Collin, A.C., Asistencia a Migrantes en Oaxaca
Collin, A.C. Team
Drew C. Johnson
Founder & Director
Drew Johnson, Founder and Director of Collin A.C., was exposed to other countries and cultures by his parents at an early age when his family lived in Spain and in Jalisco, Mexico. As an adult, he spent long periods traveling off the tourist routes, which gave him both insights into other cultures as well an awareness of systemic inequalities, especially in developing countries. After nineteen years living in Bali, Drew moved to northern Colombia, where his compassion and empathy moved him to address the plight of Venezuelan refugees living on the streets there. He assisted families by helping to provide food, clothing, medical help, housing, and even assistance with sourcing equipment for startup businesses. He also supported two soup kitchens in his community. In October 2020 Drew moved to Oaxaca and was deeply troubled by the growing number of vulnerable people from across Latin America who were transiting the city. Once again, he wanted to provide assistance, and with a small group of volunteers, he was able to operate a soup kitchen. In 2023, Drew, Elisa Gonzales Morales and Mayra Hernandez Rivera formally established Collin A.C., which is committed to offering humanitarian aid, and advocating for the human rights and well-being of all people on the move.
Elisa González Morales
Director
Elisa González Morales is the Director, Operations of Collin A.C. She graduated from the Benito Juárez Autonomous University of Oaxaca with a degree in business administration. Elisa’s work with people on the move began after her graduation, when she became an administrative assistant at a migrant support organization that provided shelter in the city of Oaxaca. Subsequently, Elisa was appointed coordinator of the organization, where she discovered her true calling: to provide support to people from neighboring countries who were in difficult situations. In May 2022, she, Drew Johnson, and Mayra Hernández Rivera met to discuss forming a not-for-profit to serve people on the move. While continuing to refine their vision, they began to deliver daily food with the help of dedicated volunteers. Collin was officially registered as an Asociacion Civil in August 2023, and today it has become a source of hope for the thousands of people it serves.
Mayra Hernández Rivera
Administrator
Mayra Hernández Rivera is originally from San Andrés Zautla, an indigenous community in the Etla District of the Valles Centrales region, Oaxaca. Her work as a legal advocate has primarily been in human rights, an interest that developed with her service to multiple marginalized communities. In 2016, Mayra began a collaboration with a civil association in Oaxaca de Juarez that provided refuge to people migrating through Oaxaca. Direct contact with these vulnerable people, while witnessing the injustices they endured, deepened her strong commitment to defending human rights, particularly those of people on the move. She considers the issue of justice in migration to be one of the most significant challenges in Mexico today. In 2023, Mayra joined together with Drew Johnson and Elisa Gonzalez Morelos, to form Collin, A.C. to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for people transiting Oaxaca.
Luz Lajous Vargas
Board Member
Luz Lajous Vargas, a prominent Mexican businesswoman and politician, is the founder of and served on the board of Pro Mujer-Mexico, a nonprofit organization operating in four Latin American countries, whose purpose is to empower poor women through micro loans for small businesses. She is a past president of the International Women's Forum, one of the foremost global women’s leadership organizations. She is the founder and former managing director of Russell Reynolds Associates, Mexico, a leading global executive recruitment firm, and has served as executive vice president of the Nucleo Radio Mil radio network and as a management consultant with McKinsey & Co. Her political career includes holding a position as secretary general of the Mexico City Chapter of the Partido Revolutionario and serving in the Mexican Congress for 15 years as Representative and Senator. She was the president of the Mexico City Legislative Committee during that period.
Lina Martinez Negrete
Board Member
Lina Martinez Negrete, a longtime resident of Oaxaca, is a retired clinical psychologist who practiced family and couple therapy and who trained other psychologists. She received her training at the Iberoaomericana University in Mexico City.
Lina collaborates with the Fondo Guadalupe Musalem, which supports disadvantaged young women mainly from rural, indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities in Oaxaca, so that they can carry out their studies and achieve personal development grounded in ethical values. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Oaxaca Lending Library, a library and cultural center serving the Oaxacan community.
Abe Torres
Board Member
Abe Torres, a board member of Collin A.C., is a native of Oaxaca, where he has pursued his passion for educating. He currently teaches English and French in the Languages Department of Benito Juarez Autonomous University Oaxaca. Abe also serves as a translator for government, NGOs and corporate entities, and teaches Spanish and French privately. He completed two terms as a Director of the Oaxaca Lending Library (OLL), where he was instrumental in developing joint programs with other local NGOs that benefitted the larger Oaxaca community.
Anne Hall
Board Member
Anne Hall is a registered nurse with over 25 years of experience in both clinical research and practical nursing. She has provided medical care in hospitals, private institutions, and with nonprofits. Her experience includes management, teaching, training, and development of care protocols. Anne is a member of the Board of Directors and serves as the Volunteer Training Coordinator for Collin, A.C., where she is helping to serve the needs of the migrant community with her healthcare expertise.
Tanya Lapierre
Board Member
Tanya Lapierre, a resident of Oaxaca, is actively engaged with Collin, A.C. Most recently, she is a director on the Board; she has also volunteered as a helper in the kitchen and she redesigned the website. Tanya volunteers with organizations that organize cat and dog sterilization clinics throughout the state of Oaxaca. She also volunteers for the Oaxaca Lending Library's hiking program, where she previously served a 6-month term on the Board as secretary. Among her other professional positions, Tanya consults on international human resources and global mobility with multinational organizations.