OPERATIONS TEAM
Christina Collazo | Founder and Executive Director
Christina Collazo’s experience growing up in poverty in the Rio Grande Valley has given her an appreciation of the importance of strong education and support systems for women and children. Christina holds a BA in International Relations with a focus in Latin American Studies from St. Edward’s University, where she was a McNair Research Scholar. She holds a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Austin Community College, and serves on advisory committees at Armstrong Community Music School, I Live Here, I Give Here, and Earl Maxwell Scholars Program.
Christina founded Todos Juntos Learning Center (TJ) in 2009 and has worked together with her team to establish an innovative and collaborative Dual-Generation Family Learning Center focused on community, education, and trust. At TJ, Christina and her team have conceptualized, co-designed, and brought to practice numerous cutting edge programs and services, impacting the health, financial, and educational trajectory of parenting immigrant and refugee families facing complex barriers to wellbeing related to language, legal documentation, employment barriers, and more.
Christina Collazo
Founder and Executive Director
Raney McKool | Operations Director
Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Raney received a BFA from the University of Washington in Seattle, WA, before resettling in Austin. Originally serving as an AmeriCorps member at Todos Juntos, Raney officially joined the team as an assistant ECE teacher the following year, in September 2016. After two wonderful years of teaching, Raney moved into operations in 2018. While she misses the classroom, Raney loves working with her colleagues, partner organizations, dedicated volunteers, and the larger Austin community to advocate for Todos Juntos and its mission. Outside of work, Raney enjoyings woodworking, practicing Muay Thai, and spending time with her husband JR and daughter Maxine.
Raney McKool
Operations Director
Katie Magner | Programs Director
Katie has called Austin home since 2014 after earning her undergraduate degree in History at the University of Washington in Seattle. She began her career in AmeriCorps as a bilingual early literacy tutor for Literacy First for two service years. Her AmeriCorps experience exposed her to the vast inequities and disparities families face in public education as well Austin’s history that has systematically prioritized white families over BIPOC families. This exposure sparked her passion and set her to work in creating a more equitable community through education and empowerment wherever she went. Katie has worked and volunteered for many Austin area nonprofits such as the YMCA of Austin, BookSpring, East Austin Younglife, and Casa Marianella. Language and literacy has always been her focus as she knows how critical these skills are to educational and personal success in our world. She is thrilled to be joining the Todos Juntos team as the inaugural Programs Director where her passions, background and skills can support our critical mission. In her free time Katie enjoys walking, Zumba, and performing improv comedy at local theaters around town.
Katie Magner
Programs Director
Delphi Alvizo | Director of Institutional Advancement
Delphi Alvizo leverages over 20 years of diverse professional experience, encompassing roles as a Behavior Intervention Specialist, Financial Auditor, Operations Manager, and Media Relations professional. In the legal realm, she significantly increased personal injury cases, establishing key medical partnerships, and implementing operational efficiencies. Delphi’s passion for advocacy and legislative activities, honed through volunteer projects and service to under-represented groups in Austin, extends to fostering sustainable and equitable educational practices. Holding a BS in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Master’s degree in Special Education from Texas State University, she is committed to advancing multicultural field experiences in teacher education programs. Her proficiency also extends to media relations, successfully executing community advocacy strategies, and fostering business growth, particularly within the local Hispanic community.
Delphi Alvizo
Director of Institutional Advancement
Maria Vela | Donor Relations & Communications Coordinator
Maria Vela was born and raised in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico where she obtained her degrees in Public Relations and Marketing and an ESL Teacher Training Certificate. Maria’s career has mainly been focused on working with and for the community, building and strengthening relationships with non-profits, businesses, government, and civil organizations. Her teaching experience allowed her to see up close the impact that learning a second language can have on the lives of the students. As a public relations specialist, she believes that building personal and professional relationships in the community goes a long way, which is why she is strongly drawn to serve and use her time, talents, and treasures in the nonprofit world. In her free time, Maria enjoys walking, kayaking, and exploring the city with her husband Daniel, their kids Bernardo and Olivia and their dog Roy. 1 year with Todos Juntos
Maria Vela
Donor Relations & Communications Coordinator
Sarah Scarborough | Admin Associate
Sarah was born and raised in Austin, Texas making her a first-generation Honduran-Mexican American. Being first generation, Sarah developed a passion for the Spanish community – specifically individuals who have migrated and are navigating the unknowns of living in a new country. She graduated in May of 2023 obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Grand Canyon University. This allowed her to gain experience in serving Hispanic communities through the Church setting. Sarah joined Todos Juntos in September of 2023. She is passionate and excited to join Todos Juntos because of its mission: to provide support, care, and guidance to families who are in search of opportunities to learn and thrive in the United States. In her free time, Sarah loves listening to and making music, reading, traveling, and hiking with her husband Evan, and their dog Lucy.
