Jennifer is the founder and director of programming for Craft for Community, a volunteer center, arts exchange and language school located in a tiny fishing village in Northwestern Nicaragua. Jennifer is an artist with experience in high needs public schools. She has a passion for project-based learning and infusing the arts into everyday moments as a means to help bring people together and understand the world around them. Jennifer and her husband, a fellow Spanish public school teacher, wanted a change of pace from their busy lives in Denver. Through their experience traveling, they also saw a need for project-based, responsible tourism in Nicaragua. After a decade of teaching in Denver and Chicago, Jennifer, her husband and their one year old, decided to follow their dream. They sold most of their belongings, quit their jobs, and headed south to an impoverished village on the Pacific. It is through their experiences and strengths in language and the arts that Craft for Community went from a dream to reality.
Craft for Community was founded as a way to teach both villagers and travelers through authentic, project-based experiences in order to build skills and understand more of the world around them through travel and meaningful experiences. Craft for community brings groups of travelers to participate in projects in the local village thus encouraging responsible, sustainable tourism. It works with village leaders to teach students English, provides skills training for adults, and business development for local artisans, among many other projects. Through their love of culture, the arts and language, Jennifer and her family have created an outlet for travelers to make a positive impact on their community while showing them an authentic view of Nicaragua.