Diego is a Co-founder of Identity, and as of July 1, 2011 is now the Executive Director. Prior to this role, Diego served as the Deputy Executive Director for over 13 years.  For Diego it is an honor and a privilege to serve Latino youth and he strongly believes that he learns a lot more from working with the youth than they do from him.  Diego is a member of the Latino Health Steering Committee of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Service's Latino Health Initiative, and is currently Co-chair of the Montgomery County Latino Youth Task Force. He earned a MA in Clinical Psychology from the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires, Argentina and a BA in Clinical and Organizational Psychology from the same institution, and is a graduate of the 2004 class of Leadership Montgomery.

Leny is the director of operations at Identity. Leny is originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia and grew up in Rockville, Maryland. She has an extensive background in both volunteer work and employment in the community, both in non-profits and local government agencies. Leny has a BS in Family Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University.  During her free time she enjoys baking, photography, pilates, and traveling.

Pablo joined Identity in 2010 as our After School Program Manager. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's degree in Corporate Social Responsibility. Pablo has more than twenty years of experience on both for-profit and non-for-profit organizations in Argentina and the USA, including Coca Cola and the Embassy of Argentina in Washington, DC. He has also taught Argentine Economic Policy and Total Quality Management at the National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Pablo is from Córdoba, Argentina and has lived in the U.S. with his wife Marcela since 2006. He loves soccer, meeting friends, and reading, especially about history and politics.

Cecilia Otero joined Identity in January 2011 as Director of Community Relations.  She grew up in Montgomery County where she taught Spanish and ESL in private and public High Schools for several years.  Later, she joined the Peace Corps as Director of Training and worked/lived in Central America, the Caribbean, and West Africa for extended periods of time.  Cecilia earned her graduate and undergraduate degrees from Georgetown University in Languages and Linguistics.   

Ana was born in Venezuela and has lived most her life in the DC Metro area.  Ana implements a Positive Youth Development Program at Wheaton HS and Parkland MS.  She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing a Master's in Non-profit Management at UMUC. She has received professional training in Advancing Youth Development from the Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation, in Washington, D.C.  In her free time, she loves eating, dancing, and spending time with her family.

Angel serves as HIV CTR coordinator at Identity.  Originally from Honduras, Angel has lived in Montgomery County since 1994.  Angel began working with Identity in 2005. Angel conducts HIV testing, pre- and post-test counseling, and runs outreach targeting high risk individuals. Working with youth is an aspect of his position that Angel finds most rewarding.  During his free time, Angel likes to visit with relatives and friends, travel, go to the movies and dance.  Angel has an Accounting Degree from INTAE College of Honduras.

Anne is the Accounting Specialist at Identity, Inc.  Anne is originally from Gaithersburg, MD and has lived in Montgomery County for most of her life. Anne has many years of experience as an accounting professional in the non-profit sector, most recently with Sister Cities International.  She is very excited to be able to be a part of the Identity team, assisting youth in her home county. In her spare time she is heavily involved in local theater, producing, directing and acting.

Candace is a Co-founder of Identity and after having served 13 years as the Executive Director she now serves as the Senior Advisor to the Executive Director.  She began the organization with Diego Uriburu in 1998, when they identified the need for proactive support services for Latinos.  Candace has a long history of advocating for Latino youth and educating others on issues impacting the Latino community.  Since 1982, Candace has worked on behalf of the Latino community in the Washington DC metropolitan area as an attorney and as a service-provider. She has served on a number of county advisory groups, including, most recently, the Montgomery County Latino Youth Collaborative.  Candace has a JD from the Antioch School of Law of Washington, DC; a BA in Spanish from the University of New Hampshire; a BS in Nursing from Catholic University; and is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery's 2006 class.