Sarah Scarborough
Admin Associate
PROGRAM COORDINATORS
Yesenia Prieto | ECE Childcare Director
Yesenia joined Todos Juntos in January of 2022. As an Austinite raised on the east side of town, she experienced the effects of gentrification and gained an appreciation for supporting low-income families. Her passion for early childhood education began after taking an ECE professions class in high school where she assisted first-year Kindergarten teachers at a local school, Mathews Elementary. For the past two decades, she has worked in teaching and parent education roles for corporate, non-profit, and privately owned childcare centers in the Austin area including the Travis County Head Start program and the University of Texas CDC. Solidifying her professionalism in childcare, Yesenia has worked to obtain the Child Development Associate credential from the Council of Professional Recognition, an AAS focused on child development, the Texas Child Care Administrator’s Credential, the Texas Child Care Directors License, and became a registered trainer for the State of Texas on TECPDS. Devoted to being a lifelong learner, Yesenia is currently taking courses at Texas State University to complete a degree in General Studies with minors in Spanish, Diversity Studies and Human Development and Family Consumer Sciences. In her free time Yesenia enjoys spending time with her family of 5, her husband and 3 children, and exploring their new hometown of Kyle. As a first-generation American and an ESL student herself, Yesenia loves to work with the families at TJ! She has used her childcare and non-profit background to take on the ECE Director role and led the escuelita to becoming a fully licensed child care center in 2023! 2 years with Todos Juntos.
Yesenia Prieto
ECE Childcare Director
Claudia Méndez López | Family Education and Evaluation Manager
Claudia was born and raised in Mexico where she obtained a psychology degree. After working for SOS Children’s Village, an NGO in Morelia, Mexico, Claudia became aware of the deep social inequalities experienced by children and the importance of prevention through supporting families, especially in early childhood. Holding a Ph.D. in Clinical and Health Psychology, she has focused not only in doing research about children victimization to provide information that can be used to create public policies, but she also found the opportunity again to work directly with children and families being part of Todos Juntos since August 2021. She is amazed by Todos Juntos’ mission and to have the possibility of contributing to this essential work. 2 years with TJ
Claudia Méndez López
Family Education and Evaluation Manager
Catalina Limongelli | ESL Program Coordinator
Catalina was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she earned her degree in Translation from the Universidad del Salvador. Catalina has been living in the US since 2017. She has over 15 years of experience in translation, ESL and SSL teaching and supporting executives. Devoted to being a lifelong learner, Catalina is currently taking a Project Manager course. Catalina is excited to join the Todos Juntos team, and thrilled about her role where she can apply her passions, background, and skills to support Todos Juntos’ inspiring mission. In her free time, Catalina enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, going for long walks, and spending time with her husband Tommy, her daughter Jacinta, and her friends.
Catalina Limongelli
Adult Education Program Coordinator
Diana Marin, MSW | Saludables Juntos Program Coordinator
Diana was born in Los Angeles, California, and she is a first-generation Salvadoran American. Diana moved to San Antonio, Texas, and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Texas State University. During her internship at Raices, she provided services to refugees, asylees, and immigrants from detention centers. Diana is passionate about serving the Latino community. After graduating from Texas State with her BSW, Diana worked as a CPS caseworker serving children in the foster care system. Diana was able to help reunify children with families and provide resources for families in need. In 2023, Diana obtained her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a major in Advance Practice Leadership at Texas State University to inspire, encourage, and empower this new generation. In her free time, she likes to travel and explore new foods. Diana enjoys exploring Austin, Texas, taking nature walks, and spending time with her friends and family.
