Staff

Claudia Alvarez – Community Organizer

Claudia (pronouns: ella/she/her) is the Community Organizer. She studied Computer Systems Engineering at the Technological University of Mexico and has twelve years of experience developing and directing systems projects for national companies in Mexico such as banks, hospitals, and cinemas. Claudia also has a Diploma in Project Planning and Management from the Universidad Tecnológica de Monterrey.  She worked for several years as a project leader, and she and her team had several achievements in the systems area. In Mexico, apart from work and studies, she dedicated time to help people who needed to learn something or to help them find better opportunities. She is a mentor and leader and strengthens people she comes in contact through her empowerment and collective mindset. 

Claudia came to the United States in 2017 for family reasons and got to know CIF first as a member. She really appreciated the organization for the interest they have to help immigrants succeed. Her  first friends and colleagues were people from Guatemala she met in Centreville. As a program member, she soon took on a leadership role on the “directiva” an advisory committee of the Board of Directors representing the membership base, or clients served. She was also appointed to the Board of Directors in 2019. Claudia served on the board until hired April 2021 to continue to be an active voice of the community as a part-time women’s empowerment organizer. She has grown in her role and in November 2021 became CIF’s full time Community Organizer.

Claudia’s connection with the community informed by her lived experience as a program and board member making her an asset to CIF’s staff and represents the leadership of the community served. Claudia continues to learn in her role and has taken an active role in advocacy efforts and continues to learn English to improve her skills.

Claudia really likes to play basketball. She played on various teams and created new women’s teams to train and compete in basketball tournaments. Her favorite hobbies are spending time with family and friends, seeing new places, and traveling a lot. 

Samantha Zaboli – Interim Executive Director

Samantha (pronouns: ella/she/her) is CIF’s Interim Executive Director. She graduated from Virginia Polytechnic and State University where she majored in International Studies with a focus on Global Development and Politics and Policies and minored in Spanish.  She also took courses in Conflict Transformation and Restorative Justice. She is a child of immigrants from the middle east, representing Arabic and Persian cultures and grew up with a deep appreciation for diverse experiences. She has in her professional career worked to promote a more inclusive and diverse workforce; and has done so internationally and domestically. She has worked alongside individuals with distinct stories, experiences, and backgrounds and understands that including these perspectives and unique contributions are crucial for equitable growth. Samantha is a firm advocate for social justice recognizing that being intentional and in a state of constant progress is a necessity. This belief informs her work and allows her to centralize powerbuilding within the community she serves through empowerment and education.

Samantha began her affiliation with CIF in 2018 where she held the position of Labor Center Manager. She formed a strong connection with the community and continued her affiliation through volunteering and contract work while working in a larger management role. She has business management and finance experience and enjoys building relationships to foster better communication, support and growth for communities and organizations. She returned to CIF in 2022 as Development Manager and has use her transferable skills to promote its great work. She now holds the position of Interim Executive Director, a unanimous appointment from the board of directors, with support from community members and staff. 

Samantha is happily married and she and her partner have two boys. She loves to travel and learn new things, especially languages! She is currently learning American Sign Language (ASL). Her free time is spent with family and friends outdoors. 

Vania Torres – Program Manager 

Vania (pronouns: ella/she/her) is CIF’s Program Manager, she graduated from the Bolivian Catholic University “San Pablo” UCB (Bolivia) with two Master’s Degrees in “Corporate and Business Law”, and “Civil Construction and Real Estate”. Her specialty is in Agrarian and Environmental Law,  with vast experience in negotiating with indigenous communities in rural areas to help and facilitate its people with the process of regularization of their land ownership rights. Moreover, she has worked with indigenous communities and environmental groups on projects for the reforestation of legally protected areas for the conservation of nature with its associated ecosystem services and cultural values.

Vania is a business leader and before coming to the United States, she was the CEO and partner of a Construction Company for about 10 years, overseeing all business operations and decisions. As well as an independent attorney advising individuals and companies.

One of her great passions is to negotiate and reconcile, she did so in many of her projects with indigenous and impoverished peoples and communities, she was also a volunteer for service, helping and supporting different undertakings to raise funds for children’s hospitals in Bolivia.

Vania is married, and a mother of four boys, in February 2020 she moved to the States, a month before the start of the unprecedented pandemic of COVID19, it was a hard start, far away from home, missing family, friends, and her company. Dealing with very limited opportunities to establish herself and start a new life normally, due to the restrictions and confinements globally imposed to cope with the pandemic.

Vania thinks positively and believes that God has plans for each one of us in this world and that we must always see life with faith, courage, and perseverance. This plan has brought her to the US.  Now that she is part of CIF, she is very grateful to continue doing what she has always liked, developing projects and contributing to improving the living conditions of the members of this wonderful community.