Our Team

NMCAN’s team is a group of dedicated professionals, accountable to each other, our Youth Leaders, and the young people we serve.

Board of Directors*

President
Sara Keller
Nusenda Credit Union

Vice President
Stefanie Vigil, MPH, LMSW
Presbyterian Health Services

Treasurer
Sandy Garcia
Community Volunteer / retired from Bank of the West

Carmen C. Meyer RN, BSN, CCM
Independent Healthcare Consultant

Holly Patterson
Change Labs

Laura Rummler
Albuquerque City Council

Staff

Ashley Varela, Senior Advancement Associate

Ashley (she/her/ella) contributes to various aspects of the organizational advancement strategy with a particular focus on grant writing, reporting, and data management. She is a first-generation graduate of the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Studies and a minor in Philosophy. Previously, she was a research assistant at the UNM Political Science department, El Puente research fellow, and an intern at the US House of Representatives for New Mexico’s 3rd District. Ashley is committed to uplifting the experiences of those impacted by systems and finding race-critical ways to use data in driving decision-making and storytelling.

Ezra Spitzer, Co-Executive Director

Ezra (he/him) co-leads the organization to fulfill its mission and oversees the implementation of its strategic goals, objectives, and policies. He joined NMCAN in 2007 and had the privilege of being Executive Director from 2012 to 2022 when NMCAN revised its organizational structure to a co-director model. Previously, he served in the U.S. Peace Corps in the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan where he worked closely with a women’s crisis center and a youth empowerment center to build organizational capacity and cohesive strategies. Ezra also worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, helping resettle political refugees, and has mentored youth from the juvenile justice system as they transition to adulthood. Ezra holds a Master of Public Administration and previously served on the NM Children’s Court Improvement Commission and the NM State Workforce Board.

Lorilynn Violanta, Co-Executive Director

Lorilynn (she/her) co-leads the organization to fulfill its mission and oversees the implementation of its strategic goals, objectives, and policies. From 2015-2022, Lorilynn served as Director of Advancement, guiding fundraising, communications, public relations, and strategic partnerships. Lorilynn is dedicated to advancing socially just and influential change in our community, and prior to joining NMCAN, she managed a $2 million portfolio at Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. She also guided fundraising activities for The Posse Foundation and Free Arts of Arizona. Lorilynn has a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College in New York City.

Taylor Skidmore, Enrichment Associate

Taylor (she/her/hers) strives to ensure the effective implementation of organizational programming through developing community-centered events and providing resources to better support young people in the community. She received a Bachelor’s Degree from Knox College in Anthropology and Sociology with a minor in Business Management. During her college career, she was an intern with the Community Hygiene Pantry of Galesburg, a non-profit focused on providing free hygiene products to the community and uplifting members of the community. Additionally, she conducted research with Knox College’s Department of Anthropology and Sociology that focused on transitional life periods for women and their impact on relationship dynamics. Taylor is passionate about creating a community of genuine, equitable care and is driven to fully implement NMCAN’s mission into the work she does every day.

Yvonne Gallegos-Schobel, Director of Leadership Enrichment

Yvonne (she/her) provides direction for the Leadership Enrichment team at NMCAN. She began her journey of community activism and systems change while working for Albuquerque Public Schools. She helped unhoused families navigate the educational system while working at the Title I Homeless Program. She continued her work in the school system by helping to develop processes and resources for students with disabilities to gain skills and maintain meaningful employment. She later went on to coordinate and manage strategic partnerships, such as food insecurity and basic needs. During her time at APS she was honored by the Board of Education for her work supporting students in the foster care system, as well as being named as Equity Champion.

Zoë Luh, Operations Associate

Zoë (they/she) works to improve efficiency within organizational and operational processes. They received a B.A. in Comparative American Studies with a concentration in Identity and Diversity, and a minor in Studio Art from Oberlin College. Zoë has previous experience working with systems-affected families and individuals, both through the Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico (SHCNM) and the Juvenile Justice Coalition (JJC), and has also worked as an abortion doula, an accessibility coordinator, and facilitator. As a student, she worked as the Environmental Sustainability Liaison on Student Senate, and created the Disability Equity Working Group. Zoë is rooted in the politics and poetics of community care, aiming to center community care, reciprocity, and radical hope in all aspects of their life. 

*The Board of Directors meets the second Friday of every other month; please call us at 505-217-0220 for more information.