Deportes para la Vida Fellow

Judith Ravin is a former Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. Department of State. Her most recent assignment was in India as Consul General at U.S. Consulate General Chennai. Judith’s career in diplomacy includes postings in Peru, Washington DC on the Haiti Desk, Pakistan, Dominican Republic, Sudan, Cameroon, and Mexico. Judith joined the State Department in 2003 following many years working in Asia, Africa, and Latin America as an editor, translator, and journalist. She did her undergraduate work at universities in France and Spain, in addition to the United States, and holds a Master’s Degree in Romance Languages and Literatures from Harvard University. Judith is with DREAM as a Deportes para la Vida Fellow, providing support as well to Padres Unidos por la Familia and Luchadores por el Cambio. She looks forward to fostering youth leadership while learning from the DREAM immersion experience and contributing to ever-more resilient communities.

A Ganar Fellow

Nicole Ramirez, a Mexican-American from Los Angeles, California, has dedicated herself to the realm of non-profit work, focusing on education and youth development. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2021 from the State University of New York at Potsdam, she continued her academic journey, obtaining a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership in 2022 from the same institution. She recently earned TEFL certification from ACCET, a credential recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Nicole's non-profit journey extends across Vermont, New York, and California. As a youth mentor for MENTOR Vermont, she guided and tutored children aged 6-12, nurturing their academic growth and social development. Complementing this role, Nicole served as a sports coach for the non-profit Special Olympics, actively fostering inclusivity, health education, and leadership development among children with intellectual disabilities. In her recent position as Volunteer Coordinator at Neighborhood Homework House, a Southern California non-profit offering after-school tutoring to lower-income students, Nicole led volunteer management and tutor recruitment. At the same time, she contributed to building important community partnerships, extending the services to better assist students in need within the community. Rooted in a deep commitment to empowering young minds and advancing educational equity, Nicole is embarking on a new journey with the DREAM Project. Joining as an ESL Teacher and Youth Development Fellow within the A Ganar program, she looks forward to bringing her knowledge and passion for service to positively impact the youth and communities of the Dominican Republic.