Donate
Donate
en_US English
en_US English es_MX Spanish
Donate

Meet the Seis Puentes team.

Our staff and board consist of people from all walks of life, from medical professionals to city activists. These are the people who make it all possible.

Raul Fernández

Raul Fernández

Executive Director

raul@seispuentes.org

Raul is a native of North Little Rock and graduate of Catholic High School for Boys. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he received his degree in Journalism. While at UALR, Raul interned for FM 89.1 KUAR, where he focused on sharing the stories of the everyday lives of Latinx and LGBTQ+ Arkansans. While working at The Rogers Photo Archive, Raul worked diligently on creating a Digital scrapbook of America’s History and auctioned vintage photography and sports memorabilia.

Raul has also proudly worked as a caregiver to three wonderful little boys and has worked at countless restaurants and bars, where he learned to related to just about everyone. He is very proud of who, what, and where he comes from and believes its most important to take care of the people who take care of you – cuida a los que to cuidan.

Audrey Moore

Audrey Moore

Adult Education Teacher, North Little Rock School District

Learn more

A resident of Sherwood, Audrey Moore is originally from the small town of Malvern, Arkansas. A wife and mother, Audrey enjoys spending time outside with her family – hiking, swimming, and exploring the beautiful Arkansas state parks.

Early on in her teaching career, Audrey had ELL students in her class. She saw firsthand how they struggled to learn the content and the English language simultaneously. That experience inspired her to earn an ESL certification and her M.S.E. in advanced instructional studies with an ESL emphasis from Henderson State University.

  • Graduate of the University of Central Arkansas
  • 16 years teaching at the North Little Rock School District – elementary, secondary, and adult students
  • moorea@nlrsd.org
Lisa Harrison

Lisa Harrison

Adult Education Teacher, North Little Rock School District

Learn more

Mrs. Lisa Harrison is a Native Texan who moved to Little Rock with her husband in 2000. She went to college in West Texas and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She received her Masters in Education from Harding University.

Currently, she is a dedicated teacher and a passionate advocate for the ESL students and families at the NLRMS 7/8 grade campus.
She and her husband have two children-one daughter and one son-both in high school. She has two rescued shelter dogs.

  • An elementary teacher since 1997 &  a teacher at North Little Rock School District since 2016
  • Volunteer at the Arkansas Food Bank and the Quapaw Quarter Association of Historical Homes
  • harrisonl@nlsrd.org
Hal Wofford Hutchison

Hal Wofford Hutchison

Administrator, UA-Little Rock (Retired)

Learn more
Hal is an Arkansas native and a graduate of Brinkley High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and received a master’s degree in Secondary Education (English) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She worked as a journalist, food columnist and Fashion Editor for the Arkansas Democrat and as a features writer for the former Arkansas Gazette. Hal changed careers after the merger of the two newspapers to focus on Education. She taught English at Brinkley High School before becoming an administrator at UA-Little Rock. She paused her career to become a mother to Sarah. They studied Spanish together starting when Sarah was just a toddler, preparing them both to help others learn a new language.
Sarah Hutchison

Sarah Hutchison

10th Grade Student, Pulaski Academy

Learn more
Sarah is a 10th-grade student at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. She enjoys studying history, politics, public policy, and international studies, as well as linguistics. Sarah is taking Honors Spanish IV, giving her valuable insights into learning a new language. She participates in Model United Nations and is an officer in the school’s chapter of Amnesty International. Her competitive nature comes out when she plays for PA’s Quiz Bowl team. In addition to her academic endeavors, Sarah is musically inclined.  She has won numerous Central Arkansas piano competitions, received honorable mention at the J.D. Kelly Piano Competition at ASU-Jonesboro, and was a finalist in the DMTA Piano Solo Competition in Dallas, Texas. She is an All-Region saxophone player. Sarah hopes to study Political Science, Economics, and Law. 
Leticia Reta

Leticia Reta

Community Liason

Learn more
Leticia Reta emigrated from a small town called San Juan Ixcaquixtla, Puebla, Mexico 31 years ago with a dream to “be somebody” – and she has accomplished just that.

With 25 years of running a housekeeping business, Leticia also works as freelance interpreter in hospitals, community meetings, and parent teacher conferences at schools in Central Arkansas. She loves to volunteer her time to different organizations that help people in need- like food pantries, health fairs, and community advocacy- but her greatest pride is her heritage and her three children, who share her great spirit of compassion and kindness.

In 2008, Leticia founded Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli – a dance troupe that connects Mexican-American youth to their ancestral roots and heritage through traditional folkloric dance, dress, and culture.

Leticia loves working with Seis Puentes because “Seis Puentes offers comfort and hope to the people that walk through the doors. Seis Puentes helps people assimilate to a new life and the programs help people succeed.”

Meet our board.

