STAFF
Leticia Vazquez Bentley, Program and Outreach Director – Leticia is a native of Paracho, a guitar-making center in the state of Michoacán, México, where she was trained as a school teacher and taught 1st through 3rd grades there. In 1985, she married Scott Bentley and moved to Moab, where they opened the Lazy Lizard Hostel. Once she had learned sufficient English, she began volunteering in the schools, was hired as a teacher's aide and eventually earned her Utah teaching certificate. She has taught ESL and Spanish at Grand County High School and Middle School. Over the last 20 years, Leticia has been increasingly called upon to interpret and translate for Moab’s Spanish speaking community and has become one of their strongest advocates, providing her interpretation services in the courts, the schools, doctors' offices, for businesses and employers, and many government entities. She is an integral part of the running of the multicultural center.

Carrie Alexander, Executive Director - Carrie has had a lifelong interest in different cultures. She studied Spanish and joined the foreign students club in high school, mentored Native American students and Japanese exchange students in college, and has traveled extensively through Europe and Latin America. She has a B.A. in history, an M.A. in Humanities with an emphasis on ancient Mexican culture, and is a certified Adult ESL teacher. She currently enjoys teaching part-time to English language learners in the community and participating in multi-cultural events. She hopes to share her own love of culture with her children Ian and Zane, ages 2 and 4, by taking them on trips and exposing them to other customs and languages.


BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Marcia Tendick, President - Passionate about social justice and human rights, Marcia helped found and run the Flagstaff center for “Friends of the Hopi” in 1977, working with the Hopi elders. Marcia’s teaching from preschool through 8th grade for over 28 years has included teaching Hawaiian and Japanese students in Hawaii, black students in Oakland, CA and Hispanic and Tongan students in Salt Lake City. After moving to Moab in 1996, she taught English at the Grand County Middle School for ten years. She has served on the Seekhaven Board of Directors, the Grand County Steering Committee, and the Moab Citizens for Peace and Global Awareness.

Jose Tejada, Vice President - Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Jose learned about social activism early, from his mother, who was a leader in the Puerto Rican community there. A successful businessman, Jose owns and operates the Griffith River Expeditions, a river rafting company in Moab. He speaks both English and Spanish. Jose has served on many boards over the past 20 years.



Lynn Carpenter, Secretary - Lynn teaches 2nd grade students at Red Rock Elementary in Moab. She has been on numerous boards including the MARC, and has served on a number of Grand School District committees, currently the art and language arts committee.





John Mc Queen, Treasurer - John is currently the manager of the bookstore in the Visitor Center at Arches National Park, having previously managed Music of Moab and Moab Outdoors. Originally from the Detroit area, John served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica from 1967-71, where he became fluent in Spanish. He lived in New York City until 1990, when he moved to Moab. Since arriving here, he has been involved in St. Francis Episcopal Church, where he served as treasurer and Senior Warden, and has particularly been active with the Spanish language services.

Lisa De Rees, Bookkeeper – Lisa has a wide variety of experiences, including marketing her own Saucy Lisa Salsa. She has accounting knowledge and has worked for a Moab CPA for the past five years.






Jim Tendick - (the Rev.) - Co-founder/director of the center for "Friends of the Hopi" in 1977, working with Hopi elders, in Flagstaff, AZ, where he met and married Marcia. Jim is an ordained Episcopal Priest and has worked in congregations in Utah since 1988, including the last eight years with a Spanish-speaking congregation in Moab. He has served on a number of community and church-related boards and committees and currently serves on the Anti-racism Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. He has been a trainer and coordinator for the diocesan Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Abuse program since 1996 and is a member of the Children’s Justice Center Advisory Board in Moab.

Scott Bentley - Scott's most notable contribution to the Multicultural Center was finding Leticia in Mexico where he was studying guitar, bringing her to Moab and teaching her how to speak English! He does a variety of tasks, helping out with moving heavy objects, running errands, translating, interpreting, (Scott is a fluent Spanish speaker,) and doing some secretarial work. He also has volunteered for the last 16 years as a youth soccer and football coach and referee for Moab City Recreation. Scott, a Moab native, owns and runs the Lazy Lizard Hostel in Moab.


VOLUNTEER BOARD
Norma Bañuelos, President – Norma moved to Moab from Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico three years ago. In Tequila, Norma attended school until she was 18, then worked in a store, and became District Manager for the town of Tequila. Her talents include sewing, dancing (including folklorico), office management, and, most demanding, being a full-time mother. She assists Leticia Bentley with the myriad needs of the Hispanic Community, helping with fundraisers, scheduling appointments, teaching dance classes and leading a woman’s support group.

Nubia Tangreen, Vice President – Nubia was born in Columbia and moved to Moab in early 2004. She is a full-time homemaker, caring for her disabled husband and her son, but also works cleaning others houses. Nubia received bachelor degrees in both biology and chemistry, with a minor in teaching, from La Libertadora University of Columbia; then she obtained her Master’s Degree from Santa Rosa de Cabal University. Her educational focus was on teaching children from eight through young adults. She has worked as a teacher for government and private schools, as well as teaching human biology for nurses. Since her arrival in Moab, she has been working at the center providing Alcoholics Anonymous for Spanish-speakers, as well as teaching a class in manicure and leading a support group for women in difficult situations.

Francisco Zul – Francisco is from Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico and has been in Moab for four years, working as an electrician. Francisco left school early to help his father work on their farm. After coming to the U.S., Francisco has worked in many different jobs, including construction and restaurant work, and now, learning the trade of electrician. Francisco has many skills, such as singing, dancing folklorico, and cooking a mean mole. He has a generous spirit, willing to tackle any job or chore that helps the community.

Omar Parra – From Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico, Omar has lived in Moab for four years, now working as a cook at the Moab Brewery. He left school early to earn a living in farm work, carpentry and as a ranch hand. Since coming to the U.S., he has worked in restaurants, hotels and construction. His talents include carpentry, cooking, ranching and a good work ethic. He is married to Norma Bañuelos and, from lives already filled with family (little Omarcito,) and hard work, they carve out time to serve the Moab community.

Mike Suarez – Mike is a retired attorney and former immigration judge. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he moved to Moab with his wife Mary shortly after he retired in 2001. Mike has basic computer skills and a conversational knowledge of Spanish. Because of his long experience listening to immigrants from all over the world, he knows that we are all the same – all of us seeking a simple life, a decent job and a better future for our children.



Tereso Bañuelos Padilla – Tereso is a loving, giving gift to the center and the community. Before moving here, he had tried to continue his education by commuting to Guadalajara, but gas became too great an expense. He moved to Moab four years ago from Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico and began working in restaurants here. He quickly found himself better suited to construction work, particularly carpentry, which he has come to love. Tereso loves to read and to dance Balet Folklorico.


Alicia Lopez – Known as the finest Mexican cook in town, Alicia has provided delicious mole, posole and tamale meals for hundreds of Moab’s citizens. She was born in Fresnillo, Zacatecas where she worked hard on her family’s farm, then in stores and as a housekeeper and nanny for a woman who taught her cooking skills. She married Tobias Gomez, and later moved with him to Moab nine years ago. They have three boys, so Alicia is both a homemaker and sometimes works in housekeeping for local hotels.

Norma Costanza – A native of Mazatlan, Mexico, Norma married a local Moab man and moved here about 16 years ago. She has one teen-age daughter. Norma works as a cook at the school district and also has a housekeeping business. To relax, Norma loves to golf.