PERSONAL DE LA SANTA CRUZ MINISTERIOS
EQUIPO DE ADMINISTRACIÓN
Emmie Gardner
egardner@hcmutah.org
Emmie Gardner
Emmie is a passionate, mission-driven leader with a 30-year history working in healthcare in a variety of clinical and administrative roles including mental health, cancer care, and senior services. She is a licensed clinical social worker, earning her MSW from the University of Utah along with a graduate certification in Mediation and Conflict Resolution. Emmie is skilled in non-profit organizations serving on several local not-for-profit organization boards, enjoys advocacy and public speaking, and promotes staff development and team building.
Lauren Fields
lfields@hcmutah.org
Lauren Fields
Lauren joined HCM as the Communications Specialist in August 2019. Prior to that, she spent several years as a writer, content manager, and digital marketer at Deseret News and Utah Humanities. Lauren earned an MA in English from Brigham Young University in 2016 and taught freshman composition courses during her graduate program. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, running, and knitting.
Daisy Empey
dempey@hcmutah.org
Daisy Empey
Daisy grew up in North Carolina, however, she grew up in a Mexican home. She first joined Holy Cross Ministries as a Spanish translation intern. After finishing her bachelor’s degree in Spanish translation at Brigham Young University, Daisy joined HCM as a client support specialist. She is a newlywed and loves going on adventures with her husband. They love rock climbing, scuba diving, volleyball, spikeball, video games and eating tacos.
Citlali Jauregui
cjauregui@hcmutah.org
Citlali Jauregui!
Citlali was born in Jalisco, Mexico, and immigrated to the U.S. at the age of seven. She graduated from the University of Utah with a BS in communications and a minor in economics. Prior to HCM, Citlali worked as a pharmacy representative at Molina Healthcare and has had the opportunity to intern at Make-A-Wish Utah. During her free time, Citlali enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. She likes to fish, hike, camp, paint, and draw.
Jessica Lerma
jlerma@hcmutah.org
Jessica Lerma
Jessica is Holy Cross Ministries’ Finance Specialist. She has been involved with Holy Cross Ministries since 2003 when she volunteered at People’s Health Center and Afterschool Program. From 2010 to 2012, she was part of Holy Cross Ministries’ Mission and Planning Committee and the Board of Trustees representing the Hispanic community. Her passion for Holy Cross Ministries’ services inspired her in such a way that she joined their team in 2012 as Client Support Specialist and soon after as a paralegal in the Legal Immigration Program. Jessica earned an associate’s degree and is attending Utah Valley University majoring in business management. She loves coming to work and being part of the great impact Holy Cross Ministries has in our communities.
EQUIPO DE SALUD
Margarite Allen
mallen@hcmutah.org
Margarite Allen
Margarite joined HCM’s team as Promotora Coordinator in January of 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Utah and an S.S.W. license. Ms. Allen has over 10 years of experience working with victims of domestic violence/sexual assault, as well as a wealth of knowledge working in a community health settings. She firmly believes in empowering women through education and healthy lifestyles. Margarite enjoys spending time with her family and friends in her spare time. Weather permitting, you are likely to find her outdoors, riding her bike (she has completed several century rides to help raise money for cancer research.)
Ivonne Campbell
icampbell@hcmutah.org
Ivonne Campbell
Ivonne specializes in trauma treatment and has experience working with child and adult survivors of domestic abuse and other types of trauma. She earned both a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Utah. Ivonne started college with plans to become a high school math teacher. But during her first student teaching assignment, she realized she was much more interested in helping her students improve their mental health, so she decided to pursue social work. Ivonne is from Chile originally and immigrated to the United States at age 29. She loves being able to draw on her own experience as an immigrant while helping clients and appreciates that Holy Cross Ministries offers wraparound services to assist clients with a wide variety of basic needs. In her free time, Ivonne enjoys spending time in nature, especially near lakes, rivers and oceans.
