About Our Team
MEET THE TEAM
Our Staff
Our staff members are the backbone of the day-to-day operations and impact. They are dedicated individuals who are passionate about the organization’s mission and work tirelessly to achieve its goals. They are the heart and soul of the organization, and their contributions make a significant difference in the lives of those served by the organization.
Edgar Lara, Director of Community Engagement
Edgar grew up in California’s central valley where he spent several summers as a migrant worker throughout California. Despite the challenges and obstacles faced having an undocumented single mother in a largely undocumented community, it gave him the strong work ethic, values, and sense of community and justice he carries in his work. After high school, he joined the Marine Corps where he was exposed to many countries and cultures, including deployment to the Middle East. He received his B.S. in Business Economics from UCLA and worked in consulting and business finance for a decade, during which he arrived in Charlottesville in 2012. The rise of hate, demonization of immigrants, and attacks on our society’s most vulnerable communities prompted him to step away from his career to dedicate more time to helping give our local Hispanic immigrant population a voice and supporting them through Sin Barreras.
Chayla Rowley, Volunteer Manager
Chayla’s life journey has taken her from Maputo (Mozambique) to Charlottesville with many stops in between. Her education includes a BS and MS in Civil Engineering for Developing Communities from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a MA in Refugee Integration from Dublin City University in Ireland. Her diverse career includes time as a civil engineer in the U.S. government conserving natural resources and promoting civil rights to working for Sin Barreras – twice! Chayla understands very well just how much life can change and what a difference it makes to have caring people alongside you throughout those changes. She feels honored to facilitate caring connections at Sin Barreras through her role as Volunteer Coordinator.
Shirley Varela, Education Program Manager
Shirley was born in Palmira, Colombia, grew up in Queens, NYC, and has lived in North Carolina for the past 12 years. Her career has ranged from working with extension programs at Universities to corporate jobs in education and technology, always with a focus on program or project management. Shirley holds a MS in Family Life and Youth Development from North Carolina State University, focusing on Nonprofit Management and Latino Leadership. As an immigrant, she understands the community’s struggles and feels strongly about the power of education on the community. She believes that at Sin Barreras, we can help break the barriers and limitations that the community faces and help provide educational programs tailored to their needs.
Martin Nieto, Office Manager (Waynesboro)
Martin Nieto Flores is a civil engineer originally from Mexico City. After training at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, he settled in Monterrey in the state of Nuevo León where he raised his family. In 2020, Martin moved to the United States and now resides in Waynesboro, VA. He has worked as an HVAC, electrical and plumbing technician for many years. Recently, he joined the Sin Barreras team to provide support to the Hispanic community in his area. He is familiar with the challenges and struggles the immigrant community faces through personal experience as well as through his network. Martin is passionate about helping others and is proud to be able to use his skills to make a positive impact.
Chris Padilla, Office Administrator
Born in Texas, Chris studied architecture at Iowa State University in Ames. He spent several years in the US Marine Corps, where he performed many administrative and supervisory duties and completed advanced individual training in leadership and personnel administration. He continued in administrative work for several years after leaving full-time military service. Currently a member of the US Navy Reserve, Chris has an interest in public service, especially when it comes to supporting the mission of Sin Barreras.
Alejandra Gonzalez , Education and Client Services Coordinator
Alejandra, originally from Venezuela, pursued studies in the US and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, she has a deep appreciation for artistic expression and cultural sensitivity. Her professional background includes three years as a bench jeweler and experience managing her own design studio. At Sin Barreras, Alejandra is committed to supporting and empowering the immigrant community through education, outreach, and client services. She strongly believes in the power of education as a tool for community empowerment and success. Alejandra is also deeply interested in psychology and personal growth, often drawing from these areas in her approach to helping others.
Ximena Lopez, Office Support
Ximena grew up in Charlottesville and knows Sin Barreras from the other side as a client and member of our community. She is new to the nonprofit world, but has had multiple customer facing positions, and is organized and focused, which serves her well in this position