Cara coordinates the proposal writing process and assists with various fundraising activities. Raised in Montgomery County, Cara is delighted to have the chance at Identity to provide others in her native community with the same opportunities that she enjoyed growing up. She holds degrees in Latin American Studies and Classical Vocal Performance from Johns Hopkins University and Peabody Conservatory respectively. Outside of the office, she also works as a private tutor, professional singer, and voice teacher, and she enjoys camping, hiking, dancing, and playing with her dog.

Carlos is an educator with extensive experience teaching the Math, ESL and GED classes to at-risk students in the Washington DC area. He has a BA in Education from San Simon University (Bolivia) and a BS in Business Administration from University of Maryland University College. He enjoys reading social and economic literature on Latin America, especially authors Eduardo Galeano and Richard Bach.

Carly works at the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center as a hybrid Referral Specialist and Intensive Case Manager. At the CYOC, she works to assure that youth and their families are connected to the resources they need to succeed. Born on the Eastern Shore and raised in Boonsboro, she is a life-long Marylander with the Old Bay addiction to prove it. She is currently working on a Master’s in Social Work degree at University of Maryland- Baltimore with a specialization in Families and Children. Carly graduated from University of Maryland- College Park in 2010 with a BA in Psychology and Women’s Studies. Carly enjoys singing, cooking vegetarian food, knitting, and exploring.

For the past 11 years, Carolyn has worked as community organizer in Gaithersburg and Montgomery Village and focused on community and family engagement. She is committed to developing networks of support and community action with residents, Montgomery County Public Schools, colleges, local and county government, non-profits, faith-based communities, arts organizations and businesses to improve the quality of life for families in Montgomery County. Carolyn is a certified parent educator with Parent Encouragement Program and has participated in the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE) Teacher Workshop. Carolyn has a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, and a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a member of the Community Advisory Board for the Maryland National Children’s Study and a member of Leadership Montgomery Class of 2010. Carolyn grew up in Montgomery County and is a native speaker of Spanish.

Cassandra is the Case Manager for the After School Programs at the Up-town Youth Opportunity Center.  She is originally from San Francisco, CA, where she received her Bachelor of Art degree in Latin American Studies and Politics from the University of California and her Master’s of Art degree in International Relations and Non-Profit Management from San Francisco State University.  She recently moved from San Francisco where she worked with high school youth at a community-based organization providing after school education programs.  Her passion lies in non-profit work in youth-based and international organizations.  She enjoys watching the San Francisco Giants, reading, and eating Ethiopian food.

Eduardo works as a Youth Development Worker at the Wellness Center. He was born in Santa Monica, California and moved to Mexico at the age of two. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Universidad De Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. During his college years, Eduardo did social service work in Mexico and Canada. He is very thankful for the opportunity to work with Latino youth and he tries his best to make a positive difference in their lives. At the same time, Eduardo has learned a lot from youth he has worked with. He feels that working at Identity is a very rewarding opportunity. In his free time he likes to play football, watch movies, ride his bike and scuba dive.

Emily works coordinating Identity's HIV Prevention Program. She provides HIV CTR (Counseling, Testing, and Referrals) at all three Identity sites; trains, supervises, and supports Peer Educators; and coordinates the Mobile Outreach Testing Van in Montgomery and Prince George's counties. She is originally from Madison, Wisconsin, where she obtained a BS in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and is now pursuing a Master's Degree at American University in International Training and Education. Emily worked for three years as a Rural Health Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador, and is enjoying the Latino culture and cuisine in her new surroundings.

Ethan is a Youth Development Worker at the Wellness Center in Northwood High School, where he co-facilitates the school’s Positive Youth Development Program.  He is passionate about working with youth, especially in the areas of conflict resolution and violence prevention.  During the last decade, Ethan has worked with teens from over a dozen countries as a teacher, mentor, dialogue facilitator, tutor, and advocate.  He believes firmly that each young person has untold gifts to offer the world, and therefore deserves great respect and support.  Ethan holds an M.S. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University, where he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in the same discipline.  Ethan earned a B.A. in Psychology and a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Utah.  Outside of his work at Identity, Ethan is proud to call himself a musician, meditation practitioner, avid reader, brother, son, and husband.

