Norma is dedicated to helping individuals of all backgrounds reach for and pursue their full potential. In addition to tutoring and empowering young women through Girls Inc., Norma volunteered with Ravenwood Reads, a tutoring and literacy program. Through these experiences she realized her passion for cultivating and inspiring youth and decided to work in education. While a student at Stanford University, Norma worked as a member of the Admit Weekend planning team, volunteered with Nuestra Graduacion and New Student Orientation, participated in and led Ballet Folklorico de Stanford, and served as an Ethnic Theme Associate at Casa Zapata, the Chicano/Latino theme dorm on campus. Passionate about leveling the educational playing field, Norma was a middle school teacher in Los Angeles with Teach for America before returning to the Bay Area to continue her teaching career with Downtown College Prep, the first charter school organization in San Jose, going on to become the grade level team lead and founding 5th grade teacher. Norma moved back to Denver to raise her growing family and has found ways to continue to be involved in her community as an admissions interview volunteer for Stanford, volunteer for the Greenhouse selection process, participant at the Community Change Summit, and volunteer with Casa de Paz.
