Meet the Team
Kevin Yonkers-Talz, M.Ed., M.S.Co-Director, Casa de la Solidaridad
Kevin is immensely proud of his four daughters–Sophia (10), Grace (8), Hannah (5), and Emma (1) and absolutely loves being a father. He is grateful for his work, which allows him to integrate working with college students and with people living in poverty. Kevin's academic interests lie in college student development theory and theology. He studied economics and psychology at Fairfield University and received his M.S. in college student personnel services from Miami University. He then studied at Boston College (M.Ed.) and is currently finishing a doctoral degree in international and multicultural education from the University of San Francisco. Trena Yonkers-Talz, M.Ed., M.S.Co-Director, Casa de la SolidaridadTrena loves how working with the Casa program enables her to connect her vocations as a mom and as an educator. She loves being mom to her four daughters (Sophia, Grace, Hannah, and Emma). With the Casa program, she most enjoys spending time in the praxis site communities with the students. In both of her jobs, she is constantly learning about life and love and being reminded how alive God is in our world. Her academic interests lie in college student development theory and liberation/feminist theology. She studied accounting as an undergrad at Grand Valley State University and received her M.S. in college student personnel services from Miami University and an M.Ed. in religious education from Boston College. She also enjoys running, baking cookies, and exploring Central America with her family. Trena also has a strong connection to her roots in Hastings, Michigan, where she grew up on a goat, sheep, and asparagus farm. Trena and Kevin worked with Jesuit Volunteers: International in Belize, Central America for two years prior to their work in El Salvador. They are the co-founders of the Casa de la Solidaridad which began in 1999. Sullivan Oakley
Community Coordinator, Casa ItaSullivan is a recent graduate of Marquette University, where she studied creative writing and theology, among other things. She was born and raised in Quincy, IL, where her parents, Lisa and Ralph, and her older sister Allison and brother-in-law Dustin, still reside today. She feels grateful and blessed to have this opportunity to return to El Salvador and walk with the beautiful Casa staff, students and Salvadoran people once again. Sullivan finds liberation through spoken word poetry, coffee dates, late night conversations, good works of fiction, folk music, her grandmother’s cooking and hip-hop dancing. She believes her future plans are best described through the lyrics of Eef Barzelay’s, “I Love the Unknown.” They ask him, “Hey where is this bus going?” And he said, “Well, I’m really not sure.” “Well then how will you know where to get off?” And he said, “The place with the most allure!” Quentin Orem
Community Coordinator, Casa RomeroQuentin was born in southern California and raised on Mercer Island, Washington. He proudly attended Santa Clara University, home the Broncos, and graduated in 2011 degree in philosophy. He is the proud brother of Lizzie, 17, and Hannah, 13 and son of Peggie and David Orem. Quentin studied at the Casa as a senior in the Fall of 2010 and he is incredibly humbled at the opportunity to return again to this community for another year. Quentin enjoys playing basketball, board games, writing, reading, and conversations. When thinking about the future, he knows that as a CC he will learn and grow in ways he cannot expect, but for now he has hopes of someday being a professor as SCU. Sarah Young
Community Coordinator, Casa SilviaSarah was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, where she always looks forward to returning when she has the opportunity to go home. Spending time with her supportive parents, Jane and Keith, is always a blessing. They love to cook delicious dinners together and go on bike rides. Sarah graduated from Saint Louis University in 2010 with a degree in occupational science and again in 2011 with a degree in occupational therapy. She studied abroad with the Casa de la Solidaridad in spring 2008 and was impacted by how inspiring and liberating the Casa and Salvadoran communities were. She is ready to share in life here again with this community, and she is beyond grateful to learn from and with everyone she encounters along this journey. Sarah loves good conversations over coffee and tea, running, delicious food, snail mail, writing in her journal, and being outdoors. She plans on discerning her next steps throughout this year and is looking forward to hopefully engaging in occupational therapy in a nontraditional way in the near future. Lidia, Francisca, Lupita, Zarita, and Rosa
Casa CooksLidia, Francisca, Lupita, Zarita, and Rosa comprise one of the most important teams on staff. They serve the Casa students in a variety of ways: as support people, as educators about the lives of average Salvadorans, and as cooks. Lidia has worked as a cook with the Jesuits for over 17 years. Elba Ramos, the housekeeper who was murdered with the Jesuits, taught her how to cook. Each semester, students reflect on the immense importance that these wise women have on their experience. We are grateful they are on staff. Clara Villatoro
Administrative Assistance/Communications SpecialistOriginally from San Salvador, Clara graduated from the University of Central America (UCA) in October 2006 with a major in communications. She worked as a journalist for La Prensa Gráfica three years in the area of public health. Clara finished her master's degree from the Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea in Spain during 2009. Now she works with the Casa program but also is writing economics reports from Central America for a Colombian magazine. Clara loves coffee! But she also enjoys writing, reading, traveling (especially with friends), and spending time with her family. Romero Scholarship Student Program
The Romero Program is a Salvadoran sister program of the Casa de la Solidaridad. It began in August 2004 as a small group of scholarship students who lived with the Casa students, and since has grown to support more than 25 Salvadoran university students. Griselda and Julio were some of the first Salvadoran students who began the Romero Program, and after much experience with the Casa, they are now working full time as co-coordinators of the Romero Program. Griselda ReyesCo-coordinator, Romero ProgramGriselda has worked with the Romero Program since 2004. She graduated with a major in business administration from the University of Central America and studied for one semester at Santa Clara University in an exchange program. Gris is originally from Mariona, a town near San Salvador. She loves spending time with her family, especially her husband, Nelson, and her one-year-old son, Davisito. Julio PerezCo-coordinator, Romero ProgramJulio has worked with the Romero Program since 2004. He graduated from the University of Central America with a major in accounting. He is originally from Los Sitios, Jayaque in La Libertad. He loves telling jokes, dancing, and peaches. He also enjoys spending time with his family, especially his young nieces and nephews. |
 |
