Unbound has subject matter experts available for interviews on topics including:
Global development:
Latin America, Africa and Asia
Education and child development
Entrepreneurship and social enterprise
Disaster response and recovery
Child and elder sponsorship
Women’s empowerment
Microfinancing and cash transfers
Program evaluation
Ashley Hufft
Dan Pearson
Dan Pearson leads Unbound's International Programs Department in its role to monitor the effectiveness and fiscal credibility of Unbound’s programs across Latin America, Asia and Africa. Dan travels extensively to support and evaluate Unbound’s impact around the world. He has lived and worked in South America, Europe, and Western and South Asia. His areas of expertise include global development, disaster response and recovery, child development, social enterprise and microfinancing. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
Melissa Velazquez
As vice president of program evaluation and learning, international programs, Melissa Velazquez leads Unbound in fostering a global culture of learning that adapts local initiatives, advances program impact and promotes evidence-based decision making at all levels. Melissa has dedicated most of her career to building the framework for measuring program effectiveness that puts the goals and voices of program participants at the center. Her experience working collaboratively with local program teams crosses geographies, languages and sector disciplines. Her areas of expertise include program evaluation; participatory methods; anti-poverty programming, particularly in Latin America; sponsorship; cash transfers; and Poverty Stoplight methodology. Melissa is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Becky Findley
As Unbound’s vice president of program development, Becky Findley leads the implementation and development of Unbound’s programs around the world, ensuring they create a positive impact and support families and communities on their self-directed paths out of poverty. With prior experience as a Peace Corps volunteer and social worker, Becky has supported mothers groups and youth groups in the Dominican Republic and worked with immigrant and refugee populations in Kansas City through case management, early childhood education and financial inclusion. Becky’s areas of expertise include global development, women’s empowerment, child development, financial justice, program evaluation and international social work.
Unbound believes the best experts are the ones closest to the work
Our families lead the way in Unbound. In addition to the Unbound staff above, we can connect you with a participant in the Unbound program to share their perspective and experience
Where we work
We work in three main regions around the world: Africa, Asia and Latin America. Political climate, exchange rates, poverty levels and economic activity are key factors that influence where we choose to focus our efforts. It’s our goal to provide support in areas where children, elders and families need it most.