Jakelinne Capella-Aponte
japonte@hcmutah.org
Jakelinne Capella-Aponte
Jakelinne has been involved with the Sisters of the Holy Cross as a member of the Holy Cross Associates of Salt Lake City since 2015 and is currently part of their leadership group. She is an active laywoman and has engaged in different volunteer programs at the Diocese of Salt Lake City and the Cathedral of the Madeleine since 2007. She participated as a member of the Pastoral Plan Steering Committee at the diocese and as a member of the V Encuentro process, contributing to training the delegates of V Encuentro and aiding in the processes of evangelization, consultation and mission in parishes throughout Utah.
Jakelinne studied hotel administration and specialized in small business management at Externado de Colombia University in Colombia. She also has an associate degree in humanities from Salt Lake Community College. Jakelinne enjoys studying and taking courses to expand her knowledge as well as traveling to visit new places. She is also committed to promoting women to important leadership roles and supporting them as entrepreneurs.
Esperanza Arias
earias@hcmutah.org
Esperanza Arias
Esperanza Arias joined Holy Cross Ministries in April 1999. As a Promotora she helps people in the community by giving them information and referring them to the different services in the community.
Esperanza recently won the Familes Conexion award. As a Promotora Esperanza also teaches regular prenatal health classes and provides case management, support group, health access, and referral services through Holy Cross Ministries’ partnership at South Main Clinic. She also conducts home visits for seniors – giving them emotional and spiritual support.
Esperanza is the main facilitator of the program “NEFF- Niños Especiales Familias Fuertes” giving support to families with children with special needs. Esperanza was assigned to work at the South Main Clinic where she develops this program and strong relationship with parents and clinic staff.
Esperanza loves to dance, walk and spend time with her friends to talk and taste a delicious Colombia Coffee!
Sister Veronica A. Fajardo, CSC-LCSW
vfajardo@hcmutah.org
Sister Veronica A. Fajardo
Sister Veronica is a Sister of the Holy Cross and a bilingual/bi-cultural counselor. She has worked with survivors of trauma, families and with non-violent parenting and support groups. Sister Veronica has ministered in Utah, Ghana, California and North Carolina. Prior to being a counselor, Sister Veronica was an educator for twelve years and has experience working with children who have exceptional needs.
Carlos Flores
cflores@hcmutah.org
Carlos Flores
Carlos is the father of two beautiful daughters. He has been working at Holy Cross Ministries for two years and is a Community Health Worker/Promotor. Carlos is also a first-generation college student working towards his bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Utah. He has a passion for helping those that need help.
Gabriela Orozco
gorozco@hcmutah.org
Gabriela Orozco
Gabriela joined Holy Cross Ministries in February 2021 as a Promotora / Community Health Worker. Before coming to HCM, she worked as a teller at Wells Fargo and as an eligibility specialist with the Department of Workforce Services. Gabriela enjoys working with community members and connecting them to needed resources. She graduated from Salt Lake Community College with an associate degree in general studies. In her free time, Gabriela loves reading, watching movies, spending time with family and shopping.
Liza Felix
lfelix@hcmutah.org
Liza Felix
Liza was born and raised in Escondido, CA, and moved to South Bend, Indiana, to attend @saintmaryscollege. After spending nine years at South Bend, Liza decided to move to Utah and join the HCM family! Liza has an undergraduate degree in Social Work and Spanish and a Master's in Social Work from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both Utah and Indiana and enjoys working with all ages.
Liza loves running, hiking, the beach, and playing soccer (she played for Saint Mary's College) or any competitive sport. She interned for HCM during the summer of 2016 in the Summer School Program and was always in awe of the compassion and diligence that HCM employees had to live out its organization's mission. When asked to join the team, there was no hesitation that Liza wanted to be part of an amazing group.
