Meet our Staff
Jennifer Arguello
Elementary Program Coordinator
Jennifer, representing the city of Azusa, joined the NHH team in August 2021. She has been an Azusa resident since 2008 and now considers this community her home. Jennifer graduated from California State University, Northridge with her B.A in Communication Studies. For several years now, she has been an active member of the community working closely with families in Azusa. Jennifer is passionate about working with NHH and their faithfulness to empower and elevate the youth in Azusa.
Stephanie D'Avirro
Director of Programs
Stephanie, from neighboring Glendora, has been with NHH since 2015 as Director of Programs. Previously, she served for several years in a nonprofit for children in South Los Angeles. Stephanie graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2008 with a degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in elementary education. She brings strong teaching skills both at the elementary and middle school levels and has experience in relating to others in a cross-cultural setting. In addition, Stephanie’s experience in urban ministry has equipped her well to support the families of Azusa and to help them thrive.
Kaelyn Garcia
Administrative Coordinator
Kaelyn, from the neighboring city of Glendora, joined the NHH team in 2021 as a Teen Program Assistant and later on as a Social- Emotional Intern. She is a current graduate student at Azusa Pacific University and will be graduated in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology. Through her work at NHH her passion and commitment grew for serving Azusa students and their families through the resources that NHH provides. This new passion inspired Kaelyn to further her commitment to Azusa families as the Administrative Coordinator.
Amy Gomez
Early Childhood Coordinator
Amy arrived to Azusa in 2001, attended Mountain View Elementary, and graduated from Gladstone High School in 2010. After high school, she attended Marymount California University and graduated with her Bachelor's degree in 2014. Amy has been a participating member/parent in NHH and is familiar with the program. She joined the team in 2023 and comes with a deep background of Early Childhood development. She is passionate about building and empowering her community.
Darlene Gonzales
Teen and Alumni Coordinator
Darlene, an Azusa Native, grew up attending schools in the Azusa Unified School District. She joined the team in January 2023 as an elementary intern, and later as a part of summer staff. Darlene graduated Azusa Pacific University with her BA in Psychology in 2023, which has equipped her to serve NHH families as the Teen and Alumni Coordinator. Her passion for serving Azusa families has led her to be an active member in the community, and she is excited to partner with Azusa families and to continue her journey with NHH.
Lesley Guzman
Family Engagement Coordinator
Lesley, from the neighboring city of Baldwin Park, joined the NHH team in December 2021. She previously volunteered as a mentor at NHH in 2020. While being a volunteer, she realized she wanted to work with NHH because she saw all of the support and sense of community created within the organization. Lesley earned her B.A. in Criminal Justice from Azusa Pacific University in 2022. She is excited to partner with the children and parents in the NHH program, and is very passionate about preparing and empowering the youth for their next journey in their academic life.
Jennifer Hicks
Executive Director
Jennifer, originally from Hacienda Heights, joined the NHH team in July of 2014. She has worked in after-school programs since 2002, primarily serving vulnerable communities. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Arizona and a M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Previously the Director of Programs for a faith-based nonprofit in LA's skid row, Jennifer is enthusiastic about engaging churches in the needs of local under-resourced communities for the common good of both groups. She loves NHH's commitment to parent empowerment and development as a distinctive piece of empowering Azusa's families.
Nicole Ramirez
Volunteer Coordinator
Nicole is originally from West Covina, but spent her formative years in Azusa, where she attended elementary and middle school. In 2017, while pursuing her college education, she began her career in non-profit work by serving as a youth mentor for children living in underrepresented communities in Vermont and upstate New York. Her experience working with nonprofits and her background in college athletics inspired her to volunteer as a volleyball coach for various non-profit sports organizations. She is passionate about promoting inclusion through sports, health education, and leadership. Nicole holds a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Business Administration. Recently, she obtained her M.S. in Organizational Leadership from the State University of New York at Potsdam. With her compassionate and dedicated nature, she is determined to empower youth, promote educational equity, and serve her community. Her diverse background has equipped her to provide guidance and support to young people and their families from all walks of life.
Stephanie Urias
Development and Communications Coordinator
Stephanie, from the neighboring city of Duarte, joined NHH in 2018 as a Program Assistant. While working with NHH as an undergraduate student, she loved the community, support, and resources NHH provided for both the staff and families served. After graduating from Azusa Pacific University in 2021 with a B.A. in Psychology, she decided to continue her work at NHH with much of the “behind the scenes” work that occurs at NHH. Stephanie greatly enjoys working on many of the development, communications, and administrative tasks that keep the program running smoothly, as well as the connectedness to staff and families that comes with working at NHH.