SPEL Team | Equipo de SPEL

Christine MacDonald

Executive Director & Co-Founder

Christine is an investigative reporter, who has had a long career writing for top-ranked newspapers, such as the Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News and Washington Post. As the Executive Director, she leads the organization’s Storytelling Program for Experiential Learning (SPEL), a weekly story lab that brings together high school and college interns and young adult fellows to produce articles and special research projects published on the Hola Cultura’s website.

María Jackman

Nonprofit Admin Fellow

María is a dedicated humanitarian with a passion for advocating for women’s health, refugee rights and education. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has worked across Latin America and Europe on initiatives supporting displaced communities, children’s reintegration programs and public health campaigns. With a background in law, marketing and public relations, María has extensive experience in community engagement, event coordination and media relations. Her work has spanned organizations like SOMOS, Migration Aid, America Solidaria and Habitat for Humanity, where she has led projects that empower underserved populations.

Stefanny Leung Yu

Social Media Fellow

Stefanny (she/her) is an Asian American with a rich, bicultural background. Born and raised in Venezuela to Chinese parents, her identity blends the cultural richness of South America with her Chinese heritage. She learned Chinese at home and Spanish at school. At 16, Stefanny moved alone to New York City with nothing but a bag of belongings. Despite facing numerous challenges, she found inspiration and support from the caring and safe people she met along the way. Stefanny pursued her academic journey at Queens College, City University of New York, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English with double minors in media studies and animation and illustration, becoming the first college graduate in her family. Currently, fueled by her passion for films and media, she is pursuing a master’s degree in media studies. Stefanny also combines her skills in creativity, critical thinking and research with a deep love for learning and innovation, aspiring to bring creativity and compelling storytelling to the media industry. As a polymath, she values the pursuit of knowledge and explores a diverse range of interests. Outside her academic and professional pursuits, Stefanny enjoys watching movies, skateboarding, baking and reading.

Arts & Humanities Team

Eduardo Coyotzi Zarate

Editorial Fellow

Eduardo (he/him) grew up in Oxnard, California, and moved to Maryland in 2022. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and is the communications associate at Rails to Trails Conservancy. Eduardo enjoys being outdoors and makes it a priority to go for a walk at least once a day. He also enjoys exploring the many food options in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas.

Amy Arias

Editorial Intern

Amy (she/her/ella) is a high school student at District of Columbia International School with Salvadoran roots. She is also a dual enrollment student at Northern Virginia Community College, pursuing a Certificate in Leadership Development. Residing in Washington, D.C., Amy is an ardent advocate for various communities and actively engages in numerous organizations, such as the Environmental Justice Academy at Anacostia Community Museum, the Student Advisory Committee with the State Board of Education, and the DC Girls’ Coalition. Amy’s faith inspires her dedication to preserving her Salvadoran heritage and ensuring all communities can share their voices. In her free time, she finds solace in journaling. Aspiring to become a leader in community development, Amy aims to be a role model for young women, empowering individuals from similar backgrounds to reach their full potential and make positive impacts within their communities.

Gabriela Espinal

Social Media Intern

Gabriela (she/her) is a first-generation Dominican American from Pennsylvania with a passion for art, particularly painting and drawing. Each summer, she traveled to the Dominican Republic with her family to connect with her parents’ homeland, an experience that profoundly influenced her creative freedom and shaped her artistic expression. Gabriela recently earned her bachelor’s in advertising with a minor in graphic design from The Pennsylvania State University. Throughout her college years, she was involved in the Dominican Student Association, where she not only found a community of people who shared her cultural background, but also deepened her understanding of Dominican culture. Gabriela’s goal is to create a career that blends her love for art, advertising and design while advocating for the Latine community.

Tricia De Souza

Editorial Intern

Tricia (she/her) is a Brazilian-American who was born in Fortaleza, Ceará, and grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She completed her bachelor’s degree in history with a minor in Africana studies at Williams College. There, she researched Latin American and Caribbean revolutions, with a particular interest in the Haitian Revolution and its global reverberations. Most recently, Tricia completed a U.S. Fulbright research grant program in Brazil that allowed her to study at the Federal University of Pernambuco while living in the tropical northeastern capital of Recife. In addition to her love of history and storytelling, Tricia’s passions include rowing, running, learning languages — she is currently trying to teach herself French — and exploring her new home, Washington, D.C.

