Juan Camilo Saavedra

Juan Camilo Saavedra brings a wealth of experience to his role as the Director of the Food and Nutrition Department at La Colaborativa. Since June 2022, he has strategically led the management of acquiring, storing and distributing perishable inventory each year to feed those facing food insecurity in Chelsea, MA and surrounding communities while scaling the program to integrate nutrition education, local food production, food rescue, and youth development programs. Prior to joining La Colaborativa in July 2022, Juan Camilo served as a Language Interpreter at Just Words Cooperative in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he provided interpretation and translation services to support social, economic, and environmental justice organizations. Additionally, he was a Development Intern at the Northeast Organic Farming Association/Mass (NOFA/Mass), where he researched and wrote grant applications, assisted with event planning, and facilitated workshops. Earlier in his career, Juan Camilo worked as a Program Coordinator at Awamaki in Cusco, Peru, managing program operations and supporting indigenous women’s cooperatives in developing their tourism and artisan business initiatives. He also served as a Consultant for COMUNITUR in Colombia, assisting with the development of community-based ecotourism initiatives and conducting capacity-building workshops for rural cooperatives. Juan Camilo holds an MSc in Rural Development and Natural Resources from El Colegio de la Frontera Sur in Chiapas, Mexico, and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Universidad Externado de Colombia. His extensive background in nonprofit management, community development, and language services makes him a valuable asset to La Colaborativa.