Currently responsible for providing strategic direction, supervising staff (12 full-time and 40 field outreach workers), creating new programs, and securing all resources for domestic and internationally programming. Program areas include leadership education, family health, nutrition, micro-finance, sustainable agriculture and community organizing. The social enterprise of the organization is VolunTours™ offering transformative experiences in Mexico, the US/Mexico Border region, New Mexico, Guatemala, Bolivia, Sri Lanka and India.
Director of Community Development
As Community Development Director, Rigo Reyes develops and coordinates community engagement and leadership training for residents in marginal areas of San Diego and Tijuana and manages our Border Immersion program for students visiting San Diego. He is a long-time social justice advocate whose work is rooted in early childhood experiences growing up on the U.S.-Mexico border, attending United Farm Workers of America rallies and listening to Cesar Chavez while playing marbles. When he was 12-years-old he rode his bike 17 miles each way from his San Ysidro neighborhood to San Diego’s Logan Heights to witness the land take-over of Chicano Park, and has been a strong community empowerment advocate ever since. Reyes has been a member of the Chicano Park Steering Committee for nearly four decades, has been lowriding since the mid-1970s, and is a founding member of the Amigos Car Club.
Gladys Esponda Executive Assistant
Gabriel ReedGabriel serves as the Director of Education and Voluntourism working to expand Via International’s university partnerships by fostering increased education and community engagement through our Volunteer Travel Programs. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, he is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Art Theory from the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts. Gabriel’s experience includes working as an international educator with a background in non-profit management, community activism, and a continuing creative practice as a professional artist.
Joanna SalazarHarris
Director of Resource Development
Joanna joined the Via family in May 2013 as our Resource Development Director. Joanna holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations from UCSD and has worked in cross-border collaboration and infrastructure planning for 20 years. Joanna is passionate about empowering individuals to be their own best advocate and believes that civic engagement is key to a thriving community. She is an avid gardener, urban bee-keeper and mom of two young boys. Joanna is the main contact for foundations, corporations and individual donors and leads our Bee-hive Build program in the San Diego area.
Aida Amador
Communications CoordinatorAida is the storyteller at Via International, creating a better understanding of the community impact of Via’s programs through videos, photos, and written compilations. She studied Communication at the Universidad Autónoma de Baja California and serves as the liaison between Via International and their partner in Tijuana México Los Niños de Baja California A.C. for press and media events. She loves to travel, dance, and is the proud mother of a baby boy.
Keila Del Valle
International DirectorKeila serves as Via's International Director of Volunteer Travel in Guatemala. Born in Guatemala City, she recently completed her Master’s Degree and has over 8 years of experience in carrying out logistics for all necessary travel services, project implementation, and community building in Tecpan and San Martin, Chimaltenango. Keila is a passionate educator working with indigenous communities and visitors to effectively address the ongoing challenges of extreme poverty.
Raquel Palma
VolunteerRaquel served as Via's Office and Accounts Manager for more than 20 years. Her passion for community activism continues to provide vital inspiration and leadership to our organization. She is our most steadfast volunteer, helping with donor outreach and event support. She enjoys traveling, reading and loves to draw.
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