Edgardo Mansilla, Executive Director: Edgardo, a native of Buenos Aires, Argentina, came to Louisville in 1990 on a scholarship to study social work. He holds a master of social work from the Carver School of Social Work and a master of theology. Edgardo is a part-time professor at the University of Louisville Kent School of Social Work. He has extensive experience providing programs in Louisville to benefit refugee, immigrant, and low-income families. edgardo@americanacc.org
Kristin Burgoyne, Programs Director: Kristin is from West Virginia and joined the Americana staff in May 2009. As Programs Director, she works with all our programs to coordinate services for the immigrant and refugee community. She has a bachelor degree in psychology from Marshall University and a master of science in social work and master of arts in women and gender studies from the University of Louisville. Kristin hopes to pursue her doctorate in social work while continuing to work at Americana. kristin@americanacc.org
Maria Blough, Grants Manager: Maria has been with Americana Community Center since September 2005 in a variety of roles, beginning as a full-time volunteer in the Louisville Urban Corps program. Maria is from Hilliard, Ohio and received her undergraduate degree from Bluffton University. She graduated from the Kent School of Social Work at the University of Louisville in 2008 with a master of science in social work. maria@americanacc.org
Patricia Gould, Finance Manager: Pat joined the Americana staff in October 2009 and brings over 20 years of accounting, human resources, and business management experience to the center. She has previously worked in the nonprofit sector and volunteered with a number of non-profit agencies in Louisville. patricia@americanacc.org
Lara Miramontes, Community Liaison & Career Counselor: Lara is from California and lived in Victoria, Canada before moving to Louisville, . Lara has also lived, traveled, and volunteered throughout Latin America. She holds a bachelor degree in Hispanic studies with a minor in women’s studies from the University of Victoria. Lara started with us in 2010 as an Americorps*VISTA and is now our Community Liaison, working with Americana’s community partners and the international community. She also serves as Americana’s career counselor, helping prepare vocational opportunities for participants in our Family Education program. lara@americanacc.org
Rebecka Bloomer, Family Education and Youth Programs Coordinator: Rebecka graduated from the Kent School of Social Work with a master of science in social work in 2010. She received her undergraduate degrees in French and History from Eastern Kentucky University and spent a brief amount of time in France at the conclusion of her studies. From 2010-2011, Rebecka worked in Family Education and Youth Programming at Americana as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. rebecka@americanacc.org
Emilie Dyer, Family Coach: An indigenous Louisvillian, Emilie attended the University of Louisville and graduated with a bachelor of psychology and a master of sociology. She joined the Americana staff in early-August 2011. As the Family Coach she provides support services and guidance to ACC’s families. emilie@americanacc.org
Erin Shaw, Creative Arts Program Coordinator: Erin is an art teacher, dancer, and yoga teacher from Pennsylvania, who came to Americana in August 2011. Erin received her bachelor degree in art and education from American University, later earning a master of arts in education and youth health & development from Lesley University. Erin loves all the arts and she is excited to be working in ACC’s after school program! erin@americanacc.org
Nelson Belmonte, Family Education Staff: Nelson Alamar Belmonte was born in Cuba in 1976. As an undergraduate, he studied English and Spanish education at the University of Camaguey and later earned his master of education . He arrived in the United states five months ago and hopes to continue working at Americana, teaching languages and gaining additional knowledge and experience.nelson@americanacc.org
Alexander Udis, Community Garden Coordinator: A native son of Kentucky, Alexander has been at the Americana since April of 2011. Alexander graduated from the University of Louisville, where he studied contemporary food systems through the cultural anthropology program. Since then he has worked on gardens and farms from Kentucky to the Middle East. alex@americanacc.org
David Noll, AmeriCorps*VISTA Member: After growing up in Louisville, David attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio graduated with a bachelor of cognitive science in 2008. David worked in South Korea and India before completing his master in management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2010. He began his term with AmeriCorps at Americana as the Volunteer Development / Marketing VISTA in mid-August 2011. david@americanacc.org
Jessica Ashcraft, Family Education and Fiberworks Social Work Intern: Jessica is from Lexington, KY. She graduated from Georgetown College in May 2010
with a bachelor in psychology and a minor in child development. She is currently working towards a master in social work with an emphasis on international social work at the University of Louisville. Jessica has worked and volunteered for several nonprofit organizations in central Kentucky as well as in the northwest region of Haiti. jessica@americanacc.org
Mirac Ozkir, Youth Program Staff: Mirac is from Turkey, though his family is Crimean Tatar. He studied primary science and math education at Bogazici University in Istanbul. He arrived in the US with his wife, a native Louisvillian, in August 2011. mirac@americanacc.org
Dhruba Jyoti Neupane, Youth Program Staff: Dhruba comes from the Himalayan country of Nepal. He earned his first master’s degree in english from From Nepal’s Tribhuvan University in 2001. He taught at Kathmandu’s St. Xavier’s College until enrolling in the University of Louisville in 2009. Dhruba graduated with a master in english with a concentration in composition in 2011 and now also teaches at Jefferson Community and Technical College. Dhruba’s research interests include community-based literacy, which he believe to have transformative potential for social change, World Englishes, and postcolonial theories of rhetoric, such as transnational/cultural rhetoric. dhruba@americanacc.org
Roberto Guerra: Maintenance Attendant – Roberto is from Havana, Cuba and came to the United States in 1997. He is a maintenance attendant at Americana and has worked at the center for 4 years. Roberto spent many years working as an accountant back in Cuba before political issues forced him to turn to work as a plumber, carpenter and electrician. Roberto is the proud father of three children who are university students pursuing careers in Nursing, Medicine and Engineering.
Prady Rivera: Facility Attendant – Prady is from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, and came to the United States in 2006. She has worked at Americana Community Center for 6 years. Prady enjoys the environment at Americana because her colleagues are kind and treat her with respect.