Diana Marin, MSW
Saludables Juntos Program Coordinator
Katerin (Kat) Arpero, BSW | Adelante Juntos Program Coordinator
Katerin was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, she is a first-generation Mexican American. Katerin moved to Austin for her education and has obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work at UT Austin. She has volunteered in various places that has allowed her to work with women and the Latino community. Growing up she witnessed the adversities the Latino community faces on a daily basis, which has led her to be passionate about working with the community. Katerin completed her internship at Todos Juntos Learning Center, where her drive to help the community grew. In her free time she enjoys going to museums, painting, and spending time with family and friends.
Katerin-Arpero
Adelante Juntos Program Coordinator
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING
Danielle Arredondo | ECE Assistant Director
Danielle was born in the Rio Grande Valley, but relocated to central Texas and was raised in Austin. Danielle obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from Texas State University. She has also served at TJ as a communications and administrative intern adding to her desired goal of entering a graduate program to obtain a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Danielle shared that she decided to join TJ because of the organizational mission and because here she could advocate for both parents and their children. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Danielle Arredondo
ECE Assistant Director
Ivett Garcia | ECE Lead Teacher
Ivett was born in Veracruz Mexico. Her parents brought her to the United States at the age of 8 looking for better opportunities. As a veteran staff, Ivett has been a part of the TJ team for 10 years. Joining Christina’s mission in 2009, Ivett started at TJ as a classroom volunteer shortly after graduating high school. Ivett officially joined the ECE teaching team in 2015, where she had the opportunity to bring her daughter into the program. Ivett believes that Todos Juntos does an amazing job helping the community, and preparing young children to start pre-k. In her free time, Ivett likes to spend time with her family, watching movies with her daughter, and taking walks with her family dog.
Ivett Garcia
ECE Lead Teacher
Cecilia “Cecy” Gomez | ECE Assistant Teacher
Cecy joined the Todos Juntos team in 2021, as a former student and parent of TJ . Born in the city of San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico she came to live in Austin in 2007. She is also a mother of 5 children. Cecy discovered TJ formerly known as Si Se Puede in 2011, as she began looking for options to study English. Cecy shared that TJ not only accepted her as a student but also provided care in the early childhood program for her daughter who was 3 years old at the time. By 2014 Cecy’s English skills had advanced to a level 4, which she feels very proud of. Upon completing the ESL program, Cecy dedicated most of her time to caring for her children until 2021, when Todos Juntos reached out with the opportunity to work in the TJ Escuelita as an assistant teacher where she feels it is a privilege to be able to serve our Hispanic community.
Cecilia “Cecy” Gomez
ECE Assistant Teacher
Rocio Ramirez | ECE Lead Teacher
Rocio was born and raised in El Salvador. She currently has 3 years under her belt, working at Todos Juntos. She began as a student of TJ back when the program was known as Si Se Puede. Her son also attended the TJ early childhood education program making it a dual generation learning experience. Rocio’s work with children began when she volunteered at the local elementary school, Svante Palm Elementary, aiding in the Pre K 3 classroom. She then became a volunteer in TJ’s ECE classrooms and helped in the TJ office. Rocio feels fortunate that having arrived in this country as an immigrant, she was offered first job by Todos Juntos. With this opportunity she has been able to work in a classroom setting where she is passionate about being involved in teaching children and serving a community of parents that she can relate to, listen to, support and help. Rocio mentioned that her work at TJ is reflective of her want to give back to the TJ organization for all that they did and have done for her and her family.
