Meet the Team

The board

Janette Pacheco - Executive Director: President

Born and raised on Chicago’s Northwest Side, Janette is a bilingual graduate of the City Colleges of Chicago. With roots in Puerto Rico through her parents, she now owns her own real estate brokerage in the city. Janette is passionate about empowering women and serving as a voice for seniors, youth, and the often-overlooked community of Hermosa. She is married to Scott, who grew up in Hermosa and shares her deep understanding of the challenges faced by the underserved neighborhood.

 

alma krueser - vice president

Alma, a founding member of the HNA and a lifelong Chicagoan, has been deeply connected to the Hermosa neighborhood since 1980. Having witnessed the community's lack of resources and attention over the years, she and her fellow founding members were inspired to establish the HNA in 2015. Alma is passionate about issues such as education and protecting our youth and seniors— our most vulnerable. Her goal is to "bring back the hermosa in Hermosa," creating a safe space for youth while fostering unity, safety, and beautification throughout the neighborhood

 

Diana Rodriguez - Board Member

Born and raised in Hermosa, Diana is a lifelong Chicago resident and a CPS graduate with a Bachelors from Northeastern Illinois University. She works as a flight attendant and is a recent breast cancer survivor hoping to bring more awareness and resources to the Latino community. She is dedicated to working with the community to create a safe and inviting space for our youth and fellow residents.

 

the staff

marlene gutierrez - youth program manager

A longtime member of the Hermosa community, Marlene is a college graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. As a mother and aunt, she believes that knowledge is power and that empowering the youth will help them grow and develop. As Program Manager, she’s eager to expand the youth program and give the youth of Hermosa a safe space to learn and develop new skills.

 

lus pineda - after school associate

Born and raised on the Northwest Side of Chicago in the Logan Square and Hermosa neighborhoods, Lus is passionate about building an inclusive community where everyone feels safe, seen, and —most importantly —heard. You can often find her with a book and an iced coffee in hand, raving about her latest stationery find! Lus plays a crucial role in keeping our youth programs running and is affectionately referred to as our "Office Guru."

 

nydia monroy - community outreach ambassador

Nydia has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from Washington University in St. Louis and is a longtime resident of Hermosa. She has community engagement experience and a record of supporting underserved communities. Nydia has bridged her career in marketing with her drive to amplify inclusivity and empower communities. In her free time, she enjoys Latin dance classes, exploring Chicago’s diverse food scene, and experimenting with new recipes at home.

 

our volunteers

marlene diaz - cricut instructor

Born and raised in Chicago, Marlene grew up in Hermosa and recently became a licensed paraprofessional. She has been actively involved in various community organizations such as LSNA, serving as a youth leader, a parent mentor at Belmont Cragin School and participates in the Parent Advisory Council. Marlene has found a way to merge her passions by teaching children in our community the creative possibilities they can explore with Cricut, inspiring them to one day become entrepreneurs in our neighborhood.

 

jose burgos - 3D instructor

Jose was born in Puerto Rico and came to Chicago at 17 to attend Columbia College where he received a degree in film and video with a concentration in computer animation and 3D modeling. He is a Client Success Manager for a software development company based in Chicago. Jose started his own Technology Consulting Company assisting a non-for-profit mental health organization. He enjoys many hobbies such as: 3D modeling and printing, flying drones, oil painting, gardening - anything to do with nature, but most of all, traveling!

 

mikaela o’malley - web development & Video production

Born and raised on Chicago's Northwest side, Mikaela has developed a close fondness for the wide array of communities present in her local area. As a UIC Business Scholars Alum, she has been able to lend her educational background to empower Hermosa Neighborhood Association’s endeavors. In her free time, she loves to read nonfiction, cook delicious food, skateboard, and shoot film photography.

 

daniela rozo - tutor

Daniela is a music industry professional currently working at Chicago a cappella, a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to advancing the art of ensemble singing as the Marketing and Production Coordinator. Beyond her role with CAC, she is actively involved in various roles within the music industry such as artist management and booking. Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Daniela and her family moved to Chicago when she was 11. She received a degree in Marketing from DePaul University in 2019.

 

karla robles - workshop art instructor

Karla is currently one of the lead craft instructors for the HNA. Having grown up in the Portage Park area, she is very familiar with the Northwest neighborhoods of the city. She has obtained past experience with helping out various different communities in Chicago throughout the years. With an interest in crafts and anything creative, she is also currently studying Marketing at her University to pursue a digital marketing career.

We are so grateful for our past volunteer directors: Annabel Helmer- Lynn, Alex Granados, Rebecca Rodriguez, Lee Helmer, Alfonso Vinaja, Kaytlin Bush, Casey Guerra, Karen Muñoz, Marilynn Lopez, Sean Elliot, Maria Villagomez, Angela Becker Serrano, Jenna Sigman, Kristen Pratt Kalaman, Joelle McCalla (Founder), Sadiki McCalla (Founder), Leonardo Giron, Joshua "Xeno" Martinez (Founder), Steven Wozny (Founder), Alejandra Fleck (Founder), Matilda Montalvo-Lugo (Founder), and Colin Bird Martinez (Founder).