We are a diverse community of people working to improve the lives of others
Staff Spotlight: Enma Gutiérrez
“My job at the health center in Los Robles is focused on individual care oriented on health promotion, maintenance, and recuperation. I also promote ways to increase individuals’ quality of life and social well being and create spaces to train people and groups about ways to address their health needs and problems.”
Our Story
Comunidad Connect was founded in the U.S. in 2007 by Jon Thompson and Roman Yavich while they both were in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Jon was directing a local education foundation and Roman was conducting research on the impact of tourism development on a Fulbright grant. Their shared interest in responsible community and economic development in Nicaragua led to the formation of Comunidad Connect, a social enterprise that combines sustainable tourism with grass roots development work.
Comunidad Connect began by listening to local residents and leaders, public institutions and the private sector to identify development priorities. Working on a shoestring budget, with small grants, volunteers, and a few key donors, Comunidad Connect restored a neglected community space into a bustling multi-use recreational facility coined the San Juan del Sur Sports Park and launched the town’s first municipal recycling program.
Sociedad Civil Comunidad Connect was registered in 2012 as Comunidad Connect’s sister organization in Nicaragua. This alliance formalized the Cultural Connections program which facilitates service learning trips in Latin America. Revenue from this sustainable tourism program funds ongoing programs and organizations in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic dedicated to improving community health, empowering youth through education and sports, and supporting sustainable community development.
The story of Comunidad Connect is not singular. It is collection of people, places and experiences; a shared narrative grounded in the belief that everyone wants to make a difference in the world.
Together we work to make that happen.
Our Partners
We work with a variety of institutions, ranging from small grassroots community organizations to large universities. The impact we have accomplished together inspire and move us forward. Listed are past and present partners.
Universities
- Kennesaw State University
- Georgia State University
- University of North Georgia
- University of Virginia
- University of Oregon
- Yale University
- The Ohio State University
- Upstate University
- University of Calgary
- University of Alabama
- Tufts University
- California Poly Technical University
- Valdosta State
- New York University- Alternative Breaks
- Syracuse- Alternative Breaks
- University of Colorado
- Emory University
- Queens College, City University of New York
- University of Tennessee
Local Partners
- Puente
- Horizontes de Salud (Health Horizons) International, Dominican Republic
- Ministry of Health, Nicaragua
- Asociación para el Desarrollo De Villa Montellano, Dominican Republic
- Random Acts, United States
- The Lily Project, Nicaragua
- CannaCauses Foundation, United States
Faith Groups
- Life Bridge, GA
- Smoke Rise Baptist, GA
- Westminster Presbyterian, NC
- Weslyan School, GA
- Holy Trinity, GA
- Athens First UMC,GA
- Decatur Presbyterian, GA
- Global X,GA
- Hartwell Presbyterian, GA
- Honduras Outreach International, GA
- Hamilton Mill UMC, GA
- Alfaretta Rotary, GA