Nancy is a Salvadoran American artist and educator from Washington DC. Her love for supporting and empowering youth in DC has been the center of her career for a decade and her passion for organizing has stemmed from the women in her family, who have always been known to take action and make change. She began her career in DCPS, where she was an educator for five years with a concentration on supporting immigrant students and their families and teaching English as a second language. She transitioned from that role into the nonprofit sector, where she deepened her knowledge of systemic oppression and strengthened her community organizing. At Critical Exposure, she is a Program Coordinator where she leads an introductory program called Stories For Action and supports programming at our partner schools. She is currently working towards a BA in Human Relations at Trinity Washington University and in her free time she loves to dance with her salsa performing team, write bilingual poetry, collage, swim in the ocean, play sports, and daydream.

A writer, passionate advocate, and nonprofit professional, Nicole learned how to organize from her aunt and grandparents who, at an early age, exposed her to collective action by those most impacted demanding equity. She was taught by her mother to ask as many questions as satisfied her curiosity. A fourth-generation Washingtonian, she graduated from Trinity University with a Bachelor's in Political Science and her Master's in Organizational Development from American University, both in Washington, DC. She has spent her career focused on creating more equitable, people-focused organizations through training and conversation around racial equity and inclusion; community organizing and client engagement; advocacy; strategic growth and planning; and navigating change and conflict. Most recently, she was the Senior Director of Community Relations at the DC Public Charter School Board, where she managed public engagement on behalf of the board. She likes traveling, sunflowers, unicorns, the enneagram, and being in nature.

Talia was born in Washington, DC, raised in Silver Spring, MD and has been a resident of DC since 2014. Her interest in social justice work began to take shape while she was studying abroad and volunteering at an after-school program in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Following this experience, Talia channeled her deep frustration with systemic oppression into her work in education and community organizing. Talia loves reading fiction, creating art, speaking Spanish, and advocating for self-care. She is excited to work alongside the amazing young people CE engages.