EQUIPO DE EDUCACIÓN
Hermana Mary Ann Pajakowski, CSC
mpajakowski@hcmutah.org
Hermana Mary Ann Pajakowski, CSC
Sister Mary Ann Pajakowski CSC hails from South Bend, Indiana. Sister met the Sisters of the Holy Cross while attending St. Joseph’s High School in South Bend. After graduating from Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame IN, Sister taught social studies courses in Catholic high schools in Illinois and Indiana for 24 years and received Masters Degrees in American Studies from the University of Minnesota and in administration for non profits from the University of Notre Dame. While teaching at St. Joseph’s HS in South Bend, Sister Mary Ann began to volunteer in the summers to teach religion in the migrant camps in Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan. As migrants began to “settle out” Sister Mary Ann began to work with Latino youth new to South Bend schools and city life. She and Sister Suzanne Brennan CSC moved to live above La Casa de Amistad, a youth center founded by the Holy Cross priests and community leaders in South Bend and continued working with youth and their parents with Girls Scouts, religious ed, community organizing and also hosted lay volunteers from the Sisters of the Holy Cross Associates program who lived with her at La Casa, along with a refugee family from Cambodia and graduate students from the University of Notre Dame. When Holy Cross Ministries was started in Utah, Sister left South Bend for Utah, working with the education departments at Holy Cross Ministries and later for Catholic Community Services at the Wiegand Center in Salt Lake providing programs for homeless preschoolers in shelter and transitional housing. Sister returned to Holy Cross Ministries to resume education work in afterschool, summer, school readiness and Parents as Teachers programming. Sister Mary Ann grew up in South Bend with her parents, John and Irene, older brother Bill and younger sister Margy. Dad and Bill have died; mom is 98 and doing well at St. Paul’s Retirement Center in South Bend and Margy lives in Chicago. Nieces and nephews and their families are in and around South Bend. Sister Mary Ann enjoys gardening, hiking, reading, skiing, camping, and anything outside. Dog Bro shares the house and last year Sister Mary Ann started a beehive in the back yard to support pollination and the bee population. Sister serves on the Sisters of the Holy Cross Congregational Justice Committee and is a member of the Saint Mary’s College Notre Dame IN Board of Trustees. She is a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Park City.
Miriam Garcia
mgarcia@hcmutah.org
Miriam Garcia
Miriam began working for Holy Cross Ministries in 2007 as part of the After School Program team. Shortly thereafter she undertook the preschool project now known as the School Readiness Program that takes place at St. Mary’s Church in Park City. After overseeing HCM’s preschool classroom as the School Readiness Program Coordinator, she transitioned as the Parents as Teachers Coordinator in 2021. She has always had a great passion for working in early childhood education and enjoys working with the community of Park City and serving the children and their families. She was born and raised in Mexico City; she graduated in Early Childhood Education from the National Autonomous University of Mexico “UNAM.” She lives in Salt Lake City with her daughter.
Hilda Marquez
hmarquez@hcmutah.org
Hilda Marquez
Hilda joined Holy Cross Ministries in 2012, working in the After-School Program. By 2013 she was coordinating parent outreach in the School Readiness Program where she developed a love for the families in the program. Her role included giving parents the resources that they needed in health and recreation as well as overseeing program registrations. In 2016 she had the opportunity to become Holy Cross Ministries’ first Parent Educator and is currently working with 20 parents and their children (ages 0-3 years old). To Hilda, working with these families is a passion, as she said: “I think I can make a difference, even if it is just a small one, I know that it is huge to these families. I can already see the difference.”
Ivoone Chapa
ichapa@hcmutah.org
Ivoone Chapa
Ivoone began teaching at HCM’s School Readiness Program in October of 2017. Bertha Ivoone Chapa (she goes by Ivoone) is originally from Peru, where she attended and graduated from the National University of Trujillo with a Bachelor’s in Education. Ms. Chapa’s studies also included English and German languages. Ivoone loves working with children and had over 3 years of experience working with kids from ages 3 to 12 before she joined Holy Cross’ education team. She is fully dedicated to her students and feels as if she is the learning from them on the daily basis. In her spare time, Ivoone enjoys reading, watching movies, spending time with her friends and dancing (she has taught traditional Peruvian dance.)
