Who We Are

Chris Gattegno

Executive Director

Chris joined the Board of Directors of Aurora Community Connection in 2018 and served as Secretary of the Board for 2 years. After the founder’s retirement in 2021, he held the position of interim Executive Director during 2022 before being appointed as the current Executive Director in April 2023.

With several decades of Leadership and Human Resources experience including 15 years at the executive level, he has considerable experience in dealing with complex people issues and in shaping business strategy while attracting and retaining talent. A native of France, Chris earned his MBA at the University of Wisconsin and went on to work for various multinational corporations in increasingly more responsible positions throughout his career. He has worked and lived in all 4 continental US time zones as well as in Asia, Australia and Europe and traveled extensively throughout the world.

As an immigrant, Chris has had first-hand experience in trying to adapt to a new culture and knows the difficulties of overcoming language barriers and prejudice, and of accessing services. He is driven by a strong sense of justice and compassion and believes wholeheartedly in empowering people to help them achieve their life goals.

When he is not working, Chris most enjoys exercising (running, biking, hiking and skiing) and spending time with his two young adult sons.

Ana Ávila Morelos

Office and Administration Specialist

Originally from Michoacán, Mexico, Ana Ávila Morelos has spent over a decade in the United States, driven by her passion for helping people feel included and connected. She holds a degree in Pedagogy from Universidad del Valle de México and has a background as a middle school and preschool teacher, showcasing her deep sense of vocation and dedication to helping others. In her free time, Ana enjoys spending time with her husband, her Yorkie, and her friends, exploring diverse cuisines, traveling, and indulging in her love for cinema.

Monserrat Mendoza

Family Services Manager

Monserrat Mendoza Rojas dedicated her life to education as a parent and teacher for more than ten years. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Administration; earned Masters’ in Education. Family, Education and supporting the community means everything to Monserrat.

She grew up in Mexico and lived there for 31 years, then in August 2018 immigrated to the United States and has lived in Denver, Colorado for more than three years. She is married and has a child who is 10 years old. Monserrat has been a teacher for about 10 years at Childhood, Elementary, University and High school. She loves teaching Spanish to others. Also, she has volunteered and worked in different non profit organizations located in Denver, Colorado. She understands the importance of communication and connectedness in families and education.During her free time, Monserrat enjoys spending time with family, cooking Mexican food and exploring nature.

Claire Leavitt

Education Programs Manager

Claire has worked in the field of education over the last 15 years in various roles. Her experience spans classroom teaching, designing, implementing, and evaluating educational programs; and building partnerships with community members. In prior roles she developed training programs for teachers and served as a mentor and coach in schools. She is passionate about bilingual education and social emotional learning. Claire earned a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Colorado Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology at Tulane University.

Emily Juarez-Kim

Education Programs Coordinator

Emily Juarez-Kim Education Programs Coordinator Emily Juarez-Kim has spent over six years working in education, focusing on nonprofits and early childhood programs. She is passionate about building safe and welcoming environments where children and educators can thrive. Emily believes in the power of listening and working alongside others to create programs that truly reflect the needs of the community. Her work has taught her the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and staying open to growth. She approaches her role with humility, always striving to learn as much as she teaches. For Emily, the most rewarding part of her work is seeing others grow into their potential, whether it’s a child gaining confidence or a teacher discovering new strengths. Outside of work, Emily enjoys spending time with her family, exploring creative projects, and finding small ways to bring joy to those around her. She sees her work as part of a bigger picture: helping others grow while continuing to grow herself.

Andrea Hernandez

Marketing & Communications Manager

Andrea joined ACC in September of 2021! She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Spanish language, literature and culture in May of 2021. She has always been passionate about working with the Latinx community, as she comes from a Mexican family and background. In her spare time, Andrea enjoys listening to live music and attending poetry slams! Andrea believes in the power of community.

Janet Alvarado

Community Outreach and Health Access Specialist

Janet Alvarado joined ACC in September 2023 as a Community Outreach & Health Access Specialist. Janet has over 8 years of experience in medical and customer service settings, including facilitation of coalitions, staff assistant, clerical support and enrollment services. This experience inspired Janet to learn and work towards advocating for change, prioritizing youth and community perspectives and supporting underserved communities. She continues to be inspired by the youth and community who work towards a positive change.

In her free time, Janet enjoys baking, reading and spending time with her partner and pets.

Dr. Robin Waterman

Founding Executive Director

Dr. Robin Waterman stepped down from her Executive Director role in 2021 after over fourteen years of agency stewardship. Under her leadership the ACC grew exponentially, earning the trust of the community andn funders alike. Wh earned her bachelor’s degree from Bates College, with an interdisciplinary focus including anthropology and English. She later earned her master’s and doctoral degrees in education from Harvard University, specializing in administration, policy and social policy, after spending more than 20 years in the field of non-profit administration and community-based education. Dr. Waterman has founded and developed community-based education programs for low-income, culturally and linguistically diverse families in Denver, Aurora and Commerce City, also working in this area for three years in rural El Salvador and Mexico. Since 1999, she has worked in Aurora, promoting leadership, self-sufficiency and parent involvement in schools and communities. Dr. Waterman is bilingual and bicultural, and has demonstrated expertise in recognizing the strengths of Latino immigrant families and guiding low-income individuals to simultaneously access services and volunteer time toward program implementation. For these reasons, Dr. Waterman was hired by the Family Resource Center Association in 2007 to create the ACC, and was hired by the ACC Board in 2008 to serve as Executive Director.