FanDuel TV Horse Racing Analyst, Writer, Handicapper

HSPRS Casework Supervisor, Kentucky Refugee Ministries

Achievement Center Director, Assumption High School

Louisville Zoo Individual Giving Coordinator

Sales and Marketing Manager, DENIOS, Inc. (Retired)

Retired Middle School Teacher

Kentucky Derby Museum, Senior Director of Technology

Vice President, H2R Consulting LLC

Semonin Realtors, Realtor

US House of Representatives / Government Affairs Aide

Central Bank & Trust Co. /Personal Banker

Churchill Downs Vice President, Legal

Indiana University Southeast, Professor of Spanish since 2001

Merlin immigrated to the U.S. from Guatemala when she was 11 years old. She graduated from Iroquois High School in Louisville, Ky in 2019. Merlin is a published author with Louisville Story Program. She works with thoroughbreds at Churchill Downs as well as her family. She has also worked with the Backside Learning Center with the youth programming team since March 2019. Merlin is really dedicated and happy to work with her community at the backside. She enjoys spending time with her loved ones and working with horses.

We are so excited to welcome Daniela Chiriboga to our team as the new Adult & Family Education Manager! Originally from Quito, Ecuador, Daniela made her way to the United States five years ago.

Daniela’s roots run deep in education. Back in Ecuador, she spent many years as a teacher working with children of all ages, teaching literacy and grade-level subjects. She also collaborated with an editorial team to develop curriculum books in in a variety of subjects across the country.

When she arrived in the U.S., she continued her passion for teaching — first in Oregon, and then here in Louisville—with the Waldorf methodology. The Waldorf methodology is a Montessori-inspired approach that integrates movement, art, and a slower, more intentional rhythm of learning. In addition to the non-traditional model of teaching, she has always centered her work around bringing culture to life—through festivals, music, art, and stories that connect students to the wider world and to each other.

When she discovered the BLC, she felt an immediate spark of recognition — something familiar, but different. A place where she could reconnect with the Hispanic community, not just as a teacher, but as a bridge-builder. She even came for a tour and volunteered at an event before joining us, and she says it felt like a click from the very beginning.

Daniela’s goal is simple and beautiful, “A goal I have is to connect with the community, to be able to understand what they need, and come up with ideas to help,” said Daniela. We couldn't be happier to have you in our community, Daniela!

Andrew Crum is our development and communications associate here at the Backside Learning Center. Born in Louisville, Andrew attended the University of Kentucky with a media arts & studies degree that gave him ample experience in communications and content creation. Additionally, Andrew just obtained his Master's of Arts in Teaching, and he spends his time substitute teaching throughout the city when he is away from the BLC. He was introduced to the Backside Learning Center through volunteering in the Front Runners program as a tutor at our Learning Hub during COVID, and he was eager to get back to working with the BLC in any way possible. He can’t wait to get started with the Backside Learning Center and to play his role in fulfilling its mission! In his free time, Andrew enjoys running, listening to music, and watching the Louisville Cardinals.

Meet Daniela Jacuinde, our Community Mental Health Coordinator.

Daniela moved to the US from Michoacán, Mexico two years ago. After earning her psychology bachelor’s degree (licenciatura) in Michoacán, she and her brothers moved to the US to be with her father, an assistant trainer. Summer 2023, she was introduced to The BLC community and participated in one-on-one English classes. Having worked with the horses over the past two years in Louisiana, and working with us as an intern the past two years, we are ecstatic that will finally join our team on a permanent basis!

With a background in school counseling from Mexico, Daniela is currently focusing on clinical/social psychology with all the experience she’s gaining working with our community. She’s also been inspired to pursue a Master’s degree to one day have her own patients and support them through their challenges.

Daniela’s perspective of being new to the country, as well as working with horses, has given her invaluable perspective. This has allowed clients to open up more. As every case is different, she finds even the most difficult ones valuable experience.
“I feel really good because I’m learning as I’m helping,” Daniela said. “Being able to deal with some difficult cases, maybe I won’t solve them, per se, but can give them the support they need.”

We are so incredibly lucky to have Daniela on our team—working with the community she can relate to on many levels. We look forward to see her growth here at The BLC!

Michelle serves as the Youth Programs Assistant at the Backside Learning Center, where she has spent the past two and a half years working with our youth. She is also a full-time student at Indiana University Southeast studying Psychology and Spanish. Above all, she loves supporting the Backside community and finds deep personal fulfillment in creating positive opportunities for the families she serves.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Los Angeles, she brings a diverse cultural and professional background shaped by a deep commitment to service. She moved to Louisville in late 2001, where her path evolved from pursuing certification as a medical assistant—motivated by a desire to help others—to recognizing a calling to work more directly alongside marginalized communities.
Her experience spans international trade and public health, including work with the California Department of Health. More recently, she served as a Parent Advocate/Program Assistant at La Escuelita Learning Hub in the Beechmont area, supporting families and strengthening community connections at the grassroots level.
Outside of her professional work, Yai stays grounded through advocacy and volunteer efforts, daily walks with her pup at the dog park, and spending quality time with friends.

