Maria Elena Kuykendall is a woman of many roles. First and foremost, she is a proud mom, a loving grandma, and a lifelong humanist who loves gazing up to the skies in wonder. She has a broad background in Psychology studies, international cooperation, and nonprofit engagement.

Maria Elena's journey hasn't always been easy. Having faced the hardships of being an undocumented immigrant, she is well aware of the barriers imposed by systematic oppression. She dedicates most of her life's efforts to building a strong community that can rise above these unfair obstacles.

Maria Elena's strong desire is for El Centro to be a place where every immigrant's life is uplifted with dignity. She hopes El Centro can become a safe and welcoming space that embraces and celebrates all immigrant communities of Tulsa. She hopes that people can learn from each other through resilient and thriving connections and build a better future together.

mkuykendall@elcentrook.org

Jackie (she/they/elle) was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has been involved in community organizing since 2019. Her family’s encounters with ICE motivated her to become an activist. With roots in Veracruz and Tamaulipas, Mexico she continues to advocate for the rights of free movement of people. Her philosophical and activists interests include abolition work, mutual aid and civic engagement. In her words, “Noone should be tied to one location. Everyone should have the privilege to move through this world freely. I believe El Centro will be a place for our community to grow and be a safe space for us to come together and empower each other as community members to tackle the every day struggles our people face.”

Joseph (he/him) is a self-taught graphic designer from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Joseph graduated from Northeastern State University’s Legal Studies program with a Bachelor’s degree. Joseph’s connections to the local art community led him to specialize in visual communication crafting eye-catching flyers, artwork, and content for a diverse array of clients. Now he leads the art direction for El Centro’s visual identity; representing and communicating migrant messages to Tulsa.

Program Officer

George Kaiser Family Foundation

Executive Director

at Interfaith Movement Immigrant Justice