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Our Team &
Founding Story
Talking while walking, founding members Michelle Valverde and Lamaia Vaughn envisioned a space where they could truly develop youth leadership and positive community change. They decided to take action.
With local youth, colleagues and parents, the LAB (Learning Action Buffet) was created in 2017. Since then, the LAB has brought the community together in various settings, partnering with the city, various educational institutions, caring community members and other nonprofit organizations.
Through the LAB’s projects and events, LAB youth leaders have acquired important skills for their careers and life.
A.Billi Drakeford
General Manager
A. Billi leads LAB with a focus on youth power, creativity, and purpose. As an artist, parent, and organizer of both domestic and international arts exchanges, she connects culture, community, and opportunity; creating spaces where young people can do what they love and build skills that matter.
Raquel Primera-Adams
Finance Manager
With over 30 years of experience in the gas, pharma, and non-profit worlds, I’m an engineer with an MBA from NMSU who loves solving complex problems. I’m truly passionate about teaching and training, always looking for ways to share what I’ve learned with others. Outside of my professional work, I’m dedicated to showing up and providing real support for my local community.
Michelle Valverde
Education Specialist and Operations Consultant
Michelle has been an equity advocate for over 30 years and is a founding member of the LAB. Her current work revolves around addressing systemic disparities in education. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with family members, hike, ballroom dance, and share the gift of hand drumming.
Antonio Cruz
Program Facilitator
/ Youth Mentor
Antonio (DJ T. Cruz), 26,is a music producer, rapper, audio engineer, and video editor, Antonio has been immersed in community engagement from a young age. He is passionate about creating spaces where youth voices are centered and supported, and where young people can grow their interests into real skills and expertise. Through his work on and off the mic, he blends creativity, mentorship, and media to uplift the next generation.
Andrés Uribe
Education Advocate
Andrés is an undergraduate social work and political science student at New Mexico State University. He began serving his community as a middle school student in 2017, and has experience in the local nonprofit and public sector. Throughout his numerous roles in the community, Andrés has been able to exercise his passion for education transformation by centering youth as partners in education research and policy.
Patience Sabaque
Community and Education Equity Associate
Hi! My name is Patience, and I am Diné (Navajo) and Walatowa (Pueblo of Jemez). I am currently pursuing my studies in the medical field at DACC/NMSU, Over the past three years, I have worked with students in grades K–5, where I have developed a strong passion for supporting youth and giving back to my community.
Angel Wood
Youth Mentor
Angel, 23, is Full time student at NMSU, a DJ, producer, artist, video editor, animator and l grew up within the Las Cruces community, building connections wherever he goes. He is passionate about learning how to create and sharing that knowledge with others, especially through music and sound.
Natalie Gomez
Volunteer
Natalie Gomez is a youth volunteer with the LAB assisting on LAB events/projects. She is also a sophomore at New Mexico State University.
Elias Garay
Youth Mentor
Elias is a Lab Youth Leader and recent Graduate of New Mexico State University. He assists in many of the LAB projects, is a poet, and the resident food enthusiast for events.
Chloe Gonzalez
Graphics and Digital Promotions
Chloe Gonzalez is an aspiring multi-medium artist that wants to share her vibrant and eccentric artwork with those who come across it. She joined Learning Action Buffet to work with like minded individuals that want to help improve, expand, and create possibilities for aspiring youth.
Marina Vasconcellos
Youth Mentor
Marina Vasconcellos is a LAB Youth Leader and local artist. She is the Assistant Producer of the LAB Radio Hour, assistant of the LAB Radio Hour and the Transform Education New Mexico podcast, Transform the Norm: Stories from the Forefront of Change.
Our Board
Andre Gutierrez
Board Member
Andre is owner of OG Farms and has been growing a living vision of regenerative agriculture since 2016. OG Farms serves as a community hub and learning ground where farmers, youth, and neighbors gather to reconnect with the soil, learn sustainable practices, and build resilience…together.
Federico Almarez
Board Member
Glad to meet you! I’m a California transplant, living in Las Cruces since 1985. Professional archaeology first brought me here, but I switched careers turning to higher education in 2003. I’ve been teaching English at Dona Ana Community College since then, both as an adjunct and now as an assistant professor. My first love, the voice of my inner self has always been music. I love to write poetry and play guitar and compose songs in the creative collective “Fuerza.” Serving on the LAB board of directors has been an incredibly rewarding experience and a wonderful way to serve the community. I am blessed and honored to work with so many talented and dedicated people!
Antoinette Gucela-Márquez
Antoinette is an elementary music teacher in LCPS and has been teaching for 6 years, with experience as a Site Facilitator for STEM+ Academy OST Programs by NMSU. She is also involved in the NM Hip Hop community as a member of Rocket City Renegades, a dance crew based in Alamogordo. Living creatively and in community is her purpose in life, and through creativity and community she strives to empower the youth.
Board Member
Olga Chavez
Board Member
Olga Chavez is a dedicated leader, community advocate, and lifelong nurturer. As Program Manager for TOTS Early Intervention at Tresco, she has spent a decade making a difference in the lives of children and families through compassion, expertise, and heart. As a founding member of The LAB, Olga has played a vital leadership role since its inception, Serving as Secretary, later as Board President, and currently continuing her service as a board member. Her commitment to community, family, and service defines both her professional and personal journey. Beyond her career, Olga is a certified yoga instructor who values balance and wellness in all aspects of life. She has been married for 35 years and is a proud mother of three — two daughters and a son — and a joyful grandmother of five, with one more grandchild on the way.
Kassandra Huhn
Kassandra is a community development advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, promoting the development and financing of critical infrastructure in lower-income and disinvested communities. Kassandra is a first-generation college graduate and holds a bachelor's degree in economics and finance and a master's degree in economics from the University of Texas at El Paso.
Board Member
Matthew Byrnes
Board Member
Matthew is a creative media educator and ARTS Department Chair at Doña Ana Community College (DACC) in Las Cruces, New Mexico. His work focuses on film, animation, digital media, and preparing students for careers in rapidly evolving creative industries. At DACC, Matthew teaches and develops courses that emphasize storytelling, technical skills, and the integration of emerging tools such as generative AI. He is committed to creating hands-on, portfolio-driven learning experiences that reflect real-world professional workflows and expectations. He also champions experiential learning by connecting students with industry professionals through portfolio reviews, collaborative projects, and community partnerships .He also currently serves on the board of Film Las Cruces and has previously served on the boards of Friends of the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks and the Mesilla Valley Youth Foundation, reflecting his ongoing commitment to community engagement and regional development.
Honorable Past Contributors
