Executive Direction

Gustavo Torres - Executive Director

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.0419 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Mr. Torres has been recognized nationally and internationally for his leadership and vision in the immigrant rights movement in the United States. Originally a union leader from Colombia, Mr. Torres came to the U.S. to avoid political persecution. He joined CASA's staff as a community organizer, and has served as CASA's Executive Director since 1994. Under his leadership, CASA has grown from an organization with a handful of staff members and a budget of under $500,000 to a nationally awarded multi-service Latino advocacy and support agency with a staff of over 50 and a budget of nearly $5 million. Mr. Torres was the founding president of the Maryland Latino Coalition for Justice, a statewide grassroots lobbying organization, and has served as a Board member on the National Capital Immigration Coalition, the Prince George's County Executive Transition Committee, Board President of the National Day Labor Organizing Network, member of the Envision Greater Washington Work Group to develop a strategic visioning process for the region for the next 25 years, and on numerous task forces and leadership groups addressing issues of diversity, immigrant rights, and multiculturalism across the Washington metropolitan area. In December 2001 Mr. Torres received the Ford Foundation's prestigious "Leadership for a Changing World" award, akin to the MacArthur Genius Awards presented to 12 grassroots leaders nationwide. In 2002, Mr. Torres was named one of 15 Washingtonians of the Year by Washingtonian Magazine. Under his direction, CASA has received numerous awards and national recognition, including: the National Council of La Raza Affiliate of the Year Award in 2004, which recognized one of over 300 Hispanic-serving organizations for their excellence in serving the Latino community; the Letelier-Moffitt Domestic Human Rights Award, presented to CASA by the Institute for Policy Studies in 2003; the Annie E. Casey Foundation "Families Count!" award, presented to CASA in 2005; and the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund Community Service Award, presented in March 2006.


Mauricio López - Executive Assistant

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.0419 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Mr. Lopez, originally from Perú, comes to CASA with several years of real estate experience, working in the Latino community. He has a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Maryland. His responsibilities at CASA include executive administration, Board development, and staff support to the Executive Director.

Administration

Wilma Linares - Chief of Finances and Administration

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.3270 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Linares comes to CASA with more than ten years of experience in budgeting, financial analysis, financial reporting, project and accounting oversight in an international arena for commercial and non profit organizations, and more than seven years of consulting experience for small and medium sized private companies in strategic and operational planning with an emphasis on financial and operational design, projections, implementation and monitoring. Ms. Linares has held finance and management positions at multiple non-profits overseas, with a focus on women's economic development. As CASA's CFA, Ms. Linares supervises the entire financial and administrative division of the organization that includes accounting and audit oversight, contract, human resource, IT and site management.


Eliza Leighton - Director of Strategic Initiatives

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 215 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


José García - Information Technology and Database Manager

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 240.354.4299 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Francisco Larra - Human Resources Manager

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Born in Andalusia Mr. Larra has lived and worked in different countries including Spain, Guatemala and Dominican Republic. Mr. Larra’s professional background starts as an educator and psychologist in educational institutions and universities as well as institutions dealing with issues regarding HIV, low income families and prostitution. Some of his duties included counseling and psychological therapies in special centers, and working with food and drug programs in different non-profit organizations. He specialized in Human Resource Management and Psychology Research, publishing various articles in prestigious scientific magazines. He comes to CASA with several years of experience in Human Resource Management.


Adriana Martinez - ID Production

7978-B New Hampshire Ave. Hyattsville, MD 20783 301.431.4185 x 1105 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Silvia Navas - Site Manager

2729 University Blvd. W. Wheaton, MD 20902 301.213.2054 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Ruby Pardo - Business Manager

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.3609 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Debra Preusse - Full Charge Bookkeeper

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.3609 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Sandra Restrepo - Maintenance Specialist

743 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 ext. 209 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Development

Jennifer Freedman - Director of Development

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.7471 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Freedman has served as CASA's Development Director since January 2004. Under her leadership, CASA's budget has grown from $2.6 million to nearly $6 million in 4 years. CASA currently boasts a wide range of funders and supporters, including over 45 foundations, 250 individuals, over a dozen congregations, and government contracts from the federal, state, county, and city-level. As Development Director, she is responsible for all fundraising activities, including oversight of CASA's "Building for the Future" Campaign. Ms. Freedman is a graduate from IMPACT Silver Spring Community Empowerment Program, and a graduate of the Non-profit Leadership Institute. She is a also a member of the Leadership Montgomery class of 2008.


