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Megan Programming Specialist A native of Tampa, Megan attended the University of Florida, where she received bachelor's degrees in International Studies and Hispanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. Megan describes herself as a detail-oriented and creative individual, who is motivated by a desire to learn. She loves being able to work in the city that shaped her childhood and many happy memories. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and playing the piano. ¡Yo hablo español! 我會說中文! Matthew Programming Specialist "Matthew has lived in Florida for almost all of his life, and attended college at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he received his bachelor's in Political Science. He has worked in the nonprofit industry for over five years and loves to give back to his community when possible. His interests include birdwatching, public speaking, debate, and reading." Coming Soon Quality Assurance Specialist

Elizabeth Center Manager Originally from Quito, Ecuador, Elizabeth has lived in the U.S. since 2005 and in the Tampa Bay area since 2009. Prior to joining LSF (Children's Board FRC), she worked for a nonprofit Organization in Tampa, serving youth and children in a Temporary Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program, as Office Manager in Temporary Foster Care and as Youth Care Worker in Shelter. Elizabeth has an MBA in Human Resources and her passion is serving the community. She believes that families can thrive when given the right resources and support to improve children's social, emotional, and cognitive skills and build their confidence. As a member of the LSF team, Elizabeth feels blessed. Yo hablo Español! Karem Intake and Referral Specialist Karem, born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, studied Business Administration at the Autonomous University of Colombia. My experience in this country has been focused on working with children of school age helping them, caring for them and teaching them about their basic needs or requirements, always being a support for them, I can say that it makes me happy to see them smile!! ¡Yo hablo español! Mariam Family Specialist Glenis Support Specialist Norka Family Specialist (Part-Time) Norka was born in Venezuela and is a mother of three and a grandmother of two. She is a professional Engineer, and teacher that enjoys teaching math. Becoming an immigrant has allowed her to find a new reason for life; support other immigrant families offering them the necessary tools to obtain stability and achieve progress wherever they are. Norka share her time in two organizations, Hispanic Services Council, providing support in the Active Parents Newtork program and in the Family Resource Center, as support for the different programs and activities for parents and children that our center offers.

Jesus Center Manager Jesus is from the Dominican Republic, living in Tampa since 2010, the only boy in a family of 6. He's been working in the family business since an early age. A hotelier by trade with a Bachelor Degree in Hotel Management and a Master in Tourism and Hotel Administration, with ample experience in the industry. Love to ride bikes, hiking and watch movies; with a new passion to give back to the community. Jesus is bilingual and fluent in the Spanish language Luis Intake and Referral Specialist Luis was born in Lima, Peru, and moved to the U.S. at the age of seven. He is passionate about contributing to his community and helping others whenever he can. He also likes to travel and hopes to see the world and learn from many different cultures. He likes to watch movies and read dystopian novels. His favorite season is fall and his favorite holiday is Halloween! Yo hablo español! Chynna Family Specialist Johanna Support Specialist Johana, was born in Colombia, she is mother of two children and moved to this country 5 years ago. Her BA is on Administration and Human Resources. Her mission is to help Hispanic people and migrants to feel part of this society. Johana like manual arts, painting, decoration, and have always a smile and a good attitude. Coming Soon Family Specialist (Part-Time)

Joai Center Manager Mayra Intake and Referral Specialist Mayra was born in the Dominican Republic and emigrated to the United States (New York) as a teenager. She has been a Florida resident since 2005. She studied Business Administration at Pace University, NY and has vast experience in public relations, as she has worked in International Trade, Banking and Finance, Tour Operator, Hospitality and Tourism. Mayra is a mom of 3 and grandma of 9. Although she retired early, she has kept busy helping with the younger grandkids and working part time. It was precisely while visiting one of the CBFRC, for an activity with a grandchild, that she remembered her original passion - to help those in need. During her last 2 years in High School, she worked P/T at a Community Resources Agency, connecting Spanish speaking families to public services. During her Freshman college year, she worked at the New York City Mayor's Office, translating the literature that was distributed to the Hispanic community agencies, within the the five boroughs. ¡Yo hablo español! Darrie Family Specialist Darrie was born on the Bay Island of Roatan, off the coast of Honduras Central America. She moved with her family to the main land of Honduras at the age of 14, where she studied Short hand typing secretary and Bachelor's degree in science and literature. Darrie has been working in the past as a customer service representative for over 16 years. She enjoys helping people and making them feel at home with her warm welcoming smile. She moved to Florida in 2021, and joined the CBFRC team where she is continuing to develop her passion of helping the community. She is fluent in English and Spanish Coming Soon Support Specialist Maria Family Specialist (Part-Time)