Born in Columbia Heights, Washington D.C. and raised in Hyattsville Maryland, Evelyn is the oldest and only daughter of four. She is of Guatemalan and Salvadorean descent and enjoys traveling. Alumni from the University of Maryland, College Park, she received her B.A. in Criminology and Criminal Justice. In addition she earned a minor in Spanish Language and Culture and U.S. Latino/a Studies. Evelyn enjoys working with youth from different walks of life in and outside her community. She is an advocate for Autism in support of her brother Edgar who was diagnosed at age 3. In her spare time, Evelyn enjoys playing soccer, great food, and hanging out with her family and friends.

Eyal manages Identity’s HIV prevention efforts in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.  He draws on the Positive Youth Development model to support youth Peer Educators and Outreach Workers in their efforts to recruit high-risk Latinos to be tested for HIV at Identity’s Gaithersburg, Wheaton and Takoma/Langley Park sites.  He also supervises Identity’s HIV testing and education efforts at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility and with its mobile testing van.  Eyal brings a multicultural background to Maryland’s HIV Community Planning Group, where he is currently the only Latino member.  He has a BA in International Relations from Tufts University, and extensive experience living abroad in Argentina, Mexico and Spain.

Jana works as part of Identity's HIV Prevention Program, providing Counseling, Testing and Referrals, working with peer educators and participating in Identity's advocacy work. She also helps to facilitate the After School Program for middle and high school students in Gaithersburg. A newer addition to Identity's team, Jana is passionate about working with youth and is devoted to public health issues for underserved communities. She graduated from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec with a Bachelor's of Art and Science in both Biology and Latin American & Caribbean Studies. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, creative writing, biking and horseback riding.

Javier manages the HIV Prevention Program across several Identity sites.  He was born in San Jose, Costa Rica and moved to Maryland at the age of six.  Javier holds a BA in Government and Politics and a certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Maryland.  In his spare time, he spends time with his wife and two dogs, plays soccer, and trains for triathlons.

Before working at Identity, Javier was a client at the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center about five years ago and always enjoyed helping youth. He started a lowrider bicycle club to have the youth (ex gang members) do something positive and allow them to show their creativity. He enjoys helping the community by doing coat drives, toy drives, and car washes for fundraisers. Javier feels lucky to have a second chance in life after the lifestyle he led in the past. Now, he is focusing on giving back to the community and showing our youth that there are a lot of reasons to be successful in life and reach our goals if you get a second chance.

Jose has been a Youth Development Worker with Identity since 2007 and first became connected to the organization in high school, while a participant in our after school program. Jose has a BA in Anthropology and Sociology from Green Mountain College of Poultney, Vermont.   Jose has received professional training in Advancing Youth Development from the After-School Institute of Baltimore.  He is a big fan of all sports and likes hiking.

Jose earned his Master of Social Work degree from Howard University and was a recipient of a one-year Post-Master's Clinical Fellowship from the Yale University Child Study Center in Connecticut.  During his professional career, he has worked both as a clinician and as an administrator of social services and mental health programs in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. 

Kathy Guevara is a native Maryland girl raised in Montgomery County.  She received two Bachelor of Arts’ degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park in Sociology and Criminology and Criminal Justice.  She recently graduated from Columbia University where she attained her Master's degree in Social Work with a focus in Social Enterprise Administration.  Kathy is proud to be part of Identity as she has always had a passion in working for an organization with such a strong mission, focused on empowering youth.

Liza is a Youth Development Worker at Identity's Up-County Youth Opportunity Center in Gaithersburg, MD. She implements Identity's Positive Youth Development Program at Magruder High School and Forest Oak Middle School. Liza was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland by her parents who immigrated from Guatemala. She has a BA in Spanish Language and Literature, a Minor in U.S. Latino/a Studies and a certificate in Latin American Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. In her spare time she enjoys running, playing soccer and spending time with her family.