Rocio Ramirez
ECE Lead Teacher
Monica Salazar | ECE Lead Teacher
Monica was born and raised in Sabinas Coahuila, Mexico. At 16 years old, she was offered to work in the CONAFE program where she was in charge of a group of pre-kindergarten and kindergarten children while she was in high school. At the end of high school she knew that she wanted to work in the field of education so she entered the Escuela Normal De San Juan De Sabinas where she began her education. In 2005, her family migrated to Austin where Monica served for a year in the AmeriCorps PALS program. There she worked as a teacher’s assistant in the bilingual pre-k class. In this time Monica also worked to receive her ParaEducators certification to work as an instructional aid at a local elementary school. Monica discovered Todos Juntos when her youngest son participated in the PBS-KLRU Play to Learn program offered at TJ. Monica has dedicated herself to caring for her three children, and providing the support required for her child with special needs. She became a student in TJ’s ESL program virtually and then in person. Monica is part of the Todos Juntos team as a lead teacher where she feels happy to return to teaching and sharing with young children!
Monica Salazar
ECE Lead Teacher
Norma Alvarez | ECE Assistant Teacher
Norma was born in Monterrey, Mexico and grew up in Tampico, Tamaulipas. She graduated from the University of Tamaulipas with a degree in Computer Science. Norma worked as an administrative assistant at Hospital Angeles, Tampico, for a couple of years. Later, she was given the opportunity to venture into the world of education at the Eduardo Guevara Diaz Elementary school in Reynosa, Tamaulipas. Despite not having studied to be a teacher, she was fascinated in that field of work. In 2016, she arrived in the United States. It was in 2021 that she found out through social networks about English classes taught by the Todos Juntos program. As a former TJ student Norma shares her thoughts on how it is great work that the organization does. After a year of taking classes at TJ and reaching the next level of English proficiency, she was given the opportunity to be part of the team. She feels happy about being able to help children in their development. In her free time she enjoys visiting the city, enjoying nature during the summer season, and going to the park with her family of three, her husband and her daughter.
Norma Alvarez
ECE Assistant Teacher
Edith Sarmiento | ECE Assistant Teacher
Edith was born and raised in Mexico City, with Oaxacan blood running through her veins. She completed a Bachelor’s degree in business administration at the “Instituto Politecnico Nacional” of Mexico. She has experience as project coordinator in civil protection matters, and one of the aspects she enjoyed the most was training staff. Four years ago, Edith and her family moved to Austin, TX and she started taking ESL classes to improve her English skills. Edith joined Todos Juntos as a student for one year and she is currently working as an assistant teacher at TJ’s La Escuelita. Edith is a mother of three children, and she enjoys spending time on outdoor activities like hiking with her children, husband, and their dog.
Edith Sarmiento
ECE Assistant Teacher
ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING
Rajani Ramachandran | ESL Teacher
Rajani Ramachandran
ESL Teacher
Donna Shepperd | ESL Teacher
Donna has been teaching ESL in the adult education program at Austin Community College since January 2017. The first class she received to teach was at Todos Juntos! Since then, Donna has taught Basic, Levels 1, 2, and 3 at various ACC campuses and Todos Juntos. Before teaching at ACC, Donna taught in the public school system for many years. She taught third grade, then Reading and ESL in the intervention programs. She especially enjoys working at Todos Juntos because of its many programs and opportunities for students and children. They genuinely have a passion for helping adults and children succeed in all areas of their education.
Donna Shepperd
ESL Teacher
Nader Al Zoubi | ESL Teacher
Nader is an English teacher with over 20 years of experience. He holds a master’s degree in social science and a bachelor’s degree in English, which has equipped him with the necessary knowledge and expertise to provide quality education to his students. Nader has taught English as a second language to students of different ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. He has worked in various educational institutions, including public and private schools. He has also taught students from diverse cultures and nationalities. He is passionate about continuous learning and professional development, attending workshops and training sessions to stay current with the latest teaching techniques and trends. He takes pride in his role as an English teacher, helping his students achieve their language goals and empowering them to communicate confidently and effectively in English. Nader likes Todos Juntos because he gets to meet students from different countries. To him, it is a valuable experience, as it allows him to learn about different cultures and perspectives.