Jaymie Ramirez-Cruz

Editorial Intern

Jaymie (she/her) is a first-generation U.S. Latina. She was born in Washington, D.C., and has lived her whole life in the District. Jaymie is a junior at The School Without Walls High School and is considering where she wants to go to university and what she wants to major in. Her hobbies are drawing and painting. She likes to read and write in her free time, as well as watch TV. Something she really wants to do is travel, visit different countries and learn about their cultures.

Nayahris Rubi

Editorial Intern

Nayahris (she/her) is 16 years old and was born on the same day as her father. She is Honduran and Salvadoran, and identifies as Afro Latina because her father is Afro Latino. Naya lives in Washington, D.C., where she was born and raised, and is a 10th grader at Capital City Public Charter School. Her favorite subjects are English and art. She enjoys listening to music, as well as playing basketball and soccer on occasion. She played sports in middle school and is considering doing so again next year. Naya’s current goals are to get a job and purchase her first car, while her long-term goals are to go to university and study to become a nurse or realtor. “I have a feeling my first semester at Hola Cultura will be amazing. The people I have met are very bubbly and welcoming,” Naya says.

Society & Culture Team

Lori Rampani

Editorial Co-Fellow

Lori (she/her) is a journalist based in Baltimore, Maryland. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she graduated from American University in Washington, D.C., with a bachelor’s in international studies and Spanish. In the past, Lori wrote for outlets such as Voz de América, NBC Washington/Telemundo 44 and NBC News, where she covered Congress and, most recently, The Baltimore Sun. Lori is currently leading an investigation into the impact of lobbying on environmental policy and community well-being. She is excited to co-lead the Society and Culture team at Hola Cultura!

Sam Franzini

Editorial Co-Fellow

Sam Franzini (he/him) grew up in Florida and moved to Washington, D.C., in 2022. He graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree, majoring in psychology and minoring in professional writing. He is an editor at The Line of Best Fit and a staff writer at Our Culture Mag and Northern Transmissions, where he covers literature and music. Sam also writes fiction and is anticipating a great year with Hola Cultura!

Consuelo Ramirez Vargas

Editorial Intern

Consuelo (she/her) is pursuing a bachelor’s in convergence journalism at Delaware State University. She was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, and grew up in Coats, North Carolina. One of her many passions is writing, which she enjoys doing every day. From journaling to updating her blog, she loves to create new stories. Her goal is to become a journalist and share the stories of others with the world. Aside from writing, Consuelo loves to read mystery books, watch movies and scrapbook.

Francisco Rodriguez

Editorial Intern

Francisco (he/him) is a first-generation college student who was born, raised and currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. He is a senior at American University majoring in journalism and literature. He is also a DJ and web writer for WVAU, American University’s student-run radio station, where he hosts a weekly show called “We Jam Econo.” In addition to writing, he enjoys listening to and playing music, drawing, watching TV and reading. He is passionate about the importance of local arts and is excited to work with the Society and Culture team!

Jamie Orozco

Editorial Intern

Jamie (she/they) is an English student studying critical studies at the University of Wisconsin. Born and raised in Mexico City, she now lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where she writes about life in town for her university’s newspaper. Jamie enjoys going to cafés, walking downtown and baking for their friends. Besides writing, they have a love for history and art, which she gets to explore with her minor in classical studies. After graduation, Jamie wants to earn a master’s in journalism and move to the East Coast.

Mariana Benitez Arreola

Editorial Intern

Mariana (she/her/hers) was born and raised in San Jose, California. She recently graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she double majored in sociology and Latin American and Iberian Studies. During her time as a student, she also decided to pursue a professional writing minor with an emphasis on civic engagement. Her hobbies include dancing, reading, photography, traveling and, of course, writing. As an aspiring writer, she hopes to change cultural misrepresentations within mainstream media and highlight stories about people who are at the margins of society. Mariana aims to publish work about storytelling and the preservation of history. Participating in Hola Cultura will be a great stepping stone for Mariana as she hopes to gain more exposure to the process of pitching, writing and creating stories.