Karina Palestina
kpalestina@hcmutah.org
Karina Palestina
Karina is the School Readiness Program Coordinator. She was born in Mexico City and raised in Tijuana Baja California. She is the second child of three and moved to Utah at the age of 13. Karina is a first-generation college student who graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Family Consumer Studies with an Early Childhood emphasis in 2011. She first joined Holy Cross Ministries in 2012 as a School Readiness Teacher and after five years she started coordinating the After-School Program in three of the elementary schools in Park City. After six years, she left Holy Cross Ministries and worked for Utah Community Action-Head Start. She taught for two school years and then took leadership by becoming a Program Specialist. At Utah Community Action-Head Start, Karina oversaw 15 teachers, assistants, and subs in more than six classrooms all over the Salt Lake Valley. After serving as a Program Specialist for three years, Karina returned to Holy Cross ministries in 2021. She is a CLASS reliable observer. Her passion is supporting others to be the best they can be and loves being a resource that creates other professions by being an educator. She is an individual who is always looking to grow. Karina is a fun, positive person to be around with. She enjoys nature walks, decorating, listening to music, spending time with her child and volunteering at a church as a Catechist.
Maria Elena Huyck
mhuyck@hcmutah.org
Karina Palestina
Maria Elena Huyck was born in Rio Negro Colombia, South America. As a young aspiring professional, Maria studied in Bucaramanga, Colombia. Maria worked and lived in Colombia until marrying Charles Huyck in 2012, at which time she moved to Miami, Florida.
In 2016, Maria became Vice President of a Non-profit organization, Sons of God Ministries (SOG), focused on ministering to the Colombian Police and Military, as well as convicted criminals in the prisons of Colombia, and to the poor and less fortunate.
Maria loves the outdoors, paddle boarding, exercising, and has a special heart for animals. Maria currently has 2 German Shepherds, 1 Schnauzer, and 3 cats! Maria loves watching the wildlife (Moose, Deer, Badgers, Chipmunks, Ground Squirrels, Hummingbirds and others) that frequently visit her home in the mountains near Heber City where she lives. Maria is also an avid maker of jewelry and enjoys teaching others this art!
Maria has a heart and passion for God, family, children, the poor and less fortunate and desires to help those in need.
Juana Gonzalez
Juana Gonzalez
Mrs. Gonzalez has more than 20 years of experience in the area of education. Her focus of work has been with kindergarten ages, and we feel very fortunate to have her on our team. Mrs. Gonzalez is married and a mother of two. She enjoys spending time with her family, drinking coffee, and loves living in a place surrounded by snow.
EQUIPO DE JUSTICIA
Lorina Tester
ltester@hcmutah.org
Lorina Tester
Lorina is the Director of Immigration Programs, Senior Attorney for Holy Cross Ministries. She is an accomplished attorney with 20 years of experience in U.S. immigration law, beginning with the recruitment and retention of foreign national employees, to the implementation of immigration strategies and policies, all the way through U.S. Department of Homeland Security compliance investigations.
In 2003, Lorina moved to Utah from a law firm in New York City to join a prominent university and national research institution. In her position as Associate General Counsel, she centralized and managed all immigration and compliance matters for the university and affiliated medical school. Lorina established her own law firm in 2010 where she focused on business immigration, including temporary employment authorization visas, employment-based green cards and matters involving F-1 international students and J-1 researchers and scholars. Lorina also has expertise with marriage-based green cards, affirmative asylum and citizenship and naturalization applications.
As an active Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), Lorina has been elected Chapter Chair and served on the AILA Board of Governors. She has also served on AILA’s Verification & Documentation Liaison Committee and the AILA / U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Nebraska Service Center Liaison Committee. Lorina frequently engages in pro bono legal services and community engagement. She is excited about shifting to nonprofit work where she will support the mission of Holy Cross Ministries.
Maribel Real
mreal@hcmutah.org
Maribel Real
Maribel began working at Holy Cross Ministries in April of 1998 as a Promotora based in the Holy Cross Ministries office of Midvale, UT. In December of 1998, she was transferred to the South Main Clinic in Salt Lake City to initiate HCM’s Promotora Program within a clinical setting; this was a pilot program under the partnership of Karen Buchi, MD, the University of Utah Pediatrics Program and the Salt Lake County Health Department Prenatal Program. Maribel transitioned to the Director of the Promotora Program in January of 2004, as well as becoming a Legal Assistance in the Immigration Department of HCM working alongside attorney Sister Sharlet Wagner with the commencement of the U Visa program. Maribel became a BIA Accredited Legal Representative, under the sponsorship of HCM, in March of 2010 allowing her to file and legally represent clients, thus ensuring the continuation of the U Visa program at HCM.
