At RCLA, Amparo's main accomplishments include
the successful direction of the Research and
Documentation component of Leadership for a
Changing World and her participation as a LCW
co-researcher. She has contributed to writing
papers on social change leadership that emphasize
the use of Participatory Action Research; the study
of the role of culture and identity in social change
organizations; leadership in immigrant communities;
and the role of universities in supporting social change.
At RCLA, Amparo has also directed the production
of booklets, papers and other material for academics
and practitioners and the design of leadership
development curriculum, training and conferences as
a way to disseminate methodologies and leadership
best practices and to support dialogue and reflection.
Currently, Amparo is leading the Social Change
Leadership Network, a new initiative that
builds on the experience RCLA has acquired in the
past seven years of working with more than 300
social change organizations.
Prior to joining RCLA, Amparo had the opportunity
to do research on immigrant organizations as well
as squatter movements in Latin America and the
United States. She also directed several
community-based research programs and public
service initiatives in New York City including a
four-year research and intervention program on
Latino immigrants in NYC and the HATS program,
a successful comprehensive HIV/AIDS research and
social service intervention at the Harlem Hospital of
Columbia University.
Amparo has taught as an adjunct lecturer in the
Sociology Department of New York University,
(CUNY) Hostos Community College Social Studies
Division, and the Columbia University Spanish and
Portuguese Department. Amparo earned a LLB in
Law from Universidad Externado de Colombia
(Colombia, SA) and a MA Phil. in Sociology from
New York University.
