Javier Chavez is an immigrant from La Paz, Bolívia, an organizer, former educator, and father of three children. He's called Gaithersburg home since 2002 and continues to give back to the community that has given him so much. He’s done this through his experiences as a lead volunteer tenant canvasser for Everyday Canvassing, former English professor at Centro Boliviano Americano Institute, and founder of a Latino parent teacher group called PALA at Gaithersburg High School. Javier was recently certified in Support Coordination & Case Management Training from Virginia Commonwealth University. In his free time, Javier likes to listen to classic rock and play instruments with his children.

Carmen Hernandez is without doubt the most seasoned community builder ever to serve on the IMPACT Staff. She is originally from El Salvador, where she worked with the administration and faculty at the Central American University on various community building/engagement projects. Carmen has been in the United States for 16 years, and worked for three years as a lead organizer with Tenants & Workers United in Virginia. She has worked with IMPACT Silver Spring since 2011.

As a first-generation Zambian-American, Akufuna brings a rich tapestry of experiences from living in two countries in the Global South and three in the Global North. Since 1993, he has proudly called Montgomery County home, alongside his wife and three sons. His roles as a community organizer, policy analyst, and former deputy director for AmeriCorps in Silver Spring equip him with a distinctive perspective and a deep understanding of local needs. With years of expertise in collaborative advocacy, he is dedicated to fostering citizen engagement, promoting participatory democracy, and advancing sustainable development, while passionately advocating for economic, social, and cultural rights. His nuanced understanding of the nine core international human rights instruments and their respective monitoring bodies positions him as an invaluable advocate for justice and equality within our community.

Fayber Rodriguez is a creative leader who brings a strong commitment to equity and a multicultural lens to his work at IMPACT Silver Spring. Originally from Colombia and fluent in both English and Spanish, he values building meaningful, inclusive connections across diverse communities. With a background in education and the arts, Fayber has led youth programs, organized community events, and supported individuals and families, particularly low-income and first generation entrepreneurs, as they take steps toward launching small businesses.

Renée is a graduate of Montgomery County Public Schools and the University of MD at College Park, where she majored in philosophy and English. She continued her studies with graduate coursework in the Philosophy and Social Policy program at American University. She served three years on the Countywide Recreation and Parks Advisory Board, and has led several all-volunteer nonprofits in the Burtonsville area.

Valerie Salazar joined IMPACT as a Local Economy Networker in the winter of 2018. She got involved with IMPACT in 2017 as a founding member and administrative manager of the Montgomery Community Investment Cooperative, the first cooperative initiative in Montgomery County. Valerie has a B.A. in Business Administration with a minor in Theology, a C.S.C in Business Information Technology, and advanced proficiency in Spanish. She also has a background in community organizing, accounts, and program management. Valerie understands local economic support varies among individuals, neighborhoods, and communities. She is centered on working towards building a bridge between economic justice and supporting the creation of democratic workplaces through providing technical support to cooperatives, small businesses, and entrepreneurs by building relationships with community members, empowering personal and local capacity, and providing business development support and relevant business skills countywide.

Richard is a bilingual leadership and project management professional with over a decade of experience driving social impact initiatives and operational excellence across the nonprofit and private sectors. With a background in political science and advanced training in project management and organizational leadership, he brings a strategic, equity-centered approach to team development, community engagement, and sustainable growth. In Colombia, Richard led large-scale development and peace-building programs with Caritas Colombia and the Diocese of Zipaquirá, where he strengthened grassroots organizations, facilitated leadership training, and promoted community-driven solutions in conflict-affected regions. After relocating to the United States, he transitioned to the private sector as a District Manager, where he successfully oversaw multiple retail locations—leading high-performing teams, optimizing operations, and driving consistent business growth. Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, along with certifications in Project Management and Leadership from Montgomery College and Liberty University. Bilingual in English and Spanish, he is committed to fostering inclusive, empowered communities through collaborative leadership and strategic innovation.

Valerie Salazar joined IMPACT as a Local Economy Networker in the winter of 2018. She got involved with IMPACT in 2017 as a founding member and administrative manager of the Montgomery Community Investment Cooperative, the first cooperative initiative in Montgomery County. Valerie has a B.A. in Business Administration with a minor in Theology, a C.S.C in Business Information Technology, and advanced proficiency in Spanish. She also has a background in community organizing, accounts, and program management. Valerie understands local economic support varies among individuals, neighborhoods, and communities. She is centered on working towards building a bridge between economic justice and supporting the creation of democratic workplaces through providing technical support to cooperatives, small businesses, and entrepreneurs by building relationships with community members, empowering personal and local capacity, and providing business development support and relevant business skills countywide.

Lanita has worked as a fundraiser, project manager, and event planner for non-profits for more than 20 years. Before coming to IMPACT, she worked for the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) as Director of Special Projects and worked as a consultant on projects including the national AIDS/HIV Youth Summit, the NASBE New State Board Member Institute, and several State Superintendent of Education searches. Lanita has a BA in English from North Carolina State University. Lanita has been involved in the IMPACT Network since 2009, initially working as a community builder with the Thriving Multicultural Schools Project. She has worn several hats at the organization including East County Network Builder, Director of Development, and Network Coach. She now serves the organization as a Senior Organizer who supports IMPACT's communications, reporting, and special projects.

Eric Moreno recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Global Studies, where he was a member of the first ever cohort of the Dietrich College Community Engagement Fellowship and won the Indira Nair Award for Outstanding Achievement in Global Studies. He has extensive experience working alongside his communities, having worked as a Coach Mentor for refugee and immigrant youth; Program Coordinator for the Community College of Allegheny County Men’s Soccer team; and an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher for Spanish-speaking adults. Eric also has extensive experience with multimedia, including videography, podcast creation, and e-learning software. Eric is originally from Silver Spring, is of Mexican and Eastern European heritage, and speaks fluent Spanish.