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Jacqueline Romo
Director of Christian Parenting Initiative [email protected] Jaqueline Romo, born in Jalisco, Mexico, moved to Chicago at the age of two. Growing up in the Pilsen/Little Village neighborhoods, she was inspired by the vibrant murals adorning buildings and markets, sparking her passion for graphic design. Jaqui pursued a degree in graphic design at Dominican University, where she fused her love for art and theology in her undergraduate thesis project, "The Passion of the Monarca Migrante," 2019. Currently, Jaqueline serves as a full-time Campus Minister at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago, while also pursuing a master’s degree in Hispanic Theology and Ministry as a part-time St. Oscar Romero Scholar candidate at the Catholic Theological Union. She serves in Iskali as Director of the Christian Parenting Initiative, funded by Lilly Endowment. |
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Itzel Ramos
Director of Operations / Managing Director of Casa Iskali [email protected] Itzel, originally from Santa Maria del Oro, Durango, Mexico, serves as Managing Director of Casa Iskali and supports the Christian Parent Initiative, which is funded by Lilly Endowment. Married with two sons, she relocated from Austin, TX to Chicago several years ago. Initially pursuing medicine, she transitioned to nursing and then to the dental field, building a successful career in management and administration. Itzel joined the Iskali community in March 2022, drawn by its mission to empower younger generations, especially within the Latino community. Her compassionate nature and unwavering dedication make her an invaluable asset to Iskali, where she fulfills her calling to serve God and others. |
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Vicente Del Real
Founder of Iskali [email protected] Vicente Del Real, a Mexican immigrant and founder of Iskali, an independent Catholic non-profit in Chicago, is dedicated to empowering young Latino adults as faith-filled leaders. Recognized in Negocios Now's 2020 "40 under 40" for his leadership and entrepreneurship, Vicente graduated from the Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative and holds a Master’s in Pastoral Arts from the Catholic Theological Union. He speaks at national Catholic conferences and esteemed institutions like Georgetown and Notre Dame, and teaches part-time at Loyola University Chicago. Vicente's dynamic leadership and passion for his mission inspire and uplift young people, driving transformational change within the Latino community. |
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Pablo A. Cruz
Director of Young Adult Initiative [email protected] Pablo is the Director of the Young Adult Initiative at Iskali. Pablo Cruz is a Business, Social Service, and Outreach professional with over 15 years of experience. An immigrant from Guatemala, he himself has overcome many of the challenges immigrants face when trying to establish themselves in the United States. Committed to meeting the high standards of an outcome-based program, he is bilingual and bicultural. With a degree in Young Adult Leadership from Saint Mary of the Lake University and over 10 years in young adult leadership and training experience. Pablo leads the Young Adult initiative in partnership with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, with funding from the Lilly Endowment. |
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Linley Castagna
Accountant Linley holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting. She has over 24 years of experience as an accounting professional with extensive experience in bookkeeping and financial management. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and certifications in payroll practices and computer information systems. Over the years, Linley has worked in various accounting roles, including as a full-charge bookkeeper and senior accountant. She has managed accounts payable, payroll, reconciliations, and financial statement reviews for companies across multiple industries. Linley is proficient in QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, and other financial software, and she has a strong track record of improving financial operations in her roles. |
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Israel David Carranza
Missionary [email protected] Israel David Carranza, born in Chicago, has roots from Michoacán, Mexico through his mom and Zona 3, Guatemala through his dad. He serves as a missionary for Iskali, aiming to guide young Latinos on Chicago's south side. Raised in challenging areas like Pilsen and Cicero, he encountered gang violence but remained resilient, upheld by strong family values. Despite leaving college in 2019, Iskali's support reignited his pursuit of education while serving, reflecting his dedication to effecting change. Israel invites support to amplify their impact, echoing St. Therese Lisieux's sentiment: "We can only do small things with great love." |
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Anahi Mendoza
Missionary [email protected] Anahi Mendoza, from Chicago, serves as a missionary for Iskali, dedicating her life to guiding young Latino adults on their faith journeys. After stepping away from her studies in mechanical and aerospace engineering, she embraced her passion for music and ministry as a way to connect with others and share God’s love. Through her mission, Anahi strives to inspire hope, foster community, and help others discover the peace she found in her own spiritual journey. |
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Miguel García
Missionary [email protected] Born in Veracruz, Mexico, he immigrated to the U.S. at seven and attended Catholic school in Milwaukee. With DACA support, he earned a degree in IT and a minor in Film Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After feeling lost post-graduation, he found purpose at an Iskali initiation retreat. Since then, he has volunteered in Chicago and Milwaukee, documenting young Hispanic adults in the Catholic Church through his series “40 Days, 40 Testimonies,” which has over 100,000 views. He also covered the 2024 Iskali Conference. Now active in the St. Anthony, St. Patrick, and St. Joseph communities, he aims to become a missionary, inspiring the next generation of young adults in the Church. |
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Fernanda Balderrama
Support - Programs and Formation Fernanda Balderrama is a young Mexican from Phoenix, Arizona, currently pursuing her Master's degree in Theology and Hispanic Ministry in Chicago. At Iskali, she works as a coordinator for the Mother of the Americas Community in La Villita and is also a member of the Formation Committee. Fernanda became part of the Iskali community in June 2022, bringing her dedication to community engagement and spiritual development to the forefront of her work. |
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Judith Flores
Development Intern Judith is a Mexican-American originally from Phoenix, Arizona that moved to Indianapolis, Indiana in 2012. She graduated from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy with a B.A in Philanthropic Studies and a minor in Latino Studies in 2021. Since then, she has been looking for a way to combine her passion for helping others and serving the Latino community. She became part of the Iskali community in August 2022 after living her initiation retreat and feels that she has finally found her purpose working alongside Iskali. She’s eager to help advance Iskali’s mission and expand their outreach so more young adults have the opportunity to build and strengthen their relationship with God. |
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Yareli Ruby Godinez
Support - San Juan Diego Shop [email protected] Yareli is a dynamic person dedicated to uplifting her community. As the San Juan Diego Shop manager, she not only coordinates merchandise production but also enhances Iskali's mission through media coverage and content creation for events and retreats. Additionally, she co-leads a young adult community and serves on her parish's Pastoral Council. Her passion for service and faith shines through in her professional, volunteer, and academic pursuits. Currently studying Marketing and Graphic Design, she recognizes the power of effective communication in spreading hope. Driven by purpose, her goal is to illuminate the path to God for others, using her talents to glorify Him in all aspects of her life. |
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Llovizna Miranda
Support - San Juan Diego Shop [email protected] Llovizna, born and raised in Chicago, IL, is a first-year apprentice with IBEW Local 134. She comes from a family with deep Mexican and Puerto Rican roots and is actively involved in St. Bede's choir and community service. Throughout her life, she has taken on roles as a lead resident assistant, engineer, and coach, but her most impactful experience was coordinating the August 2024 initiation retreat for Iskali, which sparked a powerful calling. Llovizna is driven to share the love and grace she has received from God, seeking to bring light to those around her. |
