Assistant Program Manager, Harmonium

Luis has been involved in educational programming since he was a youth and has served in various roles and programs for over 9 years. In his youth, Luis participated and volunteered for several leadership programs and summer camps. His professional experience began in the Coachella Valley where Luis was born and raised. Immediately after high school in 2015, Luis began working for the Desert Sands Unified School District as an AVID tutor and academic specialist assisting students during the school day to achieve their academic goals. Concurrently Luis began his journey in the before and after school world by becoming a program leader with the Family YMCA of the Desert. 

During his time with the YMCA Luis progressed through the site roles eventually becoming the site lead. White finishing his AA Luis took a hiatus from the education field to gain more business management experience in which he became a manager for Planet Fitness and helped implement the Mini Judgement Free Zone fitness centers in select Boys & Girls Clubs. He also worked on providing youth with inclusive spaces to learn and develop physical fitness skills and help promote kindness and bullying prevention initiatives. 

Luis moved to San Diego and has worked for Harmonium since 2018 in the PrimeTime branch in partnership with the San Diego Unified School Districts Extended Learning Opportunities Department. He currently leads a cohort and oversees 7 amazing school sites out of the 33 that his agency services. Luis has been able to develop staff instruction, design and implement the trauma-informed curriculum with an emphasis on social and emotional development, and overall has established better connections among the students, schools, and families he serves.  

Luis’ overall goal is to be of service to the staff, students, and communities he works with and be intentional about creating safe spaces within the programs. At the core of his mission, Luis wants to lead with love and promote services that support youth and allow them to have a voice and have programs dedicated to improving their present lives and overall future in the educational and social landscape.

During his leisure time, Luis spends a lot of time volunteering with various LGBTQIA+, youth, homeless aid, and Chicano/Black dedicated organizations. Luis also enjoys dance, arts, crafts, visiting the beach, and attending learning classes/seminars. Luis decided to join the CAN Leadership Team to ensure that the voices of youth and staff are adequately represented in decision-making processes. He is dedicated to being a lifelong learner and sees this opportunity as a way to observe and interact with exceptional individuals in the before and after school program field and to grow his knowledge and dedication.