Max Gimbel
Community Development Coordinator
Bi-Lingual
• About Me:
Originally from Philadelphia, I earned a B.A. in philosophy from Swarthmore College and an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Oregon. Prior to my studies in Oregon, I lived and worked in Guatemala for three years as the coordinator of a fifty-child orphanage and as the founder and director of the small, but thriving, community development organization, EntreMundos. After leaving Guatemala, I worked as the director of research and education for the Guatemala Human Rights Commission, where I engaged in public policy work in Washington D.C and helped to catalyze community organizing efforts of the Guatemalan exile population there. My passion for popular and experiential education has brought me to numerous Spanish-speaking countries and I have taught Spanish at the university level as well as citizenship, readiness, and English to Latino immigrants at various community centers. Becoming a new dad last August, has given me great perspective on the importance of preparing the next generation of leaders.
• What I do at RDI:
I develop the Cultivando Comunidad Spanish Language Leadership and Community Development program in collaboration with other staff and RDI partners. I also assist in our other services where bilingual staff are needed.
• State where I was born:
Pennsylvania
• What I wanted to be when I was 8 years old:
A football helmet: the unsung hero of all recreational activities.
• Interesting previous job(s) I've held:
The Easter Bunny
• One of my personal goals for :
I want to learn to play the klezmer clarinet.
• A place I want to visit at least once in my lifetime:
Eastern Europe to visit the birthplaces of my great-grandparents.
• My favorite book and why:
My favorite book is "Los cinco diablitos". It was the first book I read in Spanish with my wife to her pregnant belly.
• My favorite board game:
My favorite board game is Scrabble. And love to play on-line if anyone is up for a game (http://thepixiepit.co.uk/scrabble)
• The coolest thing someone has done for me:
I was raised by parents to value community and family.
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Community Development Coordinator
Bi-Lingual
• About Me:
Originally from Philadelphia, I earned a B.A. in philosophy from Swarthmore College and an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Oregon. Prior to my studies in Oregon, I lived and worked in Guatemala for three years as the coordinator of a fifty-child orphanage and as the founder and director of the small, but thriving, community development organization, EntreMundos. After leaving Guatemala, I worked as the director of research and education for the Guatemala Human Rights Commission, where I engaged in public policy work in Washington D.C and helped to catalyze community organizing efforts of the Guatemalan exile population there. My passion for popular and experiential education has brought me to numerous Spanish-speaking countries and I have taught Spanish at the university level as well as citizenship, readiness, and English to Latino immigrants at various community centers. Becoming a new dad last August, has given me great perspective on the importance of preparing the next generation of leaders.
• What I do at RDI:
I develop the Cultivando Comunidad Spanish Language Leadership and Community Development program in collaboration with other staff and RDI partners. I also assist in our other services where bilingual staff are needed.
• State where I was born:
Pennsylvania
• What I wanted to be when I was 8 years old:
A football helmet: the unsung hero of all recreational activities.
• Interesting previous job(s) I've held:
The Easter Bunny
• One of my personal goals for :
I want to learn to play the klezmer clarinet.
• A place I want to visit at least once in my lifetime:
Eastern Europe to visit the birthplaces of my great-grandparents.
• My favorite book and why:
My favorite book is "Los cinco diablitos". It was the first book I read in Spanish with my wife to her pregnant belly.
• My favorite board game:
My favorite board game is Scrabble. And love to play on-line if anyone is up for a game (http://thepixiepit.co.uk/scrabble)
• The coolest thing someone has done for me:
I was raised by parents to value community and family.
> Click to Return to Staff Listing