U.S. Based Staff
Sebastian Velez, Founder and Executive Director
Sebastian Velez is a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University. He holds a PhD from Harvard University in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. He founded Children of the Border in 2004 and has been bringing student volunteers to the Dominican Republic and Haiti since 2005. He has extensive business management experience and an undergraduate degree in Agronomy.
Annie Ryu, Associate Director
Annie Ryu is a Harvard College student concentrating (i.e. majoring) in Social Anthropology with a secondary field in Global Health and Health Policy. She initiated Children of the Border’s pediatric malnutrition treatment program in collaboration with a local doctor in 2010 and is the founder and director of the Global Development Innovators program. She loves international travel and adventure and using creativity and hard work to benefit the friends she has made in impoverished communities in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. When in Cambridge, she enjoys playing violin in the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra.
Sara Choi
Sara Choi is the Co-Founder and Director emeritus of Children of the Border. In addition to creating the organization’s first strategic vision and leading in-country operations, Sara organized the first volunteer service trips and continues to be involved.
Matt Mulroy, Volunteer
Kim Kargman, Volunteer
Cat Stewart, Volunteer
Field Staff
Miguelina Perez, Director of Field Operations (full-time)
Miguelina manages all of our other field staff on the ground. She is involved in project planning and coordinates many logistics for volunteer trips.
Estela Pierre-Maxe, Women’s Health Advocate
Estela, Judith, and Mella manage the distribution of contraceptives to all of the women who wish to use it in Las Mercedes and the surrounding communities. Estela has worked with Children of the Border since 2005. Estela and her husband live in Pedernales with their eight children.
Judith Perez, Human Rights and Women’s Health Advocate
Judith and her family have always been a crucial part of Children of the Border. Judith protects the rights of Haitians unfairly detained and assists with the distribution of contraceptives.
Mella, Women’s Health Advocate
Mella also assists with the distribution of contraceptives. She lives in Las Mercedes with her husband and two children.
Yorky Perez, Transportation Coordinator
Yorky coordinates transportation for volunteers and supplies during volunteer trips and construction projects.
Lilila Perez, Cook
Lilila cooks delicious meals for volunteers working on service projects.