Working with Spanish speaking participants, she became motivated to learn Spanish and spent many hours studying books and listening to cds. She then decided to embark on a three month solo journey to Chile and Argentina where she traveled and worked on a farm. This led to another trip to Honduras and Guatemala which included three weeks in a Spanish emersion school. She joins the mission of Focus Points as the Family Programs Manager to assist families in developing healthy, successful lives.

Guadalupe Martínez, ECE Coordinator

Guadalupe is married with four children and first came to Focus Points to study English and earn her GED. She first became aware of the existence of programs to continue her education in 2007 and because of that, she obtained her home childcare license. In 2007, she continued her studies at the Community College of Denver, earning credits in Teaching Infants and Small Children and in Group Leader of Pre-Schoolers. Guadalupe is currently finishing her Childcare Director’s program and continues to study English. In 2008, she earned her Expanding Quality in Infant-Toddler Care Local EQ Community Training certificate, along with participating in workshops focusing on family strength, early childhood education and forming parent leaders. She also has her CPR training. Her goal is to finish her Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in order to grow and continue to help the community.