Mei Yeh - Grant Writer

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.7471 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Maria Elva Maldonado - Development Associate

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.0142 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Maldonado has been with CASA since 2000, first as a Board member, then leading CASA's Housing Program, and currently managing corporate and individual giving in development. Under her direction, CASA's Housing Program conducted the one of the first bilingual housing and neighborhood indicator surveys in partnership with the University of Maryland, surveying tenants in the apartment complexes in Long Branch. Prior to her work at CASA, Ms. Maldonado worked with several unions, including utilities, hotel and restaurant workers, building trades, and farmworkers, as a labor lawyer. She holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law School.


María Clara Samaniego - Development Assistant

310 Tulip Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.7471 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Samaniego was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador. She comes to CASA with several years of experience in the non-profit sector working with The Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) and the Juniata College Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (JCEL). Her work experience also includes having worked for the State Modernization Department in Ecuador where she focused on proposal analysis for a national referendum. Ms. Samaniego graduated from Juniata College with a B.S. in International Business and Art.

Community Organizing and Political Action Department

Kim Propeack - Director of Community Organizing and Political Action

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x1206 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Propeack is the Director of CASA's Community Organizing and Political Action Department. Since graduating from law school in 1995, she has represented hundreds of low-wage workers in cases seeking minimum wage, overtime, and damages for involuntary servitude. In 2004, she created a Friends of New Marylanders campaign which has successfully defended against anti-immigrant state initiatives, including legislation to place a lawful presence requirement on driver's licenses, English-only legislation, and legislation to shut day laborer centers. As Director of CASA's Community Organizing and Political Action Department, Ms. Propeack has supervisory responsibilities for 14 organizers and implementation responsibilities for 12 community associations and several advocacy campaigns. Ms. Propeack also coordinates press strategy and relations for CASA, resulting in over 400 press coverages per year. Ms. Propeack co-authored and conducted study of discrimination by state entities: Unequal Justice: Barriers to Justice for Latinos in Maryland. She was the recipient of Humanitarian of the Year Award 2005, Latin American Task Force of the River Road Unitarian Universalist Church, a recipient of Daily Record Leadership in Law 2003 award, and named a Washington Post Prince George's Edition "Person to Watch in 2004"


Helen Melton - Advocacy Specialist

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1212 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


David Thurston - Anti-Racism Organizer and Educator

Villas at Langley, 8142 15th Avenue, Apt. #3 Hyattsville, MD 20783 301.431.4185 x 240.432.8113 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it David Thurston grew up in Washington, D.C. and attended college and graduate school in New York City. His experience in movements for social justice includes time on the national Coordinating Committee of United Students Against Sweatshops and serving as antiwar mobilization coordinator for the Hip Hop Caucus. More recently, Mr. Thurston helped to found the Metro D.C. Interfaith Sanctuary Network, serving as its administrator for more than a year. He is also a leader in the New Sanctuary Movement nationally, serving as editor of the newsletter Sanctuary. Locally, Mr. Thurston is involved in several organizations, including the D.C. Alliance for Immigrant Justice and the Washington Peace Center.

Prince George's County


Delia Aguilar - Organizer

Villas at Langley, 8142 15th Avenue, Apt. #3, Hyattsville, MD 20783 240.351.0323 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Ricardo Mejia - Worker Organizer

Villas at Langley, 8142 15th Avenue, Apt. #3, Hyattsville, MD 20783 Hyattsville, MD 20783 301.431.4185 x.1633 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Lindsay Morris - Tenant Organizer

8142 15th Avenue, Apt. #3 Hyattsville, MD 20783 301.431.4185 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Otoniel Paz - Worker Organizer

Villas at Langley, 8142 15th Avenue, Apt. #3 Hyattsville, MD 20783 301.437.4185 x. 1631 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Montgomery County


Nestor Alvarenga - Lead Organizer

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x.1228 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Alex Iraheta - Tenant Organizer

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x. 1229 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Eddy Luna - Worker Organizer

734 University Blvd. E Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Mario Menendez - Tenant Organizer

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Sara Ramirez - Worker Organizer

734 University Blvd. E Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x. 301.431.4185 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Baltimore City, East Coast and West Maryland


Elizabeth Alex - Lead Organizer

2224 East Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21231 301.431.4185 x 1303 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Alex holds an MSW in Management and Community Organizing from the University of Maryland School of Social work, and has managed CASA's Baltimore office since 2006. She brings over 10 years of experience in cross-cultural organizing and social justice work to the organization, including experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa and Latin America. Ms. Alex also serves on the board of the Latino Providers Network in Baltimore.