Maria del Mar is the Workforce Development Coordinator at all three Identity sites.  She was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where she was the director of an alternative school for students with behavioral problems and interrupted education.  She designed and oversaw the construction of the school, as well as the day-to-day operations, including curriculum development and staff supervision.  In 2006, she relocated to Maryland, where she worked as Employment Service Specialist for Montgomery County government assisting people find employment.  Maria del Mar graduated with a BA in Criminal Justice from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico and is now pursuing a degree in Human Resource Management at the University of Maryland.  She has always believed that helping the youth succeed is her greatest reward. In her spare time she enjoys reading, traveling, and developing black and white photos in dark room labs.

Martin was born and raised in Buenos Aires Argentina and came to the United States when he was 10 years old.  He graduated from James Madison University with a major in Sociology and a minor in Criminal Justice. His experience is working with youth form the Boys and Girls Club to intensive in-home therapy along side Child Protective Services, gang task force, juvenile probation office, and the courts.  He is happy to be the rookie on the Identity team and looks forward to working with us.

Michael Davis is the administrator of the Efforts to Outcomes (ETO) database and Program Management Specialist. His responsibilities include the management of the database as well as generating reports using data collected from various Identity programs.  He is a Philadelphia native and has recently relocated to the Baltimore area. He has obtained his Bachelors Degree in Digital Art and Multimedia Design for LaSalle University and is currently pursuing his Masters Degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University. During his leisure time, he enjoys relaxing with his family and freelancing as photographer.

Michaela (Mica) is the manager of the Empowering Latino Youth Program, a collaborative teen-pregnancy prevention project with George Washington University and two other area nonprofits. She was raised in Silver Spring and attended Montgomery Blair High School, and is happy to be working in her community. She has a MA in Latin American Studies with a concentration in Public Health and a BA in Latin American Studies from the University of Miami. She has traveled and worked extensively in Central and South America. Mica likes to bike, be outdoors, read, and spend time with her family. 

Mirna is a Youth Development Worker at Northwood High School Wellness Center, where she implements the Positive Youth Development program.   Originally from Guatemala, Mirna moved to Washington DC when she was two years old and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School.  She returned to Guatemala to study, earning a BA in Telecommunication Engineering from the Universidad de Galileo, and a language certificate in Advanced Spanish from the Instituto Guatemalteco Americano, both in Guatemala City.  She values the opportunity to work at Identity with immigrants who are taking great risks to make a better life for their families in the United States.  In her free time Mirna likes to read and play lacrosse.

Monica works at the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center as a Mental Health Therapist. She has a MSW in Social Work from the Catholic University of America and a BS in Family Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has worked in the DC Metropolitan area providing mental health services for over ten years. Monica treats a full spectrum of mental health disorders utilizing psychotherapy, family therapy and cognitive-behavioral interventions, all within a multicultural framework. In her position as Mental Health Therapist with Identity, Monica is fulfilling her professional interest of working with the immigrant population as well as working with vulnerable youth.

Monica provides ongoing support to at-risk youth and their families as an Intensive Case Manager at the Up-County Youth Opportunity Center. She was born in San Diego, California and grew up visiting her family in Mexico frequently. Monica holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in International Peace and Conflict Resolution, during which she worked with underserved youth in Central America. She also has experience working with incarcerated men and women in Montgomery County developing employment skills and enjoys learning from all the people she serves.

Nicole Costen serves as Youth Development Worker for the Up-County Youth Opportunity Center in Gaithersburg.  She graduated from the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill with a major in Political Science and concentration in International Studies.  She has been a youth mentor for the United Way and for ‘Movement of Youth’ a university-led program. She has also volunteered with a young boy’s shelter in Fez, Morocco in 2008.  She enjoys writing poetry, going to the beach, and listening to music.

