Rafael Arellano
Executive Director, Founder and Spanish Instructor
Rafael was born in Cuernavaca, México, the City of the Eternal Spring. He started teaching Spanish when he was 16 years old and is still doing it at Edúcate Ya. He received a BA in Pastoral Ministries from Marylhurst University, and did his graduate studies in Theology at Mt. Angel. He has been an advocate for education among Latinos, has offered opportunities for those that are interested in learning Spanish and about Latino cultures, and has provided the opportunity to study abroad. He has a MA in Spanish Literature and has taught in four community colleges in the Portland area. He is the founder and executive director of Educate Ya.
Executive Director, Founder and Spanish Instructor
Rafael was born in Cuernavaca, México, the City of the Eternal Spring. He started teaching Spanish when he was 16 years old and is still doing it at Edúcate Ya. He received a BA in Pastoral Ministries from Marylhurst University, and did his graduate studies in Theology at Mt. Angel. He has been an advocate for education among Latinos, has offered opportunities for those that are interested in learning Spanish and about Latino cultures, and has provided the opportunity to study abroad. He has a MA in Spanish Literature and has taught in four community colleges in the Portland area. He is the founder and executive director of Educate Ya.
Daniel Alfaro Blanco
Executive Assistant and Academic Coordinator
Executive Assistant and Academic Coordinator
Carlos Castillo
Spanish Teacher/ Program Coordinator
Hello, I’m Carlos Castillo, a Colombian LGBTQ+ activist, psychologist by profession, and a citizen of the world by vocation. I served as an LGBTQ+ advisory counselor for the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá, and as a designer of evaluation tools for job competencies. I’ve dedicated much of my life to working for the dignity, mental health, and rights of socially vulnerable communities. I have led workshops and conferences on suicide prevention and was the principal of a Mega School in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Today, I lead a vital HIV and STI prevention program, and I also coordinate the Spanish program at Edúcate Ya. A lover of theater, concerts, cinema, hiking, and travel, I find my greatest inspiration in human connection. I am a proud father of two cats and a collector of moments.
Spanish Teacher/ Program Coordinator
Hello, I’m Carlos Castillo, a Colombian LGBTQ+ activist, psychologist by profession, and a citizen of the world by vocation. I served as an LGBTQ+ advisory counselor for the Mayor’s Office of Bogotá, and as a designer of evaluation tools for job competencies. I’ve dedicated much of my life to working for the dignity, mental health, and rights of socially vulnerable communities. I have led workshops and conferences on suicide prevention and was the principal of a Mega School in Barranquilla, Colombia.
Today, I lead a vital HIV and STI prevention program, and I also coordinate the Spanish program at Edúcate Ya. A lover of theater, concerts, cinema, hiking, and travel, I find my greatest inspiration in human connection. I am a proud father of two cats and a collector of moments.
Alyssa Pearson
Grant Manager
Alyssa Pearson raised along the US-Mexico border in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico, where she learned the importance of chiles, sunshine, immigrants, and great rivers. After receiving her Ph.D. in Marketing from New Mexico State University, Alyssa has worked as a professor, an agricultural startup consultant, and in federal grants management. Throughout her career, she has maintained a passion for helping people and businesses obtain the education and community support they need to achieve their goals. These days, Alyssa is a proud resident of North Portland, and is grateful for the opportunity to support the Latino community of the greater Portland metro through her grant-writing and development work at Edúcate Ya.
Grant Manager
Alyssa Pearson raised along the US-Mexico border in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico, where she learned the importance of chiles, sunshine, immigrants, and great rivers. After receiving her Ph.D. in Marketing from New Mexico State University, Alyssa has worked as a professor, an agricultural startup consultant, and in federal grants management. Throughout her career, she has maintained a passion for helping people and businesses obtain the education and community support they need to achieve their goals. These days, Alyssa is a proud resident of North Portland, and is grateful for the opportunity to support the Latino community of the greater Portland metro through her grant-writing and development work at Edúcate Ya.
Instructors
Diego
Spanish and ESL All levels
Pronouns: he/him/el Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Hola! Soy Diego! I hold a degree in Journalism from Universidad Autonoma de Occidente in Cali - Colombia where I'm originally from. My experience includes Public Relations, working with educational programs for studying abroad, and teaching languages. I consider myself a passionate traveler and hiker who loves nature. That's why I decided to explore Brazil for twelve years. There, I studied applied linguistics and started my career as a language teacher. I have taught English, Spanish, and Portuguese for the last 10 years, focusing my classes primarily on conversation. I believe that language learning is most effective when students use vocabulary and grammar structures to discuss their experiences and talk about their reality. Drawn by the vibrant and eclectic atmosphere, I decided to moved to Portland, where I quickly fell in love with the city's unique vibe.
Spanish and ESL All levels
Pronouns: he/him/el Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, Portuguese
Hola! Soy Diego! I hold a degree in Journalism from Universidad Autonoma de Occidente in Cali - Colombia where I'm originally from. My experience includes Public Relations, working with educational programs for studying abroad, and teaching languages. I consider myself a passionate traveler and hiker who loves nature. That's why I decided to explore Brazil for twelve years. There, I studied applied linguistics and started my career as a language teacher. I have taught English, Spanish, and Portuguese for the last 10 years, focusing my classes primarily on conversation. I believe that language learning is most effective when students use vocabulary and grammar structures to discuss their experiences and talk about their reality. Drawn by the vibrant and eclectic atmosphere, I decided to moved to Portland, where I quickly fell in love with the city's unique vibe.
Rafael Arellano
Spanish All levels Grammar
Spanish All levels Grammar
Michael Poehner
ESL (English as a Second Language) all levels
Hello! Originally from the East Coast, I hold a master’s degree in French from Middlebury College in Vermont and bring a deep passion for languages and the cultural insights they provide. I am fluent in French, English, and Spanish, with experience teaching all three. My background includes teaching English in France and living in Quebec, where I immersed myself in Francophone culture. For nearly nine years, Portland has been my home, and I’ve loved sharing my enthusiasm for language learning and cultural exchange with the community.
ESL (English as a Second Language) all levels
Hello! Originally from the East Coast, I hold a master’s degree in French from Middlebury College in Vermont and bring a deep passion for languages and the cultural insights they provide. I am fluent in French, English, and Spanish, with experience teaching all three. My background includes teaching English in France and living in Quebec, where I immersed myself in Francophone culture. For nearly nine years, Portland has been my home, and I’ve loved sharing my enthusiasm for language learning and cultural exchange with the community.
Emma Weinmann
ESL All Levels
Hello! My name is Emma Weinmann. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, but have spent a large part of the last five years traveling internationally. I have a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Tourism from California State University – Chico and hold a TEFL certification. I found Educate Ya through the Intercambio language exchange program and have recently begun teaching ESL classes to beginner and intermediate English language learners. Before coming to Edúcate Ya, I had the opportunity to teach younger students in Peru, Indonesia and Mexico and fell in love with the process of teaching. I am so excited to be a part of the Edúcate Ya team and can’t wait to see where this new career takes me!
ESL All Levels
Hello! My name is Emma Weinmann. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, but have spent a large part of the last five years traveling internationally. I have a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in Tourism from California State University – Chico and hold a TEFL certification. I found Educate Ya through the Intercambio language exchange program and have recently begun teaching ESL classes to beginner and intermediate English language learners. Before coming to Edúcate Ya, I had the opportunity to teach younger students in Peru, Indonesia and Mexico and fell in love with the process of teaching. I am so excited to be a part of the Edúcate Ya team and can’t wait to see where this new career takes me!