Maria Ximena is a proud Mexicana from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, and a first-generation college graduate dedicated to supporting Black, Brown, and immigrant youth and families through community-based education and engagement. She earned her B.A. in Community Psychology from DePaul University and her Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her career passions sit at the intersection of social justice–driven learning, out-of-school-time programming, and community schools models. She currently serves as the Community Scholars Program Manager at High Jump Chicago, where she manages middle school programming focused on social-emotional learning, youth leadership, and high school transitions. She finds joy in co-creating culturally responsive and healing-centered learning environments while partnering with families, educators, and community organizations to strengthen young people’s ecosystems of support across Chicago, a city she proudly calls her second home. In her spare time, she enjoys running, baking, bonding with her two black gatitas, and staying connected with the young people she’s worked with over the years.