Episode #30 Storytellers

Our storytellers in Episode 30 are:

Julia Torres

Julia came from a family of teachers and is currently in her thirteenth year teaching. She is an AP Language Arts Teacher. Originally from San Diego, she now lives in Denver. She holds a Master’s of Education from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s of the Arts from Regis University. She has organized groups of students to serve with her in Cuba and on Blackfeet Reservation in Montana with Global Volunteers. She says, “I continue teaching because I love re-discovering the world through the eyes of young people, and I have a true passion for the power of language to ignite ideas.”

Kate Solis Silva

Kate is the Associate Director of Development and part of the Resource Development team for Chicago Lights. She is also the mentorship co-chair of the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago. As a volunteer to Ecuador and Mexico, she believes assisting under-served communities locally and abroad is a calling to “do the greater good”. Kate served as a LISC Americorps Member in Detroit and continues to serve in other local volunteer capacities.

Tom Reimann

Tom is a Navy veteran and proud father of twins who are now freshmen in college. He has been married for more than 26 years to Tracey, also a Navy veteran and lifelong volunteer in the local community. He works for Metronic in the Neurosurgery business unit. Tom, Tracey, and their two sons – Matt and Andrew – served in Tanzania with Global Volunteers on their first service program and hope to continue serving.

Gabe Hoffman

Gabe Hoffman works at Screen Pilot, a digital ad agency. He moved to Denver a little over a year ago from Minneapolis. He loves living in Colorado, but is still very loyal to Minnesota and their sports teams, specifically the Timberwolves and Vikings. In his free time he enjoys camping, hiking, playing sports, and hanging out with his new fiancé and their dog, Riley.

Marek Błaszczyk

Marek has been Global Volunteers’ beloved community partner in Siedlce, Poland since 1990. As manager of the renowned Reymontowka manor house where volunteers are lodged, he’s hosted and nurtured more than 260 Global Volunteers teams. He’s a fluent English speaker and a “go-to” person in the Siedlce District for English-speaking travelers and dignitaries.