MEET THE TEAM
DeAnn Cortes
Associate Director
"Through my efforts at Casa Romero I endeavor to help create and hold space where people can gather, heal and feel uplifted, where they can find a community of trust and support so they can share their stories, support on another, and reclaim their unique areas of giftedness and purpose."
Sister Jean Ellman
Program Consultant
”Through my efforts at Casa Romero, I hope to nurture leaders in the Spanish-speaking community who open themselves to an experience of God's love within and who connect dynamically with God's presence and action within themselves and in the broader community.”
Laura Hancock
Urban Plunge
Coordinator
“Through my efforts at Casa Romero I hope Urban Plunge participants will be moved to consider the systemic and personal barriers sometimes experienced by people as they seek a life of dignity and purpose. Ultimately, it is my hope that Urban Plunge participants will desire even more to share their gifts and talents with their communities as a way of realizing God's dream of healing, justice, and freedom for all people.”
Guisela Dominguez
House Manager & Director of Ignatian Formation
"Through my efforts at Casa Romero, I hope that the participants of the groups I serve find in Ignatian spirituality the path that leads them to have a life of compassion and mercy for themselves for others, so that they have the love of God that leads them to live in communion, freedom and fullness."
Sophia Rodriguez
Grants Manager
"Through my efforts at Casa Romero, I hope to be a resource to our community of young artists, helping them define and reach their artistic goals. My focus is on working with youth who meet me with passion, and offering them a safe, welcoming, and nourishing environment where their creativity can thrive."
Fr. Renzo Rosales, S.J.
Ignatian Formation Specialist
"Through my efforts in Casa Romero, I hope to support the preservation and promotion of friendship, solidarity, and generosity among the members of our community, as expressions of our faith in God. I also hope to keep discovering the many talents present in our community and supporting initiatives that promote social, intellectual, and spiritual growth."
Jaqueline (Kaki) Tavares
Director of Youth Programs
"Through my efforts at Casa Romero, I hope to motivate and empower people to live with authenticity, mindfulness, and purpose. I strive to inspire individuals, especially youth, to embrace empathy, nurture healthy habits, and express themselves fully — creatively, spiritually, and emotionally. I am grateful for the opportunity to share tools and resources that support people through life transitions. Rooted in a deep belief in the power of healing, connection, and culture, my work is also a way of giving back to my Latino community—creating spaces to gather, to laugh, to grow, and to heal."
EMERITUS STAFF
Fr. David Shields, S.J.
Founder
"Through my efforts at Casa Romero, I have worked to provide an affordable, accessible place for the Latino community to gather for prayer, for formation programs, and for celebration. We nurture personal growth, strong community and the formation of engaged community leaders."
