MANAGER OF PROGRAM & OUTREACH (he/him)
Armando Peniche was born in Puebla, Mexico, and raised in Denver, Colorado. With years of experience as a project manager and coordinator, he currently serves as the Mentorship Coordinator with Hands to the Future. Drawing from his story and lived experience as a first-generation immigrant, Armando has become a passionate advocate for immigrant rights at both the state and national levels. Beyond his professional role, Armando is an aspiring children's book writer and documentarian. He is developing children's books that feature diverse characters and fun, empowering storylines and is working on a documentary exploring a migrant's journey home. Additionally, he coaches soccer for kids in at-risk communities, providing them with opportunities to develop essential skills. Armando's proudest achievement is being a father to two beautiful children.

SOCIAL MEDIA INTERN (she/her)
Kiara Chavez is a first-generation graduate from Leeds School of Business with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration. At Denver Parks & Recreation, she drives outreach, engagement, and communications initiatives, managing the monthly newsletter and all social media channels. Kiara is passionate about leveraging storytelling and community service to create positive change in the community. She amplifies this work as a Denver content creator through her Instagram account @wecreatedenver.

WELL-BEING FACILITATOR (she/her)
Kendall Williams is a graduate student at the University of Denver, pursuing a Master of Social Work with a concentration in Family Systems and Mental Health. Born and raised in Colorado, she is driven by a deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and the transformative power of culturally responsive social work. Kendall has experience in harm reduction, crisis intervention, program development, and youth mentorship. At school, Kendall focuses on clinical practice, trauma-informed care, and social justice advocacy. In her free time, she enjoys staying active outdoors and exploring different creative outlets.

WELL-BEING COORDINATOR (she/her)
Sofia is a Master of Social Work candidate at the University of Denver and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work with a minor in Communications from the University of Kansas. During her time at KU, she studied abroad in Milan, Italy which became an experience that solidified her passion for migrant work and education.

Born and raised in Miami, Florida, Sofia grew up surrounded by a rich racial and cultural variety within a mixed household where her mother is from Golden, Colorado, and her father from Santiago, Chile. This upbringing gives her a unique perspective grounded in insight, curiosity, and an appreciation for the complexities of identity and culture. Acknowledging the privilege within her father’s immigration journey, Sofia is committed to understanding and shaping policy through an equitable, intersectional lens that ensures immigration pathways are not limited by the very identities that define us.

Her experience spans international travel, customer service, and social work with homeless and low-income communities, as well as developmental work in an elementary school setting. Her exposure to these opportunities have shaped her approach to practice, emphasizing learning, empowerment, and collaboration with the communities she serves.