We Are
ChangeMaker Foundation, Inc.
About Us
The ChangeMaker Foundation, established in 2018, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to form agents of change across diverse communities in Puerto Rico and the diaspora. Headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico, it is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and is governed by a board of directors comprising seven members. Our vision is to create a vibrant ecosystem of initiatives led by independent groups, nonprofit organizations, and social enterprises through leaders in innovation and social cohesion.
The foundation has identified three pillars which, through the practice of educommunication, empower and generate leadership among communities that contribute significantly to public wellbeing. These three pillars driving the organization are: art and culture; local and responsible consumption; and the preservation of public spaces for recreational purposes. CMF connects the three pillars through the practice of network movements—which work in synergy in a community—to develop and offer the educommunicative tools and skills necessary to promote strategic and organized support, fiscal representation, and integrity in the different groups’ objectives.
The end goal is to develop a network of vibrant communities in order to advertise their initiatives from the perspective of a conscious digital culture and to preserve their sociocultural expressions.
Values
-
COLLABORATION as a bidirectional process in which two or more people or organizations work together at an intersection of objectives and goals.
-
INNOVATION tied to the creation of more efficient processes, products, and ideas that change the current business model, respond, and impact the existing environment.
-
INTEGRITY, which provides the foundation to your moral and ethical convictions and leads you to always do the right thing, even if no one is watching.
-
EFFICIENCY, measurable and which avoids the waste of materials, energy, efforts, money, and time when doing something or producing a wanted result.
-
RESPECT anchored in respect and appreciation of all communities.
Synergies
Mariely Rivera-Hernández
Executive Director
-
A distinguished agent of change, Rivera-Hernández is experienced in the development and leading of local nonprofit and academic organizations.
-
As an active leader within the nonprofit community, she has a wide network of collaborators and a solid reputation.
-
She is a former student of the national program Culture of Health Leaders of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and holds two master’s degrees: one in International Relations from the Ortega y Gasset Institute in Madrid and another one in Theory and Investigation from the School of Communication and Information Sciences of the University of Puerto Rico. She is currently a doctoral student at the University of Málaga in Communication Research. She serves as the Puerto Rico coordinator for the Euro-American Interuniversity Research Network in Media Literacy for Citizenship (Red Alfamed).
Zildalee Díaz Rosado, MBA
Senior Manager
Business administration professional with more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit, educational, and community-based organizations. She has extensive experience in administration, project coordination, data management, reporting, operations, and process improvement. Her work focuses on business intelligence, data analysis, documentation, internal systems, and digital marketing to support decision-making and organizational growth.
Dr. Inés Rivera Rivera
Instructor
Social work professional with more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, particularly in health, housing, and education. Her professional background includes direct service, supervision, management, administration, and executive leadership. She is a university professor and holds a doctoral degree in research and social policy analysis from the Beatriz Lassalle Graduate School of Social Work at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus.
Valeria González Calero
Instructor & Translator
Professional translator specialized in cultural and environmental texts, specifically materials related to history, art, gastronomy, travel and tourism, climate change, and sustainability. She holds a Master of Arts in Translation from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus and works in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Her experience encompasses the revision, editing, and translation of materials for government agencies, university projects, and non-profit organizations.
Luz Amparo Jorge Rodríguez
Community Liaison
Social work professional with experience in case management, community liaison work, service coordination, and psychoeducational support. She has worked in programs related to education, housing, home health care, and social services, supporting families, students, older adults, and communities. She has experience in community organizing, workshop facilitation, report preparation, and the development of collaborative agreements. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from Inter American University of Puerto Rico and a certification in Community Development from Rutgers University’s Centro para Puerto Rico.
Dr. Wilfred Labiosa
President
-
Dr. Labiosa is an experienced professional in the mental health and public health fields with over 25 years of experience. He has worked at the Children’s Hospital, within the Latino community as leader of the Boston Public Health Commission, and on initiatives at institutions and community organizations focused on mental health.
-
He holds two master’s degrees: one in Psychology from Boston University and a second one in Nonprofit Management from Suffolk University. Additionally, he has a Ph.D. in Social Work from Simmons University.
Dr. Ernesto Villarini-Baquero
Treasurer
-
With 25 years of executive and management experience, Dr. Villarini-Baquero is an investment and business adviser specialized in strategic planning, financing, and the development of nonprofit social enterprises and business organizations.
-
He is vice president of the Community Venture Capital Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to economic development through access to private, fiduciary capital markets; treasurer of the Fideicomiso del Bosque Modelo de Puerto Rico; vice president of the Association for Financial Professionals of Puerto Rico; and member of the Financing Committee of the Community Investment Fund of the Fundación Comunitaria de Puerto Rico.
-
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Science and Science Education from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, a master’s degree in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Metro Campus. He is also an Entrepreneurship Education Fellow from Babson College.
Brenda D. González-Roldós
Secretary
-
A highly motivated executive, Brenda González-Roldós has more than 20 years of experience leading high-performance teams composed of lawyers and accountants who evaluate, analyze, and ensure that laws concerning public administration are upheld. Through the design and implementation of rigorous public policies, she has fostered ethical behavior within government institutions.
-
She is a lawyer and a notary in the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico and is currently a member of the Bar Association of Puerto Rico.
-
She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts, Political Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus as well as with a Juris Doctor from the School of Law of the same institution.
Wanda I. Casanova-Nicolao
Director
-
Casanova-Nicolao is the CEO and president of W. Casanova Insurance, LLC, a firm she founded in order to offer multiple insurance solutions to her clients. She has 28 years of professional experience in the insurance field and is passionate about guiding and helping her clients reach their financial goals while protected.
-
Over the course of 22 years, she occupied various positions at La Cruz Azul de P.R., among them Customer Manager, which allowed her to lead numerous projects helpful to clients, employees, and associates. Also engaged in community work, she has presided the Board of Directors of her Homeowner’s Association for 10 years, leading to positive changes within her community.
-
She holds life, health, disability, property, and contingency insurance licenses and is certified as a financial advisor by FINCERT with a Certification in Credit Repair Consultancy from Ana G. Mendez University.