English 
Spanish 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
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
Adult Education Teacher, Pulaski County Special School District
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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
Adult Education Teacher, North Little Rock School District
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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
Sue Kelly
Adult Education Teacher, Pulaski County Special School District
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Ms. Kelly’s outside interests are in health and self-improvement, including both physical and nutritional, family life with her children and parents in the Chicago area, walking at the Big Dam Bridge and her neighborhood with her rescue dog, Macy, and caring for her aging cat, Molly. She will continue to further her education and believes in continuous learning through various modalities.
Sue Kelly is a career-changer teacher with many years of experience in international business, medical records administration, transportation industry administration, religious education, and teaching 5th grade both in-school and virtually. Ms. Kelly was born in Detroit and has also lived in Nebraska, Alabama, and the Chicago area during her childhood. She considers her crowning achievements to be her 3 adult children who are public school success stories.
- Associates degree in Health Information Management
- Bachelor’s degree with a double major of Spanish and French
- Master of Arts in Teaching
Seresa Hall
Adult Education Teacher, Pulaski County Special School District
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Paul McCowan
Adult Education Teacher, Pulaski County Special School District
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Meet our board.
Allison Allred
Native Arkansan
Private Practice Attorney since 1997
Currently serving on the Arkansas Supreme Court Child Support Committee
Passionate about equity in the local community, cooking, and spending time with friends
Carmen Fernandez
Born in Puerto Rico
Retired Registered Pharmacist
Serves on the board for the Patrick Hays Senior Citizens Center in NLR
Enjoys time outside with her family, from gardening and cooking to traveling
Chase Gwatney
Native of Jacksonville, Arkansas and a graduate of Mount Saint Mary Academy
Graduate of UAMS College of Nursing and is former Registered Nurse
Currently a shareholder at Gwatney Chevrolet
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
Born in Brownsville, TX after his parents immigrated from Mexico
Studied Political Science at UALR
Director of Business Inclusion at the North Little Rock Chamber
Passionate about travel having visited 22 countries
Karen Garcia
Native of Friendship, Arkansas
During her financial career, she worked with some of the biggest names in the state, from Weyerhaeuser to Stephens Inc.
Awarded numerous accolades including 2009 Arkansas Democratic Woman of the Year and the Governor's Volunteer Award
Member of the NAACP and the League of Latin American Citizens
Leticia Reta
Immigrated to the United States in the '90s
A true community organizer with numerous years of experience, focusing on immigration and education issues
Founder and coordinator of the non-profit dance group where students to learn about Mexican heritage through dance and music
State of Arkansas Bilingual interpreter credential in Education
Nancy Velazquez
Native of Chiapas, Mexico and raised in Southwest Little Rock
Graduated with Distinction from Hendrix College
Recipient of the The Alice Hines Award for Excellence in Multicultural Leadership and Service and The Betty F. Bumpers International Leadership and Fellowship Award
Currently a full-time masters student who is deeply passionate about her work with non-profits focused on education or immigrant’s rights
Shara Brazear
Director of Communications for the City of North Little Rock
Served 20 years as the Communications Specialist in the NLR School District
Passionate about workforce development in NLR
Enjoys riding a Harley and doting on her daughters and granddaughter
William Hogg
Native Arkansan
20+ year career in corporate finance
Has served as Vice Chair and Treasurer of Seis Puentes for 12 years. In 2015, Will founded the Latino Art Project
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
Native Arkansan
Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director Argenta Community Theater
Co Founder and Chair of Butterfly Community Ministries/Seis Puentes
Chairman Democratic Party of Arkansas (2012-2017)
Founder and CEO Family Entertainment Superstores, Inc (1984-2002)
Asst. Secretary of State of Arkansas (1980-1985)
Dr. Terry Richard
Dr. Terry “El Guapo” Richard is Professor Emeritus in Sociology
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
Arrived in Arkansas as a Comtian missionary sociologist to preach to the educationally challenged students within the state of Arkansas
Published a variety of articles on topics such as thanatology, race and ethnic relations, teaching sociology, and third world development trends.
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
Actively involved with the League of United Latin American Citizens and various race relations boards in the state of Arkansas
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.
Mary Stafford
North Little Rock native
Program Officer at Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub
Worked with children from Kindergarten through Junior High at Little Rock Charter School for 12 years
Passionate about education, helping others, and building lasting relationships with students, parents, and community members
Serves on the Arkansas Lighthouse Charter Schools' Parent & Community Engagement Committee, Pulaski County Special School District's Adult Education Advisory Committee, and the North Little Rock Young Professionals Board.
Kenda Shields