Marina Caraballo

Editorial Intern

Marina (she/her/ella) is a first-year undergraduate student at American University studying international studies. She was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, where her love for politics, immigration and culture grew. In the past, Marina has worked in Congress, interning with her congressional representative and senator at the district level. She recently returned from her first semester in Spain, so she is excited to explore D.C. and all the events the city has to offer this semester. Marina is thrilled to join Hola Cultura’s Arts and Humanities team and looks forward to exploring journalism!

Nelson Tang

Social Media Intern

Nelson (he/him) is an Asian American who was born and raised in New York City. Growing up, Nelson struggled to find the balance between his American and Chinese identity. As he grew older, he was able to maintain both identities without losing his connection to his cultural roots and heritage. He is currently a graduate student in media studies at Queens College, City University of New York. During his time as an undergraduate student, he double majored in media studies and history to explore his passion for the world of media. His areas of interest include film, writing and social media, and he aspires to work in one of these fields after college. Most of Nelson’s professional media experience has been in research and writing; however, he also wants to gain new skills and experience in other areas, such as social media, and further develop his creativity. During his free time, Nelson enjoys watching and analyzing television shows and movies and learning how to make new foods.

Sbeyde Herrera

Editorial Intern

Sbeyde (she/her) is a senior at San José State University majoring in English and professional and technical writing. She enjoys learning about writing and has experience working with a literary publication and as a freelance writer for a nonprofit website. Sbeyde is passionate about using a literary writing style to make difficult topics easier to understand. She plans to pursue a career in publishing, hoping to travel and explore various cultures. In addition to writing, some of her other hobbies include reading, hiking, ice skating and playing guitar.

Zachary Sardas Trevorrow

Editorial Intern

Zach (he/him) is a sophomore at The George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs studying political communication and Spanish and Latin American studies. As a Guatemalan American from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he is passionate about advocacy, storytelling and empowering marginalized communities, particularly the Latine and Hispanic communities. Beyond academics, he enjoys running, discovering new cafés and immersing himself in D.C.’s vibrant history and culture. He eventually hopes to pursue a career dedicated to advocacy and justice by creating lasting change and amplifying the voices of underrepresented and marginalized communities.

Oral History Team

Diego Aguilera-Steinert

Editorial Intern

Diego (he/him) is a junior at Tulane University studying communications and Latin American studies. He was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and is passionate about telling stories and highlighting voices that might not get a lot of attention. In his free time, he enjoys listening to music, watching movies and spending quality time with friends. After graduation, he hopes to explore his passion for storytelling and media production.

Tylah Bowen

Editorial Intern

Tylah (they/she) currently attends Northeastern University as an environmental science and landscape architecture major. They were born and raised in New York City but spend most of their time in Boston for school and work. Tylah is passionate about sustainable design and environmental justice. In her free time, she enjoys reading, listening to new music, going to the library and exploring nature.

Copy Editing Team

Kami Waller

Copy Editing Fellow

Kami (he/they) is a Floridian writer, editor and artist based in Japan with a background in web development, digital accessibility, content development and cultural exchange work. They are currently completing a Ph.D. in Global Art Practice at Tokyo University of the Arts, where they researched the impact of external value systems and systems of power on creative output and integrity. Kami is passionate about art, learning and movement and has too many hobbies to keep track of. Moving forward, they hope to establish a multidisciplinary creative practice that prioritizes community and creating opportunities for underrepresented individuals of all ages.

Cory Perez

Copy Editing Intern

Cory (he/him) was born in Chicago and grew up in Algonquin, northwest of the city. He has a bachelor’s in history from the University of Illinois Chicago and has worked in administrative support roles for various companies in the Chicagoland area. He would like to gain experience in copy editing, SEO copywriting, email marketing and translation. Cory loves reading history and literary classics, learning languages and playing strategy games.

Samantha Gonzalez

Copy Editing Intern

Samantha (she/her) is a first-generation Mexican American based in Texas. She graduated from Texas A&M University-Kingsville with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has a deep passion for writing and marketing and is always seeking new opportunities to improve her skills. In her free time, she likes to work on her hobbies, including sewing, 3D printing and prop making.