Oscar works at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility as Identity’s Program Coordinator.  He provides orientation for Spanish-speaking inmates arriving at the facility; offers HIV/AIDS counseling and testing; runs the Center for Disease Control’s Street Smart HIV prevention program with inmates; implements the Responsible Fatherhood Program for incarcerated fathers; and provides translation services for adjustment hearings. Oscar is an important liaison between Latino inmates and Correctional Facility staff. Oscar is certified in Level One HIV Counseling and Testing Skills and Health Education and Risk Reduction from the Institute of Human Virology.  Originally from Cochabamba, Bolivia, Oscar holds a degree in International Tourism, Hotel & Catering Industry from Escuela Comercial Boliviana De Turismo y Hotelería.  He is also an entrepreneur and owned a retail store specializing in sterling silver and international arts & crafts for eleven years.

Born and raised in Lima-Peru, Raul came to the United States at the age of 13.  He graduated from Damascus High School and attended Montgomery College where he received a First Team All-American award for playing soccer.  Raul graduated from Frostburg State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology. In his free time, he plays soccer and enjoys spending time with his family and friends.

Raul is a Youth Development Worker at the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center in Takoma Park.  He started in August 2011 and is very proud to serve Latino youth and their families.  He is currently co-coordinating the after-school programs at Blair and Springbrook High Schools.  In addition to his work at Identity, Raul teaches adult English for Speakers of other Languages classes at Prince George's Community College and is pursuing his Master's degree in technology in education at Strayer University.

Rubi is a Youth Development Worker at the Up-County Youth Opportunity Center, where she implements Identity’s Positive Youth Development Program.  She was born in Peru, and raised in Montgomery County, MD.  She has always been very passionate about education and working with her community.  She has earned her BA from Towson University in Electronic Media and Film.  Rubi enjoys photography, watching movies, eating, playing soccer, and taking naps.

Sergio is a Youth Development Worker at the Up-County Youth Opportunity Center, where he will implement Identity’s Positive Youth Development Program. He was born to a Nicaraguan family and raised in Arlington, VA. At an early age, Sergio developed an interest for outreach in the Latino community, which led him to volunteer and work in urban communities with at-risk youth. He received his BA in Philosophy and Religion from Liberty University. Aside from working with youth, Sergio is passionate about motivational speaking, music, and media.   

Stefanny Aramayo was born in La Paz, Bolivia and arrived in the Unites States when she was 12 years old. While attending  Seneca Valley High school in Germantown, Stefanny was a participant in Identity's after school program. She now works as a Youth Development Worker and implements Identity’s Positive Youth Development program at Gaithersburg High School. Stefanny has a passion for helping others, especially young people, and she is completing her degree in social work. She enjoys  dancing, singing  and eating!

Tarek is the Site Manager of the Crossroads Youth Opportunity Center (CYOC) in Takoma Park, where Identity carries out its nationally -and internationally- recognized gang prevention and intervention efforts.  Driven by a compassionate approach to positive youth development and a collaborative management style, Tarek supports, develops, coordinates, supervises, and evaluates the day-to-day operations of the CYOC.  Based on work in Washington DC and internationally, Tarek brings experience as a practitioner and educator in the field of community peace building, restorative justice, and conflict resolution to the CYOC team.  Tarek is an adjunct professor of International Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University, and holds a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University's School for International and Public Affairs and a J.D. from Georgetown University.

Veronica joined Identity in 2011 as the Program Manager for the Northwood High School Wellness Center. She earned her Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Virginia.  Veronica started working with youth involved in the juvenile justice system while a student at UVA.  That experience not only peaked her interest, but ignited a strong passion for young people.  Veronica has had the honor to spend the past eleven years working with diverse youth in various capacities such as education, foster care, incarceration, and wraparound services, with the past three years devoted to working with the students at the Northwood High School Wellness Center.  She is extremely excited to be a part of the Identity team.  Veronica is from Prince George's County, MD where she currently lives with her husband.  She enjoys spending time with family, reading, and running.