Nader Al Zoubi
ESL Teacher
Betina Watkins | ESL teacher
Betina’s first career was as a bilingual office administrator. Working for Exxon-Mobile, she started training people in emergency response programs. She lived in Canada studying French. Later, she lived in France and obtained a degree in French as a Foreign Language. Betina worked as a translator and interpreter during the 1998 Soccer World Cup; she also lived in Scotland working as a hostel administrator and sous chef. In Europe, Betina deepened into different cultures and philosophies like Islamism, Taoism, and Buddhism. She started studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences, when she was 30 years old. She stopped working for corporations and started giving GED classes to adults working at Walmart, which she found incredibly satisfactory. She worked for the Mexican federal government, as a Deputy Director of Promotion and Education of the Children’s Rights Convention. She directed and co-wrote the Manual for Prevention of Pregnancy in Adolescents. Betina has been working at Austin Community College for 6 years as an ESL instructor, mainly focused on Basic levels. She has developed materials for new instructors and trained them as required. She knows how it is to be a student as an adult and to be resourceful in a different country, that’s why she feels a lot of empathy for the students at Adult Education.
Betina Watkins
ESL Teacher
INTERNS
Alexandra Mendoza Ortiz
Alexandra Mendoza Ortiz was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In her pursuit for a Bachelor’s of Arts in Social Work with a double major in Spanish, she moved to Austin, Texas, and attends St.Edward’s University. With her career, she hopes to support the community with resources that are transformative to her quality of life. She aims to build a community that can grow in diverse and impactful ways.
Alexandra Mendoza Ortiz
Abigail Romero Suarez
Abigail was born and raised in Austin, TX. She is a first-generation Mexican American student. Abigail is currently pursuing a double major in Social Work and Health and Society with a minor in Mexican American/Latino Studies at UT. As an Austinite raised in the north side of the city, she has experienced firsthand the inequalities that lie in the city she calls home. These experiences have led her to be passionate about working with the community. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, family, and her dogs.
Abigail Romero Suarez
Our Board of Directors
Barbra Boeta is the Community Development Officer in Austin for Texas Capital Bank. She is responsible for implementing the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act strategy in Austin, she works with local civic, and community organizations, and small businesses to understand the needs of the community and how the bank can support those needs. Prior to joining the bank, Barbra spent 19 years working to foster the growth of local small businesses throughout Austin. Throughout her career, she has helped thousands of businesses reach profitability and sustainability. Barbra is committed to helping break down barriers to help others fulfill their dreams.
Kendra Bolton (Development Committee Chair) is the Director of Integrative Wellbeing at Miraval Austin, a wellness resort focused on building mind, body and spirit connection with self and others to live a life in a balance. Kendra is committed to professional work and volunteerism that removes barriers between individuals and their dreams and specifically work that elevates women to achieve their potential and beyond. She brings 10 years of wellness experience from previous roles in higher education, public schools and board service for other Austin nonprofits. Kendra loves to dance to live music across all of Austin’s dance floors and travel the world.
Erwin Cuellar is a native Austinite and is focused on giving back to his community. He graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2010, majoring in Finance, and his background includes working in the investment management industry, owning a bus business, and now leading the finances at his family’s manufacturing business.
Erwin is currently on the boards of Todos Juntos Learning Center, Chariot (formerly Drive a Senior Central Texas), and the Mexic-Arte Museum. In his spare time, he enjoys frequenting local coffee shops, reading and exercising.
Celia Godínez-Sánchez serves as the Administrative Manager at MAYA Consulting, driven by a firm belief that everyone should have access to a fulfilling life and the freedom to make choices. With the right resources, she envisions that these opportunities are within reach for all. For over 25 years, Celia has dedicated herself to actively and purposefully contributing to the betterment of communities, working joyfully to turn this vision into reality. Celia’s unwavering commitment to fostering equitable opportunities for children and their families is both a personal commitment and a professional calling. Prior to joining MAYA, Celia spent 21 years at KIPP Texas Public Schools – Austin. Starting from various operations roles, she steadily progressed to become Assistant Principal of Operations. As a founding member, she laid the cornerstone for robust operational systems at KIPP Austin College Prep, setting a benchmark for the 11 schools that followed in subsequent years. During her last 3 years at KIPP, she played a pivotal role in co-managing the school budget, strategizing to ensure consistent student attendance, refining operational policies, and collaborating with support partners to create the safest possible campus environment for families.
