Katya Nuques is the Executive Director at Enlace Chicago. She was born and raised in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She received an MSA in International and Community Development from Andrews University after completing an internship with the United Nations Sustainable Development Division in New York. After graduation, she moved to Lima, Peru to serve as the project coordinator for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Peru. Her enthusiasm for community involvement drove her to promote participatory approaches in processes such as strategic planning, grant writing, and evaluation. She was able to diversify and substantially increase partnerships with multilateral and bilateral cooperation agencies, resulting in a much more diverse project portfolio.
Katya began her career at Enlace in 2005 as the Director of Community Schools. She played a substantial role in the expansion of Enlace’s community school network, significantly increasing staff and funding levels and diversifying revenue sources. As Director of Education, a role she assumed in 2007, she expanded the organization’s involvement in teacher preparation programs, internships, and post-secondary access, and led Enlace’s participation in coalitions such as the Illinois Federation of Community Schools. In 2011, Katya became the Associate Director, overseeing programs in the areas of immigration, education, economic development, health, and community engagement, and providing direct support to department directors. In 2014, Katya led the process to develop a partnership with CALA, the Community Activism Law Alliance. Through this partnership, community residents from Pilsen, Little Village, and Back of the Yards receive free legal services. This clinic has been a huge success, as there is a very high need in these communities.
Current role