Sandra Aviles Poe joined Charlottesville United for Public Education (CUPE) as community organizer in October 2022. She brings to CUPE her experience as a mother, immigrant and Charlottesville local, and is inspired by a passion for positive change. Born in Los Altos Jalisco, México, Sandra is a first generation immigrant and a 2008 graduate of Monticello High School. Aviles is using her time as a fellow to develop a Community Engagers pilot program for CUPE. The program will assign community engagers, or community representatives, to serve families in marginalized communities by representing their interests with Albemarle County Schools and Charlottesville City Schools. Aviles says that collecting feedback on what works and does not work from parents will lead to intentional action and solutions that serve both the school districts and the communities they serve.
NyShae’ Carter is the Administrative Coordinator for the Programs department at the University of Virginia Center for Politics. She has also served as the Development Coordinator and Finance Administrative Coordinator. Carter is using her time as a fellow to develop Renewing Mindsets, an after-school enrichment program for students in pre-K through second grade. She hopes that the CFR program will help Renewing Mindsets connect with teachers to align its after-school programming using students' curricula in and tutors from local schools and community-serving organizations.