Allison Allred

N

Native Arkansan

N

Private Practice Attorney since 1997

N

Currently serving on the Arkansas Supreme Court Child Support Committee

N

Passionate about equity in the local community, cooking, and spending time with friends

Carmen Fernandez

N

Born in Puerto Rico

N

Retired Registered Pharmacist

N

Serves on the board for the Patrick Hays Senior Citizens Center in NLR

N

Enjoys time outside with her family, from gardening and cooking to traveling

Chase Gwatney

N

Native of Jacksonville, Arkansas and a graduate of Mount Saint Mary Academy

N

Graduate of UAMS College of Nursing and is former Registered Nurse

N

Currently a shareholder at Gwatney Chevrolet

N

Her most important job title is being “mom” to three children and she looks forward to working with the Latinx community in Central Arkansas where she can apply her knowledge of healthcare. A mantra that Chase lives by is “little by little, the bird builds its nest”.

Jorge Gonzalez

N

Born in Brownsville, TX after his parents immigrated from Mexico

N

Studied Political Science at UALR

N

Director of Business Inclusion at the North Little Rock Chamber

N

Passionate about travel having visited 22 countries

Karen Garcia

N

Native of Friendship, Arkansas

N

During her financial career, she worked with some of the biggest names in the state, from Weyerhaeuser to Stephens Inc.

N

Awarded numerous accolades including 2009 Arkansas Democratic Woman of the Year and the Governor's Volunteer Award

N

Member of the NAACP and the League of Latin American Citizens

Shara Brazear

N

Director of Communications for the City of North Little Rock

N

Served 20 years as the Communications Specialist in the NLR School District

N

Passionate about workforce development in NLR

N

Enjoys riding a Harley and doting on her daughters and granddaughter

William Hogg

N

Native Arkansan

N

20+ year career in corporate finance

N

Has served as Vice Chair and Treasurer of Seis Puentes for 12 years. In 2015, Will founded the Latino Art Project

N

Will also serves on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Arts Council (Governor appointed), ACANSA Arts Festival of the South, and Ballet Arkansas

Vincent Insalaco

N

Native Arkansan

N

Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director Argenta Community Theater

N

Co Founder and Chair of Butterfly Community Ministries/Seis Puentes

N

Chairman Democratic Party of Arkansas (2012-2017)

N

Founder and CEO Family Entertainment Superstores, Inc (1984-2002)

N

Asst. Secretary of State of Arkansas (1980-1985)

Dr. Terry Richard

N

Dr. Terry “El Guapo” Richard is Professor Emeritus in Sociology

N

Served 35 years with the UALR in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, with nine of those years as chairperson of the University of Little Rock

N

Arrived in Arkansas as a Comtian missionary sociologist to preach to the educationally challenged students within the state of Arkansas

N

Published a variety of articles on topics such as thanatology, race and ethnic relations, teaching sociology, and third world development trends.

N

Received a Ph.D. in Sociology (minor in anthropology) from North Texas University, and an M.A. in Latin American Studies from the UT- Austin

N

Actively involved with the League of United Latin American Citizens and various race relations boards in the state of Arkansas

N

Terry is a world traveler, having lived for extended periods in Mexico, France, and Guatemala, and he speaks several languages. His hobbies include tennis, golf, and occasional forays to the Tunica casinos to support the Mississippi economy.

Kenda Shields

N

Native Arkansan

N

Business Development and Marketing Officer at First Security Bank since 2017

N

Worked for The North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce for 11 years, and worked in marketing at ALLTEL for 14 years

N

Kenda has been married to her husband, Steve Shields, for 10 years, and has two dogs that are spoiled rotten. She also has two children; Madison (26), an RN at Children’s Hospital, and Hayden (23), who works in North Little Rock for Keeling Company

N

They enjoy spending time with their families, traveling, and enjoying the natural state of Arkansas, but the beach is one of her favorite places to travel

Kayci Thessing
N

Loves that Seis Puentes offers free educational programs for the LatinX community

N

Kayci works as the Grants Manager for the City of North Little Rock. This position allows her to assist many departments within our municipal government in applying for and administering grant funds to benefit the city of North Little Rock

N

Has a diverse employment background that includes adult probation, law enforcement accreditation, and finance

N

Love spending time with her family, hiking and kayaking when she gets the chance!

Claret Alcala Collins
N

Born in Venezuela

N

Communication Manager at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub

N

Love volunteer work and everything that Seis Puentes does for the Latino Community

Heather Kouns
N

Originally from Wauchula, Florida

N

Director of Tourism Development for North Little Rock Tourism

N

Member of North Little Rock Junior League and Skal Arkansas

N

I love being a part of an organization that is about giving and supporting pockets of our community that are often overlooked or stigmatized and I love that Seis Puentes is a safe space for the Hispanic/Latino community to come together - I want to be a part of that change!

Andres Acosta
N

Originally from Bogotá, Colombia

N

Bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in International Business

N

Community Development for TruService Community FCU

N

I enjoy helping the Hispanic community improve their personal and business finance and I am proud to be a part of Seis Puentes - an organization that helps the Hispanic Community providing accessible and culturally relevant resources for their wellbeing.

Rosa Perez

N

Born in Venezuela

N

Has been in banking for 10+ years and now works as a community development lender

N

I believe that by being involved, our community can profess financially, achieve homeownership, and establish generation well-being for everyone.

N

Also serves as a board member on Arkids Reads and Pulaski County Casa.

en_USEnglish
es_MXSpanish en_USEnglish