Taylor Ohlmann is BLC’s Youth Programs Manager and has been part of the BLC team since 2023. A Louisville native, Taylor holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Spanish Education from Campbellsville University and a Master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Louisville.

Taylor’s passion for working with Spanish-speaking families grew through her experiences studying abroad in Spain and Costa Rica and later teaching 3rd grade in Shelby County. She has a particular love for teaching phonics and helping children build the skills and confidence they need to become successful readers. Taylor first connected with BLC as a summer program volunteer many years ago. She was excited to return in a role that allows her to create engaging experiences for children to learn and thrive.

What Taylor loves most about her job is working alongside the talented, compassionate Youth Programs team and building meaningful, long-term relationships with BLC’s children and families. She finds it especially rewarding to watch participants learn, grow, and gain confidence over time.

Josefina Richardson came to the United States from Veracruz, Mexico, in 2000 and has proudly called Shelby County home ever since. It was in Shelby County that she met her husband, and together they raised their daughter, who is now married and has made Josefina a proud and happy grandmother.

Josefina dedicated 16 years to serving students and families through Shelby County Public Schools as an English Learner (EL) Instructional Assistant. Throughout her career, she built meaningful relationships with the students she supported and the families she worked alongside. Many of those connections have continued over the years, reflecting her genuine commitment to the community.

In her role as Youth Services Coordinator, Josefina brings that same dedication and compassion to the racetrack workers community. She is committed to building trusting relationships with children and families, connecting them with support and resources, and helping create a welcoming environment where every family feels valued and supported.
Outside of work, Josefina loves spending time with her grandson. She is also a devoted animal lover who enjoys spending time with her pets, especially her cats. She enjoys helping animals whenever she has the opportunity.

April oversees the Backside Learning Center’s adult and youth educational programs ensuring quality instruction, organization, program development, and training opportunities are available for the backside community and the volunteers of the BLC. Originally from Montana, April relocated to Louisville in 2001 and graduated from the University of Louisville with a BA in Spanish and a Latin American Studies minor in 2008. She began working for the National Center for Families Learning where she found her calling to education. After pursuing her MA TESOL, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, from Murray State University, she was selected as an English Language Fellow funded by the U.S. Department of State that took her around the world. She worked in Niger, West Africa and Manila, Philippines. Following her time abroad, April continued to develop her administrative capacity in the fields of English as a Second Language (ESL) and adult education and has finally returned to Louisville to share her growth with the community she loves. “I love learning and experiencing new and different environments and connecting with people. This makes the BLC a perfect fit!” In her spare time, April loves sharing time with family and friends. She also enjoys making, baking, and creating all sorts of homemade goods.

Sherry has served in her position at the BLC since 2013 when it was a staff of two under the Kentucky Derby Museum. She is proud and honored to have been part of the team that has grown the BLC to an independent 501c3 organization with a staff of 12, and most importantly to have expanded the organization’s mission beyond just serving equine workers but to a more holistic and impactful model to include children and families. She spent close to 10 years living and working in El Salvador, first with the U.S. Peace Corps then with local NGO’s in the area of rural development. Prior to joining the BLC in 2013, Sherry spent six years at the Kentucky Office for Refugees, administering Federal funding for refugee resettlement programs throughout the state of Kentucky. Earlier in her career, she worked as a paralegal in Chicago assisting immigrant victims of domestic violence and as a Congressional Hunger Center policy fellow with the National Family Farm Coalition in Washington, DC. Sherry holds a BA in journalism and an MA in sustainable development from the School for International Training. She is thrilled to have the honor of working in the unique world of horseracing and the fulfillment that comes from daily interaction with the inspiring people on the backside. She is the mother of two daughters who are students at Atherton High School and the University of Cincinnati. In her spare time she loves cooking and doing anything in the outdoors!

Enidza hails from New Britain, Connecticut, and has a rich background nonprofit development. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Communications, with a minor in Anthropology, from Eastern Connecticut State University, and later pursued a Master’s in Public Administration at Clark University in Worcester, MA.
Enidza’s journey brought her to Louisville where she joined Volunteers for America Mid-States. Over the course of 3.5 years, she made significant strides in her roles, starting as an External Relations Coordinator integrating communications, fundraising, and business development efforts. Her passion for events and donor relations then led her to become the Manager of Fund Development.
Enidza is a people person and loves learning about people and finding connections and common threads. “I love to cultivate relationships. People think I’m weird for that.” Because of her eagerness to make connections, she’s an invaluable member of The BLC community.
As a people person with roots in Puerto Rico, Enidza finds a deep connection with The BLC’s Latinx community. "Our journeys might differ, but our values, morals, and the way we treat our families are all similar. There’s a shared understanding, and when you add the language on top of that, I feel like I belong.”
When it comes to making the transition to working at the BLC, Enidza says it’s been wonderful. "I love working at The BLC," she shares. "The community here is so welcoming; it makes me want to come to work and give my all because I see the mission's impact in real time."
So excited to have Enidza on our team!