MJ Korpela (Co-Chair) is a principal with MAYA Consulting, where she leads projects related to child welfare, trauma and attachment, early childhood and 2Gen programs, family power building and DEI, strategic planning, and community engagement. Prior to joining the MAYA team, MJ spent 7 years building and overseeing trauma-informed 2Gen programming in Austin, TX. She has extensive experience in family-centered programming, including 2Gen models, trauma informed and attachment centered program models, mental health support and therapeutic milieu building, family empowerment and narrative change initiatives, and early childhood partnerships. MJ relocated to Austin in 2014 from Minneapolis, MN, where she worked primarily in mental health and crisis response with women and children, focusing on trauma, attachment, and racial equity. She earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and will defend her thesis this year on building equitable, attachment centered 2Gen programs to finalize her MA in Counseling Psychology from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Edna Parra is currently the Community Engagement & Outreach Manager at CapMetro. She has worked in the Austin area developing and managing community programs for 20+ years in various fields, including the arts, health care, education, and now, transit. She’s a first-gen student and earned her BS from The University of Texas at Austin and her Master of Public Administration from The University of Texas at Arlington. Edna and her family immigrated from Mexico to El Paso, so she sees the power and importance of organizations like Todos Juntos for families new to this country. She is very excited to join TJ and hopes to grow programs and opportunities that help immigrants pursue the opportunities they dreamt of when coming to Texas. Outside of work, Edna likes to camp, bike around town, and play soccer with her family for fun.
Aman Patel (Treasurer) is a Technology Consultant for Deloitte Consulting where he works with local state agencies to drive large-scale technology implementation projects. Aman’s passion for providing education, advocacy, and empowerment to children in underprivileged communities is inspired by his mother: They have worked together to support organizations focused on children’s rights and combating poverty in India for over 7 years. He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Danielle Engalla is an Assistant Vice President of Commercial Banking at Frost Bank in South Austin. She focuses on helping businesses in Austin reach their financial goals by being a trusted advisor to her clients. She received her B.B.A. in Finance with a minor in international business from Texas State University. She has been with the Bank for over 6 years and has experience with community service with organizations like Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement. In her spare time she enjoys trying new local restaurants, going on walks with her dog, and spending time with her family.
Alyssa Rodriguez is a Public Health and Relations Consultant focusing on projects related to improving health outcomes and the quality of life for those living in underserved communities. Alyssa has led initiatives pertaining to Emergency and Disaster Relief, as well as Covid Vaccine Equity throughout the Eastern Crescent of Travis County. She works with local governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, school districts, and private and public healthcare providers to create culturally relevant resources, engagement plans, and policies for the communities they serve. Alyssa completed her undergraduate studies at St. Edward’s University, earning a BS in Biology and was a STEM educator for over a decade before earning a Master of Public Health degree from the Keck School of Preventive Medicine at USC. Alyssa is a proud 1st generation high school, college, and graduate school degree holder who has a passion for helping others, especially women and children. In addition to Todos Juntos, Alyssa also sits on the Out Youth Board, an Austin based nonprofit organization providing free resources to LGBTQIA+ youth. Alyssa loves to go hiking with her husband Ernesto, reading, and having dance parties with her son Mosley.
Craig Snook (Governance Committee Chair) is a consultant for JBL Strategies, a strategic advisory business focused on nonprofit leadership development and organization sustainability. Craig has a passion for working with leaders to grow and develop to strategically lead their organizations in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors through leadership coaching and remote team management. His experience has ranged from individuals to senior management teams at the Dow Chemical Company as well as several Austin area nonprofits. Prior to joining JBL Strategies, he was a consultant with Executive Service Corps of Houston, an organization designed to promote best management practices in nonprofits. Craig is past board chair for EcoRise Youth Innovations, VELA, and past board member of THRIVE Cancer Fertility Network. Craig looks forward to advancing the mission of Todos Juntos in the local community long term.
Creating a better tomorrow for Central Texas. TOGETHER.
There are numerous ways you can help out so that, together, we can make Central Texas a more prosperous, just, and thriving community.