About Poder

Our Core Values

  • Empathy
  • Integrity 
  • Intentionality 

Our Founder

Génesis Aguilar Chávez (ella/ she/ her) is an educator, trainer, and speaker with over a decade of experience in the fields of early childhood education and bilingual education. Throughout her tenure as an educator in Maryland, Génesis has been recognized for her commitment to fostering equitable learning environments and challenging the system to create change using an anti-racist approach. She has served as both a teacher and teacher-leader, guiding her colleagues in implementing inclusive and innovative dual language teaching strategies. 

As a respected leader in her field, Génesis has been invited to speak and present on various panels and conferences, sharing her knowledge and experiences with fellow educators and thought leaders who serve the Latine community. In 2018, she contributed to the book “Millennial Teachers of Color,” published by Harvard Education Press. This influential work, winner of the 2019 American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education Outstanding Book Award, delves into the unique experiences and challenges faced by teachers of color, providing valuable insights for educators and administrators alike.

Génesis holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland, a Graduate Certificate in Equity and Excellence in Education, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership: Teaching and Leading for Equity from McDaniel College.

Génesis identifies as Latine American, being born and raised in Maryland and coming from a familia Hondureña. Her family immigrated to the U.S. in the 80’s escaping poverty. When she entered Head Start only speaking Spanish and coming from a low-economic background, she was labeled an “English Language Learner” (ELL) and a “Free And Reduced Meals” (FARMS) recipient. Like many students with this background in traditional monolingual classroom settings, she struggled academically and her family was not able to support her in the ways the school thought valuable. These experiences gave her the perspective that is often missing when talking about changing academic and social outcomes for Latine students.