Our mission is to strengthen and build up the capacity of Latino, Hispanic, and immigrant communities by providing access to education, wellness programs, and trusted resources that empower families and students to thrive.
Through community partnerships, culturally responsive support, and advocacy, we work to ensure that every family has the tools, knowledge, and opportunities needed to build a brighter future.
Our Vision
We envision communities where families and students — regardless of income, age, race, or ethnicity — have equitable access to education, opportunity, and wellbeing. A future where knowledge is power, barriers are removed, and every dream has the chance to grow.
Our Core Values
Empowerment We believe that information is power. We equip families and students with knowledge and tools that allow them to make informed decisions and advocate for themselves.
Equity Every individual deserves fair access to education, opportunities, and resources regardless of background or income.
Community We believe strong communities are built through trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility.
Cultural Pride We honor and celebrate the rich cultures, languages, and traditions of Latino, Hispanic, and immigrant families.
Compassion & Dignity Every person deserves to be treated with respect, understanding, and humanity.
Resilience We believe in the strength, courage, and perseverance of our communities and work to help families turn challenges into opportunities.
Keep Dreams Alive Foundation was born in a moment of crisis — and in a moment of community.
In 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, many families in the Latino and Hispanic community were left with limited access to reliable information, resources, and support. Language barriers, misinformation, and systemic inequities made it difficult for families to understand rapidly changing public health guidelines, access vaccines, and find the services they needed.
In response, Keep Dreams Alive Foundation began as a grassroots community effort dedicated to ensuring that families had access to accurate information, trusted resources, and compassionate support. What started as neighbors helping neighbors quickly grew into a movement focused on empowerment, education, and wellbeing.
With the overwhelming response from the community and the continued need for culturally responsive support, Keep Dreams Alive Foundation officially became an established nonprofit organization in July 2020.
As our work expanded, so did our commitment to serving those who need support the most. In 2022, KDAF recognized the unique challenges faced by Ukrainian and Afghan refugee families who had relocated to Washington State. We stepped forward to help these families navigate unfamiliar systems — including schools, social services, and community resources — ensuring they felt welcomed, informed, and supported.
That same year, the impact of our work was recognized by the broader community. In December 2022, Keep Dreams Alive Foundation received its first official recognition when we were honored as Nonprofit of the Year by the Greater Marysville–Tulalip Chamber of Commerce. This milestone affirmed the power of grassroots leadership and the strength of a community coming together to uplift one another.
In 2023, as many families continued to face the economic consequences of the pandemic, housing instability became a growing crisis. Many families in our community were facing eviction or struggling to understand their rights as tenants. In response, KDAF launched Family Academies, creating safe spaces where families could learn about housing resources, understand their tenant rights, and build the knowledge and confidence needed to advocate for themselves. Through these workshops, we walked alongside families—supporting them not only with information, but with hope.
In 2025, Keep Dreams Alive Foundation reached an important milestone: five years of serving our community. We are incredibly proud of how far we have come since our humble beginnings in 2020. What started as a small community response during a time of uncertainty has grown into a trusted organization committed to education, advocacy, and community empowerment.
Today, we continue working hand in hand with families, students, and community partners to create opportunities, build resilience, and ensure that every person has access to the information and support they need to thrive.
We celebrate the journey we have traveled — and we remain inspired by the many dreams that are still ahead.
Because at Keep Dreams Alive Foundation, our work is not only about providing resources. It is about walking alongside our community and making sure every dream has a chance to grow.
Board Members
Dafne Powell Executive Director
Maria Noemi Behrens Board President
Ana Pulgar Board Treasurer
Patricia Grijalva Board Secretary
Maria Noemi Behrens
Board President
My name is Maria Noemi Behrens.
Born in Mexico, María earned her higher education degree from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and emigrated to the United States in 1996 with her family, making Washington State her home, where she raised her two children.