Elizabeth Torres - Organizer, Baltimore City

2224 East Fayette Street Baltimore, MD 21231 301.431.4185 x. 1308 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Torres was born and raised in Puebla, Mexico, and graduated in 2005 from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors degree in International Studies. Ms. Torres has 2 years of experience in electoral politics and constituent services work with the Utah State Legislature. Before coming to CASA in 2007, Ms. Torres completed an internship at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research in Washington D.C. Today she organizes day laborers in Baltimore City to improve their quality of life.

Department of Services

Kerry O'Brien - Director of Services

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1232 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Kerry O’Brien is Senior Manager of the Legal Program. From 1998 to 2005, she was engaged in building and growing the District of Columbia’s first workers’ rights center. From 1998 to 2000, she was the Crowell & Moring Equal Justice Works fellow at Bread for the City, where she started an employment practice. In 2000, she co-founded the D.C. Employment Justice Center with Judy Conti and was co-director until 2005. The EJC is an employment rights center for low-wage workers which provides legal services, mainly through a weekly Wednesday workers’ rights clinic, advocates for positive workplace laws and organizes workers to build power. Kerry and Judy were named Lawyers of the Year by the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association and also won fellowships from the Echoing Green Foundation for social entrepreneurship. She was also a rule of law liaison for the American Bar Association in Yerevan, Armenia, and a campaign coordinator at the Service Employees International Union. She is a 1998 cum laude graduate of Georgetown University Law Center and a 1992 graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. She is proficient in Russian and Spanish, and in 2008, completed a course at the Academia Espannol in Medellin, Colombia. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland and D.C.


Sebastian Amar - Staff Attorney

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1257 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Alma Archila - Member Services Paralegal

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1248 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Darwin Bonilla - Education Manager

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1245 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Francisco Cartagena - Member Services Coordinator

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1252 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Yecenia Castillo - ESOL Program Coordinator

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1247 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Elizabeth Flores - Members Services Coordinator

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1215 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Irene Jallo - Community Access Info & H.P. Specialist

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x.1217 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Guy Johnson - Staff Attorney

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1258


Evelyn Kelly - Community Access Manager

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1219 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Sara Mosenkis - Curriculum Specialist

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1249 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Hérman Perez - Comm. Access Inf. & H.P. Specialist

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1216 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Abdel Piedramartel - Member Services Coordinator, Baltimore

2224 East Fayette St. Baltimore, MD 21231 301.431.4185 x.1307 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Juan Reyes - Vocational Education Training Coordinator

7978-B New Hampshire Ave. Hyattsville, MD 20783 301.431.4185 x.1107


Brenda Voit - Pine Ridge Community Center Coordinator

8615 Piney Branch Road Silver Spring, MD 20901 301.431.4185 x. 1601 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


María Elena Rocha-Santos - Community Access Information and Health Promotion Specialist

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1218 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Rocha was born in Oaxaca, Mexico and came to the United States in 1999. She started in CASA of Maryland as a volunteer health promoter where she provided education and referral to community members, covering the topics of HIV/AIDS, cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. As of 2006, Maria Elena became a CASA staff member as the Night-Information Specialist serving clients through the Bilingual Health Hotline. Mrs. Rocha provides information and referral to low income, uninsured, community members who need health and human services. She is also an active member of the Vias de la Salud health promoter group of the Latino Health Initiative of Montgomery County.


Violeta Ruiz - Senior Member Services Coordinator

734 University Blvd. E. Silver Spring, MD 20903 301.431.4185 x 1213 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Ms. Ruiz was one of the first CASA staff members, and has been with the organization since 1985 when it was created in partnership with the Takoma Park Presbyterian Church. Ms. Ruiz has worked in the social services program since that time, serving thousands of community members every year. She is a native of El Salvador.


Anna Anderson - New Americans Initiative Coordinator - VISTA Fellow

734 University Blvd. E Silver Spring, MD 20902 301.431.4185 x. 1222 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CASA's Centers' staff

Maria Paige - Director of Centers
Tona Cravioto - Workforce Development Senior Manager
Fernando Garavito - Shady Grove and Wheaton Center Manager
Geraldine Diaz - Community Liaison
Sara Guitierrez - Community Liaison
Frederic Ngongang - Employment Specialist
Jacinta Nino - Community Liaison
Ana Perla - Employment Specialist
Germán Reyes - Community Liaison
Maria del Mar Trejo - Employment Specialisit
Andre Vainqueur - Silver Spring and Prince George's Center Manager