Mariana Support Specialist Mariana Chiza is Venezuelan, she has lived in the United States for 7 years. She has a degree in Human Resources and Tourism Business Administration, Announcer and Life Coach from the Universidad Iberoamericana de Liderazgo in Miami. For 3 years he has had a podcast "It's About Attitude" (with dozens of episodes in different apps), focusing on issues of self-esteem, self-improvement, motivation and he does it as a personal log of challenges he has had to live. Mariana Chiza is a writer, with 2 books published on Amazon in Spanish: "Surviving Three Divorces", and "Mujeres Admirables", the latter written with 24 women. She is also a co-author of the book "Mujeres Dream Boss", she is currently writing #2 of "Mujeres Admirables Historias de Exito" with 16 women, has been invited to write in the book "TOP 25 Mujeres Dream Boss". She is always willing to help and collaborate, that is her life purpose. Mariana has 3 beautiful children, two granddaughters and is happily married. ¡Yo hablo español! Coming Soon Family Specialist (Part-Time) Coming Soon Center Manager Ana Intake and Referral Specialist Ana Maria Vera Davidson is originally from Peru and attended University in Peru, where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Education. She started her career as a science teacher and worked in that field for over 10 years. Ana moved to Tampa in 2015 and decided to further her education and now attends Hillsborough Community College. Ana started as an intern for the Family Resource Center, she fell and love and soon after became an employee. When asked about working at the Resource Centers Ana said, "I love working at the CBFRC because I believe that one person can make a huge difference in someone's life. When we treat people with love and patience, nothing is impossible". Ana's hobbies include walking and reading. She loves animals and has two small dogs Misty and Mickey. ¡Yo hablo español! Yesenia Family Specialist Yesenia Chestaro was born in the city of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, where she began her studies at the Autonomous University of Santiago in a tourism business administration career. She has always liked working directly with people, helping and providing services. Yesenia worked for 5 years in the BAHIA PRINCIPE hotel chain, she got married and moved to the United States in 2017. She has always been fascinated by the idea of studying, working and helping people in the healthcare area. She considers herself a self-capable person with a great desire to grow both professionally and personally. She is a faithful believer that with effort and dedication, you can achieve any goals in life. ¡Yo hablo español!

Marisa Center Manager Dr. Marisa Martinez has over 20 years of experience in K-12 education. Marisa is from Chicago and lives in the Tampa area with her family.She earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University, a Master's in Administration & Supervision from Loyola University and an undergraduate degree in Secondary English from DePaul University. Her various roles as a high school English teacher, school counselor and administrator have prepared her well for the role of Early Childhood Service Coordinator. Marisa enjoys serving the community, spending time with her family and traveling. ¡Yo hablo español! Aysun Support Specialist Aysun was born in Gaziantep, Turkey - a beautiful city where she desired even as a child to help others. She went to Gaziantep University of Turkey and graduated with an AA Degre in Business Management. Soon after in 2011 she moved to Tampa, Florida. She has 3 beautiful kids. Currently she is studying for a BA degree at Islamic University of Minnesota. Her goal is to be able to help others achieve their goals and help them find resources to succeed. Ben Türkçe konuşuyorum! Amanda Family Specialist Iris Intake and Referral Specialist Katrina Family Support - Part Time