After gaining more than 14 years of experience working with Head Start families in positions of increasing responsibility at Edmonds Community College and United Indians of All Tribes Foundation in Seattle, María realized that families lacked knowledge about how to support their children in pursuing higher education and were unaware of the resources available to help students achieve their educational aspirations. She made it her mission to change that. María provided social services to low-income families in one of the most impoverished and high-risk areas of the city of Everett for 10 years. Her professional experience includes working with families from diverse backgrounds, including Latino and Native communities.
While working at the Center for Diversity and Equity at Everett Community College, she established partnerships with Snohomish County high schools and community organizations to build capacity within the Latino community to access higher education and advocate for diversity and equity issues on campus and in the community.
The achievement María is most proud of is the support she provides to nontraditional students returning to school. Before the pandemic, she helped 80% of the GED graduates from Connect Casino Road begin their college careers.
María’s passion and commitment are to support students and their families in reducing the equity gap in education by intentionally addressing the systemic barriers in their educational experiences that make it difficult for students to graduate from high school prepared for college. María firmly believes that education is the pathway through which families achieve economic progress and intergenerational economic mobility.
Ana Pulgar
Board Treasurer
Born in the city of Barranquilla, Colombia, daughter of Rafael Pulgar and Elba Carcamo, and sister of Rafael, Dedriz, and Beky. Mother of Gaby and Gail.
She graduated as a psychologist from Universidad del Norte and specialized in Psychology for Autonomous Learning. During the first ten years of her professional career in Colombia, she developed extensive experience as a professor, lecturer, and learning facilitator in university, business, and social settings.
At the administrative level, she led student recruitment and admissions processes, coordinated business internship programs, and served as Director of Student Wellness, where she successfully implemented programs that promoted integration and interaction within the educational community, holistic development, entrepreneurial leadership, and the creation of life projects grounded in human values and social responsibility.
In 2010, she moved to the United States, living in Kentucky, Florida, and Washington. She is currently employed at Everett Community College, where she works as a Financial Aid Evaluator. Her passion is supporting students, families, and the community in exploring different options to finance their college education.
As an immigrant and someone familiar with the barriers that prevent many students from completing higher education in Washington State, she decided to join efforts with a group of professionals to create the nonprofit organization Keep Dreams Alive. Through this foundation, she seeks to support and serve the Snohomish County community, especially the Hispanic population, in achieving their educational, professional, and social goals.
Patricia Grijalva
Board Secretary
Patricia was born in Chicago, Illinois, where her father, originally from Mexico, and her mother, born in Colombia, met after immigrating to the United States in the 1970s. As the daughter of two immigrants, Spanish became Patricia’s first language.
Thanks to the encouragement of her parents, the educational system, and her own determination, she eventually became fluent in both English and Spanish. This was one of many challenges she viewed as necessary to break through barriers that would ultimately lead her to become an interpreter and advocate for her family. Over time, her drive for self-improvement was fueled by the inspiration of teachers and mentors who helped guide her path to college.
In 1989, Patricia, her younger sister, and her parents moved to California due to financial hardships. In 2002, Patricia graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Child and Adolescent Studies and minoring in Human Services. Early in her career, Patricia gained professional experience in retail management, the food industry, healthcare, and social work.
In 2011, Patricia moved to Washington, where she now lives with her husband and son. During her time in Washington, she has gained additional professional experience in property management, case management, and most recently in education, where she serves as a Student Support Advocate for the Mukilteo School District. In 2015, she was appointed to a four-year term on the City of Everett Diversity Advisory Board. There, she learned to promote diversity within the community with the goal of creating greater opportunities and a more welcoming environment for marginalized individuals.
Patricia believes that having strong faith and personal determination are the two main elements needed to overcome any obstacle in life. Through Keep Dreams Alive, she hopes to plant these seeds so future generations can continue to thrive.
We support students and families in navigating the path toward college and career success.
Services include:
• FAFSA and WASFA workshops • College and career readiness support • Information sessions on higher education programs • ELEVATE Program (Access to Adults 25+ to College and Higher Education)
• Guidance for students and families unfamiliar with the U.S. education system
We believe that every student deserves the opportunity to pursue their dreams through education.
