Monica Pacanins

Relationship Manager

Monica is originally from Venezuela and spent her formative years in Alabama. She earned her BS in Anthropology from Towson University. Passionate about culture and cultivating empathy, she spent the last decade slowly traveling the globe — living, working, and studying on 6 continents. Some of her work includes refugee support on the Greek island of Lesvos during the Mediterranean Refugee crisis, education development in rural Zambia, and ethnographic research with Venezuelan refugees and forced migrants working in the informal economy in Bogotá, Colombia. After completing a Masters in Anthropology and Development Studies in the Netherlands, Monica returned to the US in 2019. She is excited to be a part of HFLA working towards economic equity and empowerment in Northeast Ohio and the opportunities for learning, growth, and impact it offers.

Contact Monica at monica@interestfree.org.