Claudia Montes Salinas
About Claudia Montes Salinas
Claudia Montes Salinas serves as an Immigrant & Refugee Program Specialist at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library, where she has worked since 2019. With a background in education and community development, she actively engages with immigrant populations and fosters partnerships with local organizations.
Work at Indianapolis Marion County Public Library
Claudia Montes Salinas has served as the Immigrant & Refugee Program Specialist at the Indianapolis Marion County Public Library since 2019. In this role, she is responsible for evaluating and developing library initiatives tailored for immigrant populations. She cultivates partnerships with community organizations, government entities, and educational institutions to enhance library services. Additionally, she acts as an ambassador for the library at community events, fostering positive relationships with community partners.
Previous Experience at Indianapolis Public Schools
Before her current role, Claudia worked as the College and Career Readiness Coordinator at Indianapolis Public Schools from 2014 to 2019. In this position, she focused on preparing students for post-secondary education and career opportunities. Her experience in education has contributed to her understanding of the needs of diverse student populations.
Educational Background
Claudia Montes Salinas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish & Translation Studies from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, which she completed from 2006 to 2011. She further pursued a Master's Degree in Urban Education at the same institution from 2013 to 2016. Additionally, she studied at Butler University, obtaining a Graduate Secondary Spanish and English as a New Language Licensure from 2019 to 2021. She also attended Ivy Tech Community College, where she earned a degree in General Studies from 2006 to 2009.
Community Engagement and Initiatives
Claudia co-founded the Latino Youth Collective of Indiana, focusing on personal and community development through critical pedagogy and grassroots organizing. She has also helped run the Athena Academy for Media Arts and Science, a six-week summer program aimed at training Latino youth in Participatory Action Research using New Media Technologies. Her work emphasizes the importance of community involvement and education for Latino youth.
Professional Roles and Contributions
Claudia has held various roles that contribute to her expertise in community service and education. She worked as an Adjunct Professor at IUPUI from 2016 to 2017 and has experience with the National Council of La Raza as a Lideres Summit Staff in 2009. Additionally, she served in various capacities at IUPUI, including as an Office of Community Service Agency Liaison and a Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholar. Her diverse professional background supports her current initiatives at the library.