Ingrid Golon
igolon@hcmutah.org
Ingrid Golon
Ingrid joined Holy Cross Ministries as a Legal Representative in January 2020 with previous experience working as a domestic violence victim advocate for West Valley City and as a paralegal with the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake. She has a degree in paralegal studies from Salt Lake Community College and has been living in the Salt Lake area since 1990, although she is from Guatemala originally.
Ingrid came to Holy Cross Ministries because she was very interested in the broad range of services HCM offers clients and loves working with women committed to empowering other women. In her free time, Ingrid enjoys making jewelry, meditating, gardening and going on nature walks with her dog.
Lorena Cardenas
lcardenas@hcmutah.org
Lorena Cardenas
Lorena is currently a student in Salt Lake Community College’s Legal Studies Program, where she is studying to become a paralegal. Lorena has lived in Utah since age 11, but she is from Mexico originally and immigrated to Arizona when she was five years old.
Lorena’s first interaction with Holy Cross Ministries was as a client receiving legal immigration assistance. Once Lorena received her visa and learned of a job opening in HCM’s Legal Immigration Program, she was eager to share her knowledge and draw on her own experience to help others with the immigration process. She understands firsthand the feelings of confusion and frustration immigrant families can face, and she is happy to be in a position where she can help and empower these clients. When she isn’t working or studying, Lorena is kept very busy by her three-year-old son, who loves watching movies and going to the park.
Teresa González
tgonzalez@hcmutah.org
Teresa González
Teresa began working for Holy Cross Ministries in 2001, helping individuals navigate the health care system as a Promotora and also providing legal immigration assistance. As of September 2019, she works solely with the Legal Immigration Program as a legal representative. In both areas, Teresa has had the pleasure of serving families by informing them of the resources they have access to in the community or by assisting them with the immigration process. She feels blessed to have contributed to HCM’s mission in this way, helping individuals and families achieve independence and total participation in the community.
Teresa was born in El Salvador. As a teenager, she migrated to Costa Rica as a refugee, where she formed her family. She graduated with a degree in social work from the University of Costa Rica. Teresa loves Utah and enjoys dancing, reading and spending time with friends.
Samantha Torralba
storralba@hcmutah.org
Samantha Torralba
Samantha is currently a student at Salt Lake Community College studying to become an architect. Her goals are to learn about sustainable design and ultimately give back to the community with economic/affordable housing options. She first heard about Holy Cross and the services it provides through a family member who had received legal help throughout their naturalization process. Because of this, Samantha is very grateful for the opportunity to work with Holy Cross Ministries and learn about more ways to serve people in her community. When she’s not working or at school, Samantha enjoys reading, going out with friends, trying new foods and spending time with family.
Luzmila Zepeda
lzepeda@hcmutah.org
Luzmila Zepeda
Luzmila began working for Holy Cross Ministries in March 2005, starting as a legal assistant. She worked especially with immigrant clients, assisting with their immigration challenges or giving them appropriate referrals. In 2010, Luzmila became a BIA Legal Representative. As a BIA, Luzmila started to represent clients before the U. S. Department of Homeland Security/USCIS. Later, she became a Department of Justice (DOJ) representative for Holy Cross Ministries. In 2019, Luzmila moved to California where she had the opportunity to continue working as a DOJ for Catholic Charities Diocese of San Diego. In 2021, Luzmila returned to Holy Cross Ministries. Serving the community with justice and equality is her calling. Luzmila is always grateful for the opportunity to serve others with the dignity and compassion that they deserve. The solid principles and experience she gained as an attorney in Peru have carried over to her career in the United States as she continues to work with issues related to the protection of victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes. She maintains the same level of dedication and commitment here in the United States.