Our Team
Convivir Colorado
Diverse Origins, Shared Futures
Tania Chairez
CEO & Founder
Tania is an undocumented immigrant with the privilege of DACA who was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.
For the past decade, Tania has prioritized her passion for the intersection of immigration and education as a grassroots community organizer for immigrant rights and as an educator in secondary and post-secondary spaces.
Karen Nuñez Sifuentes
Programs Contractor
Tiffany Smesrud
Operations Manager
Vanessa Quevedo Barrios
Programs Contractor
Yesenia Hernandez
Spanish Outreach Contractor
Tri Nguyen
Vietnamese Outreach Contractor
Melany Muñoz
Executive Assistant & Facilitation Contractor
Jose Morales
Partnerships Contractor
Esmeralda Perez
Curriculum Contractor
Jadyn Nguyen
Conviviendo Contractor
Tania Chairez
CEO & Founder
Karen Nuñez Sifuentes
She/her/ella
Programs Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Undocumented immigrant from Mexico
- Professional background: BS in Biochemistry, entrepreneur, social justice advocate, researcher, community organizer, program coordinator
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Weaver
- Personal interests/hobbies: Traveling, storytelling, poetry
- Focus areas within Convivir: Mentorship program, Speaker’s Collective, Summer Program
Tiffany Smesrud
She/her/ella
Operations Manager
- Relationship to migration: First-Generation American
- Professional background: Educator
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Builder
- Personal interests/hobbies: Volleyball, movies, eating, traveling
- Focus areas within Convivir: Data and evaluation, event logistics, financial processes, communications
Vanessa Quevedo Barrios
She/her/ella
Programs Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Immigrant from Mexico
- Professional background: Scientist, Arabic scholar, chemistry Ph.D student, community organizer
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Experimenter
- Personal interests/hobbies: Dancing, languages, painting, traveling
- Focus areas within Convivir: Arts and Conversation Series, Youth Leadership Council
Yesenia Hernandez
She/her/ella
Spanish Outreach Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Immigrant from Mexico
- Professional background: Sales, operations, customer service, Aurora Public Schools volunteer
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Caregiver
- Personal interests/hobbies: Time with family, karaoke, dance, travel
- Focus areas within Convivir: Parent engagement, Spanish outreach, Cafecitos
Tri Nguyen
He/him/él
Vietnamese Outreach Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Immigrant from Vietnam
- Professional background: Financial Technology
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Disruptor
- Personal interests/hobbies: Fishing, gardening, and sports
- Focus areas within Convivir: Parent engagement, Vietnamese outreach
Melany Muñoz
She/her/ella
Executive Assistant & Facilitation Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Immigrant from Merida, Yucatan
- Professional background: Student at MSU Denver, pursuing BA in public health with a concentration in community health work and education
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Guide/Healer
- Personal interests/hobbies: Paddle boarding, working out/being active, and trying new food
- Focus areas within Convivir: Executive Assistant to CEO and Arts and Conversation facilitator
Jose Morales
He/him/él
Partnerships Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Immigrant
- Professional background: Hospitality and Tourism
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Storyteller
- Personal interests/hobbies: Working out and reading
- Focus areas within Convivir: Partnerships and school enrichment
Esmeralda Perez
She/her/ella
Curriculum Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Immigrant
- Professional background: Education
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Weaver
- Personal interests/hobbies: Reading, hiking, trying new food
- Focus areas within Convivir: Curriculum design and facilitation
Jadyn Nguyen
He/him/él
Conviviendo Contractor
- Relationship to migration: Refugee
- Professional background: Education, Storytelling, and Relationship Building
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Storyteller
- Personal interests/hobbies: Biking, listening to music, spending time with loved ones
- Focus areas within Convivir: Conviviendo Podcast
Tania Chairez
She/her/ella
CEO & Founder
- Relationship to migration: UndocuQueer immigrant from Mexico with the temporary protection of DACA
- Professional background: Educator, community organizer, public speaker
- Social Change Ecosystem role: Visionary
- Personal interests/hobbies: Reading by rivers and oceans, Latin dancing, movie marathons
- Focus areas within Convivir: Financial development, people leadership, UndocuFriendly professional development, school partnerships