Our Staff

Jenny moved to Downeast Maine in 2005 with her partner Hugh. They have been running an organic blueberry farm among other enterprises and raising their children. She was born and raised in New York City but now considers Maine her home. She has a background in the fields of education and horticulture with a special interest in early childhood development. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, cooking and eating foods from around the world, arts and crafts and walking or hiking anywhere where there are trees or water nearby. She is excited to join the wonderful staff of Rayitos de Sol. 

Agustin moved to Downeast almost 7 years ago from Tabasco, Mexico. He attended Narraguagus High School before graduating in 2022 from the University of Maine at Machias where he studied business management. While in school, he supported Mano en Mano as a volunteer at the Blueberry Harvest School, and is excited to meet new people and support families in his new role as Migrant Education Program Service Coordinator. He loves soccer, math, the outdoors and spending time with families and friends.

Emma was born and raised in Cornwall, Vermont before attending college at Hobart and William Smith, where she graduated with a dual degree in Spanish & Hispanic Studies and Environmental Studies.  Since graduation, Emma has worked in a myriad of roles promoting educational exchange programming worldwide. At Mano en Mano she brings her experience collaborating with local leaders, sharing stories, and working alongside communities to direct the development and growth of our programming.  In her free time, Emma enjoys photography, exploring new coffee shops, and spending time in the outdoors.

Leslie was born and raised in Cali, Colombia. She came to live with her family in New Jersey when she was 10 years old. Leslie graduated from Drew University in 2014 with a major in Environmental Studies and Sustainability, and a minor in Archaeology and French. Right after graduating college she served for AmeriCorps: The Great Basin Institute Nevada Conservation Corps. There her conservation team worked on controlling plant growth for human consumption, helped build a fence for the national park, and planted native trees for conservation purposes. She's very passionate about conserving the environment and loves helping people as much as possible. On her down time, she likes to spend time with her loved ones, play tennis or draw.

Lydia lives in Princeton, Maine with her children and mother. From 2004-2018 she worked alongside her community at Indian Township School, and as a rural carrier for USPS before starting her role at Mano en Mano. She has an Associates Degree in Education and is currently a student at University of Maine Orono and University of Maine Machias working towards a bachelors degree in psychology and wilderness therapy. She is a Family Futures Downeast (FFD) Program graduate with a certificate in Family Studies.  In her free time she enjoys the outdoors, fishing, camping, cooking, motorcycles, and attending music concerts. Her family has been part of the MEP program and she is excited to use her experience and knowledge to work alongside families and staff.

Dayana was born and raised in Downeast Maine, although she enjoys visiting Michoacán Mexico, where both her parents are from. Some of her favorite things to do while in Mexico include eating some of her favorite meals, visiting family members, and going on evening walks.

Dayana is currently enrolled at The University Of Maine At Machias where she is studying business & Entrepreneurship with a minor in Psychology. While in Middle and High School Dayana volunteered in multiple Mano en Mano events, which inspired her to continue helping and grow closer to her community. She is excited to see what new opportunities hold for her .

Angely was born and raised in Puerto Rico before moving to Maine in 2017 with her husband and daughter. She graduated in 2013 from Escuela Superior Lleana De Gracia in Puerto Rico and is a member of Nuestra Voz en la Comunidad. Angely has worked with children for many years, and has ample experience taking care of and supporting children, especially children with special needs. She is excited to join the Rayitos de Sol team because she loves sharing her knowledge with children, watching them grow and supporting them to meet all of their needs. In her free time she likes to spend time at home, watching movies with her daughter.

Juana first came to Maine 20 years ago to participate in Maine’s wild blueberry harvest. Her active participation over the years and her commitment to sharing her knowledge and experience with other parents led her to become an AmeriCorps Member with Mano en Mano in 2014. Through this position, Juana was involved in a range of activities such as creating short non-fiction informational videos for other parents, helping to coordinate bi-lingual learning activities for families, and co-presenting about her experiences at national and regional events. Juana was hired as a full-time member of the team in 2016, and promoted to Program Director in 2019. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in education from the University of Maine at Machias and General Elementary (K-8) Teacher Certification from the Maine Department of Education. In 2015, Juana received national recognition as migrant parent of the year from the National Association of State Directors of Migrant Education, and in 2021 she recieved the Marcia Lovell Award for her work at Rayitos de Sol, as well as the 2021 Francis Perkins Open Door Award. In 2021 Juana took the role of interim Executive Director, before transitioning permanently into the role of Executive Director in 2022. Juana is a member of the Boards of Directors of Healthy Acadia, The Women’s Health Resource Library and the Friends of the Milbridge Public Library. She is also a commissioner on the Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous, and Tribal Populations of Maine.