Juan is the Director of Community Organizing at the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, where he coordinates efforts to create and preserve affordable housing, support small businesses and promote equity. Throughout his career he has been committed to leadership development and community education. In his home country of Guatemala, he worked for the Universidad de San Carlos and the United Nations Development Program, empowering rural communities in the management of their natural resources. In 2010, Juan became Chair of the ArtCorps Board of Directors.

I admire people who go to the rural areas in Central America to promote human development, adjusting to challenging daily life conditions, co-existing with local communities and engaging in creative projects that yield meaningful change.

Many years ago, when ArtCorps was still a vision, I was invited to participate in a focus group to brainstorm ideas about an arts-based program in Central America that would support local community development efforts with assistance from artists. It has been privilege to watch ArtCorps evolve informed by clear results on the ground and on ongoing commitment to strengthening local organizations.

Following a recent visit to Central America, I can assure you that artistic expression and creative thinking are at the foundation of community life and social change in the communities where ArtCorps partners and artists work. ArtCorps is making a difference!