Barbara Sorenson became president of Vecinos Unidos in 2006 after joining the board of directors in 2005. A former grammar school teacher in Los Angeles, CA, and substitute teacher in Fairfax County, VA, she joined the ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education, which was located at the Council for Exceptional Children, as User Services Coordinator for the clearinghouse in 1990. She retired in 2001 to pursue volunteer work with Vecinos Unidos. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Oklahoma State University. Barbara received a benchmark award from Volunteer Fairfax in 2006. In 2009 she received a benchmark award for 1,000 hours of yearly service and was the winner of the Adult Volunteer Award for volunteers with over 250 hours. Barbara continues with the VU homework assistance program twice a week.
John Porter joined the board in 2005. He is the vice president of Vecinos Unidos and the Connections for Hope representative, and he volunteers twice a week in the homework assistance program. He has 40 years of experience as an editor and a reporter for the Oakland Tribune and USA TODAY. He teaches four classes of English as a second language and heads Immigrant Outreach at Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, VA.
Mary Bellamy, joined the board in 2010 and serves as the board’s secretary. Mary, a graduate of Harvard Law School, has been a securities attorney, editor, and nonprofit jack-of-all trades. Her other community activity is serving as the Treasurer/Registrar of Camp Quest Chesapeake, a coed, residential summer camp based on humanist values.
Scott Newman, treasurer, joined the board in March 2010. He is a certified public accountant in the commonwealth of Virginia and is employed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He graduated from Villanova University in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting. He is a member of the Virginia Society of CPAs, Massachusetts Society of CPAs, and the American Institute of CPAs.
Grace Zamora Durán, a weekly VU homework assistance program volunteer, joined the board in 2007. She is an education research analyst with the Research-to-Practice Division in the Office of Special Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education. She works with projects pertaining to disproportionate representation in special education, culturally/linguistically diverse populations, learning disabilities, second language learning/acquisition, dropouts, and curriculum and instruction. Before joining the Department of Education, she was an assistant executive director at the Council for Exceptional Children, a central office administrator, and a special and general education teacher. She has a doctorate in special education with a minor in bilingual education from the University of Arizona.
Bob Searle, has been a volunteer with Vecinos Unidos since 2005 and joined the Board in March 2009. He is a veteran of 21 years in the U.S. Air Force. After leaving the Air Force, he practiced law with the Marriott Hotel Company for 15 years. He is an avid traveler and loves to visit his grandchildren and to root for his beloved Boston Red Sox. He is presently retired. In April 2009 Bob was nominated for a Volunteer Fairfax Service Award for his dedicated work as a volunteer with Vecinos Unidos.
Jan Umphrey, began volunteering at VU in 2008 and joined the board in 2009. After contributing to the community for more than 20 years as a member of the Herndon Optimist Club, she was looking for a way to expand her volunteerism into other areas. Jan is the associate director of publications at the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the editor of Principal Leadership, the association’s magazine. Before entering the nonprofit world, she taught composition and literature at George Mason University. Knowing how important personalized education and relationships are to students’ education, she particularly enjoys working directly with students to help them improve their cognitive skills and learn to love learning.
Uttara Limaye joined the Vecinos Unidos board of directors in 2006. She volunteers weekly with the Homework Assistance Program. Uttara has worked for several multinational companies and some nonprofit organizations in the United States. She also started her own consulting company. She holds degrees in English, Social Sciences and Psychology and has completed a master’s course in management.
Mary Ann Kral joined the board in March 2011. She is an avid volunteer in the community, working with the schools, scouts, and Floris United Methodist Church. She is especially drawn to Vecinos Unidos because she likes working with school-age children. Mary Ann received a BA in Psychology from Miami University. Her favorite hobby is duplicate bridge.