Hillsborough County Check on the Feeding Tampa Bay site daily for feeding sites. https://feedingtampabay.org/findfood Florida Division of Emergency Management Cooking and Feeding Sites: Cooking & Feeding Sites (arcgis.com) Additional Resources: https://www.floridadisaster.org/ The City of Tampa has opened sites to deliver vital supplies to residents impacted by Hurricane Milton. Drive-through PODS – point of distributions sites – are handing out supplies including water, MREs, and ice at two locations. Gandy Boat Ramp (5108 W Gandy Blvd., 33611) Al Lopez Park (4810 N Himes Ave, 33614) The drive-through PODS will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and will stay open daily for up to a week, as long as there are supplies. Hillsborough County Comfort Station, in conjunction with the National Guard:. The comfort station is located at the Progress Village Senior Center, 8701 Progress Blvd., Tampa, FL 33619. The site opened at noon, Oct. 14, and will operate daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. until further notice. The comfort station offers showers, restrooms, washers and dryers for laundry, and a cooling tent. Hot food or boxed meals will be available at lunch and dinner times. Replacement of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) SNAP Recipients who lost food due to Hurricane Milton can apply for food replacement by completing the form located at https://www.myflfamilies.com/milton The Hillsborough County BRC is located at the Entrepreneur Collaborative Center (ECC), 2101 E. Palm Ave., Tampa, FL 33605. The BRC is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center is closed on Sunday. Free parking is available across Palm Avenue. Hillsborough County and the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) are establishing a Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) for individuals impacted by Hurricanes Milton, Helene, and Debby. The MARC will be staffed with personnel from federal, state, regional partners, and non-profit agencies to ensure residents have access to all available resources following the storm events. Town 'N Country MARC : Town ‘N Country Regional Public Library, located at 7606 Paula Dr #120, Tampa, FL 33615 9AM-5PM For more details: https://hcfl.gov/newsroom/2024/10/13/first-multi-agency-resource-center-marc-to-open-in-hillsborough-for-residents-and-business-owners-in-need-of-assistance Plant City MARC: Florida Strawberry Festival TECO Expo Hall, 2301 W. Oak Ave., Plant City, FL 33563 in Plant City 9AM-5PM | Seven days a week til further notice: https://hcfl.gov/newsroom/2024/10/15/multi-agency-resource-center-marc-added-in-plant-city-to-further-aide-residents-and-business-owners-in-need-of-assistance?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2osYIAJFxld54p65hPcCRFijLnx-QNGTEoCcj35uBLNHnjat-yME_19ng_aem_nykAMuPCD7wGzLRsWnnwXQ

The Children's Board Family Resource Centers function as a strong, collaborative partnership between several agencies committed to families in Hillsborough County. Brandon 1271 Kingsway Road, Brandon, FL 33510 813-740-4634 central tampa 1002 East Palm Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605 813-204-1741 north tampa 116 West Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL, 33612 813-558-1877 plant city 301 North Palmer Street, Plant City, FL 33563 8 13-752-8700 south county 3030 East College Avenue, Ruskin, FL 33570 813-641-5600 temple terrace Doretha Wynn Edgecomb Children's Board Family Resource Center in 5892 East Fowler Avenue, Temple Terrace, FL 33617 813-435-3032 town 'n country 7520 West Waters Avenue, Tampa, FL 33615 813-356-1703

I'm from Colombia and have been living in Tampa since 2013. Rosa holds a Bachelor's degree in Social Work. Looking ahead, she envisions furthering her education in human resources, driven by her ultimate goal of aiding people. I am passionate about empowering individuals to achieve their goals, a dedication she carried from her work with disadvantaged populations before joining the CBFRC team. During her free time, You'll likely find her engaged in exercise, travel, or enjoying moments with family. ¡ Yo hablo español ! Janet Town 'N Country Janet is from Artemisa, Cuba. She has lived in the US since 2016, and in Tampa since 2021. She has a Bachelor Degree from the University of Havana majoring in Law. As a former Prosecutor, she used to work with children without parental care, represented them in court and ensured their welfare. In Los Angeles, CA, where she used to live before, she worked at MEND, a non-profit organization, assisting low-income families and helping them meet each need with dignity. Janet is focused on helping vulnerable families and given them the necessary resources to improve their quality of life. Nothing makes her happier than seeing the relief on her client faces. ¡Yo hablo español! Krystal North Tampa Coming Soon Central Tampa Coming Soon Plant City Rosa Temple Terrace Coming Soon South County Coming Soon Brandon

Tyheshia Director Prior to joining Lutheran Services as the Director of the Children’s Board Family Resource Center, Tyheshia worked as an Executive Director for a small non-profit in Denton, TX. Their mission was to provide families with housing services, financial support, and case management they need to break the chains of generational poverty on their road to self-sufficiency. During her entire 20-year human services career she has focused on providing services that impart individuals with the tools they need to be successful and self-sufficient. Her commitment to helping others is illustrated by her work history. Tyheshia is an 8-year Veteran of the United States Navy. She served as an Operations Specialist responsible for gathering, processing, and disseminating information in the Combat information Center. Later she worked to assist fellow Veterans transition to civilian life. Tyheshia is a firm believer in collaboration and believes that no one organization or individual can end anything anywhere; success can only be achieved when you come together as a community and work cooperatively towards the common goal. Tyheshia’s a Georgia Peach that’s married to someone from the Frozen Tundra (Wisconsin). They have 3 children and a cat all born in different states: Washington State, Florida, Wisconsin, and Texas (Oreo the Cat). Although Tyheshia is not from Tampa, her Tampa Bay roots run deep. Tyheshia’s family is from a small community started by migrant workers and sharecroppers at the very tip of Manatee County on called Rubonia. The descendants of those individuals still live there to this day. If you ever you find yourself at the South County Center ask me about: JAPAN! Parisa Operations Manager Parisa is Iranian and speaks Farsi, Spanish and English. She has worked in multiple countries with many cultures and societies. Parisa's experience includes: Fifteen years as a teacher, ten years translating, and seven years at Family Resource Organization in Venezuela. ¡Yo hablo español! من فارسی صحبت میکنم! Lynique Early Childhood Service Coordinator Supervisor Lynique relocated from Maryland to Florida to join the CBFRC Team. Lynique possess a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services, with a concentration in Child and Family studies and a Master of Science degree in Executive Leadership & Change with a concentration in leadership within nonprofit organizations. She describes herself to be a highly motivated, compassionate individual with over 20 years' experience working with children and families and 15 years of supervision. Solymar Programming Manager Solymar is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is a dedicate theater educator with 15 years of experience inspiring students through the transformative power of the performing arts. She is also a Trainer of the Standard of Quality of the National Family Support Network. Prior to join our team she worked with our funder, the Children's Board as a Public Relations Outreach. Her goal for our centers it's to create quality programs to support the success of all children and families in Hillsborough County. ¡Yo hablo español!

