EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (she/her)

Over the past 25 years, Tracy has worked in education, refugee resettlement, human trafficking, youth advocacy, and women’s empowerment. With love for teaching at her core, she has made it her mission, and that Hands to the Future, to expand opportunities available to various backgrounds and all immigration statuses to complete their educational dreams. She has her Master’s of Arts in International Education- Conflict Management from the School of International Training: Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont.

Manager of Programs & Outreach (She/her)

Fryda Faugier Ferreira is a dedicated professional committed to enriching the student experience, ensuring that every student, regardless of their immigration status, receives the support and resources necessary for success in their post-secondary endeavors, whether academic or in the career/workforce realm. Fryda holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Denver, where she achieved a triple major in International Studies, Socio-legal Studies, and Spanish. As an experienced educator and passionate advocate, Fryda has founded Alate Consulting, a platform devoted to dismantling the barriers that hinder the success of undocumented and immigrant students in their post-secondary pursuits. Fryda strives to cultivate an inclusive and supportive environment through her work, empowering students to thrive academically and professionally.

WELL-BEING COORDINATOR (she/her)

Anna is a Well-being Coordinator for Hands to The Future who believes that "anything can be possible if you really want to make a difference in the lives of others." Inspiring a sense of belonging and providing an ongoing support for immigrant, refugee and first generation students throughout their educational journey is her mission and an aspiration. Anna moved from Poland when she was 16, after 3 years of high school and learning English she started her educational career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and Communication. She completed 3 years of a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and greatly enjoyed her clinical work during this period. In her free time Anna enjoys hiking in the Colorado mountains with her husband and her dog.

Mentorship Coordinator (he/him)

Armando Peniche was born in Puebla, Mexico, and raised in Denver, Colorado. With years of experience as a project manager and coordinator, he currently serves as the Mentorship Coordinator with Hands to the Future. Drawing from his story and lived experience as a first-generation immigrant, Armando has become a passionate advocate for immigrant rights at both the state and national levels. Beyond his professional role, Armando is an aspiring children's book writer and documentarian. He is developing children's books that feature diverse characters and fun, empowering storylines and is working on a documentary exploring a migrant's journey home. Additionally, he coaches soccer for kids in at-risk communities, providing them with opportunities to develop essential skills. Armando's proudest achievement is being a father to two beautiful children.

Social Media & Marketing Intern (she/her)

Alexandra Acosta is a second-year at the University of Denver who is studying to get a bachelors of science in Business Administration, majoring in international business with a minor in leadership studies. Throughout her high-school and college experience she has found a passion in business, education, and DEI work. Being a Colorado Women’s College Scholar at DU, the former diversity, equity, and inclusion executive chair for DU’s undergraduate student government, and the Multi-Media Assistant for First@DU- a department dedicated on helping first generation and underrepresented students succeed at the university, Alexandra has been dedicated to amplifying the voices of underrepresented and marganlized communities on her campus. Alexandra strives to bring equity and inclusion to all aspects of her life through empowerment and education.

Volunteer Education Navigator (she/her)

A lifelong believer in the importance of education and early literacy, Rebecca spent 13 years serving as a research supervisor for LENA, a local nonprofit dedicated to transforming children’s futures through the encouragement of early talk between children and their parents and caregivers. Through her recent experience working with a family who arrived in Colorado as refugees from Afghanistan, Rebecca found she is drawn to opportunities to support and learn from refugee and immigrant families and individuals as they navigate educational opportunities in this new chapter in their lives. Rebecca received her bachelor’s degree in English from Colby College before heading west and earning her master’s degree in education from the University of Colorado – Boulder. In her free time, Rebecca loves traveling, spending quality time with friends and extended family and hiking and skiing in beautiful Colorado with her husband, two daughters, and black lab puppy.