Nadine Center Manager Nadine was born and raised in Lebanon. She is a Pharmacist, graduated from the Lebanese University. She recently moved with her family to the United States. Nadine joined the CBFRC Brandon family after being members with her family for months. Her family had joyful moments and big help from the center, which made her wanted to join them to spread joy and support, too. Her boys are everything for her! She recently discovered a new passion for craft works and decorating items, so when she has free time, you can find her painting and decorating items. Je parle le français و اتكلم العربية ايضا Ingrid Intake and Referral Specialist Ingrid Arias Cardulis born in Cuba, in the city of Havana. She has a bachelor as Licensed in Education, on the specialty of Spain Language and literature at the University of Cienfuegos, and a Master degree in Education. She loves teaching, and believes in the power of the words, and the education. Had experience in Middle school and High school, but mostly in High Education. On the last 23 years she has worked in the Spanish Department at the University of Cienfuegos. Yo hablo Espaṅol! Haley Family Specialist Haley was born in Fort Hood, Texas but grew up in Schweinfurt, Germany. She has lived in many places including Texas, Georgia, Kansas, Oregon and Germany. Haley moved to Brandon, FL in 2017. She is currently pursuing a degree in Human Services. Before joining the FRC she was a preschool teacher. Haley loves laughing, and cuddling with her bearded dragon Reptar. Monica Support Specialist Sofia Family Specialist (Part-Time)

Yenny Center Manager Yenny was born in Colombia, but moved to Seville, Spain after graduating from High School. While in Spain, she studied Social Integration and Sociology. She then moved to the U.S. and lived in Portland, Oregon and Chicago; later relocating to Tampa. As a Florida resident, Yenny has worked in non-profit organizations, servicing families in different Hillsborough County communities. Yenny believes that her service to a family begins by dedicating full attention to listen to them and identify their needs. She endeavors to provide the families all the assistance they need and qualify for. Yenny always shows a smiling face, as she believes this transmits empathy. It is very rewarding when the assisted families respond to her services, also with a smile :) . ¡Yo hablo español! Coming Soon Intake and Referral Specialist Leonila is native to La Ceiba, Honduras. She speaks fluent Garifuna, Spanish, and English. Leonila started her work in the educational system in 1988 and spent several years working as a school principal in Honduras. Once she and her family moved to the United States she continued her career with a focus in childcare education. Leonila believes that life is a learning process and her greatest passion is to serve children and families. ¡Yo hablo español y Garifuna! Jacqueline Support Specialist Jaqueline was born in New York and moved to Ponce, Puerto Rico when she was 5 years old. She have a Bachelor Degree in Social Work and is currently completing her Master Degree. Since 3rd grade, Jaqueline have participate in missionary trips to Dominican Republic, Haiti and Venezuela helping families with needs. Her professional goals are to serve the families of the Hillsborough County and write a book about her work experiences. " Yo hablo español" Tiffany Family Specialist (Part-Time) My name is Tiffany, I was born here in Tampa. I am a mother of three and I have been a member with the Childrens Board family resource center for more than 5 years. My family and i have been able to get valuable information and opportunities as members. Now to have the chance to help other families as a support specialist is a proud 360 moment. As a Tampanian It is a pleasure to be able to help other people living here to improve their quality of life. I am excited for the chance to meet more of our community members and assist them in meeting their needs. Mario Family Specialist