Leslie Baer Dinkel

Department

Local Hope

Job Title

CEO

INSTRUCTION LANGUAGES

English, Spanish

PERSONAL BIO

Leslie Baer Dinkel is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Local Hope / Xela AID, a nonprofit working in the Central Highlands of Guatemala to help indigenous Mayan families become healthy, educated, and self-reliant. She founded the organization in 1992 after traveling to Guatemala to study Spanish and encountering severe poverty amid the country’s civil unrest. Profoundly affected by the experience, she built Xela AID on the belief that sustainable development requires long-term partnership, education, and dignity of local leadership. Under her direction, the organization has grown into a model of integrated rural development—providing health and mental-health services, education, economic empowerment, environmental protection, and leadership training. Over three decades, her work has been recognized internationally for establishing one of the most comprehensive community development programs among Guatemala’s indigenous peoples. She recounts this journey in her memoir, Hope Dancing: Finding Purpose and a Place to Serve among the Maya, which details the danger, hope, and humanity she encountered while founding and expanding Xela AID.

Before devoting herself full-time to Local Hope, Dinkel built a career in communications and nonprofit management. She served as Chief Communications Officer for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where she led public relations and marketing initiatives to engage diverse audiences in science and education. She later joined the Catalina Island Conservancy as its Chief of Educational Outreach and Marketing, advancing conservation and environmental-education programs for one of California’s most significant island ecosystems. Dinkel’s professional background combines expertise in storytelling, education, and community engagement—skills she has channeled into Local Hope’s mission of self-reliance and empowerment. Though her early academic history includes a Masters in Communications, her lasting classroom has been the Guatemalan highlands, where her work continues to inspire volunteers, partners, and local leaders dedicated to sustainable change.

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WORK EXPERIENCE AND AWARDS

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Founder and CEO, Local Hope (also known as Xela Aid), USA & Guatemala (1992-present)
Chief of Educational Outreach and Marketing, Catalina Island Conservancy, USA (2004-2013)
Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Los Angeles County Natural History Museum, USA (2001-2004)
Director of College Relations, Harvey Mudd College, USA (1996-2001)
Director of Communications, Whittier College, USA (1994-1996)

AWARDS:

Rotary International District Governer’s Service Award (2018)
"Special Recognition for Outstanding Service to the Community," Congress of the United States (2000)

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Masters in Organizational Management, Azusa Pacific University, USA

Bachelor in Communications, Journalism and Marketing, California State University, USA

VacancIES

Brief Introduction of the Department

This department oversees the full spectrum of Local Hope’s in-country operations in Guatemala, coordinating initiatives across education, health and wellness, economic development, and volunteer engagement. Its role is to ensure that each program area works in alignment toward the organization’s overarching mission—to empower families and communities through sustainable, locally driven development. By integrating these efforts, the department helps strengthen capacity, enhance program impact, and maintain a cohesive approach to community advancement.

Department Staff Number

More than 10 people

Internship Job Description

Local Hope, also known as Xela AID Partnerships for Self-Reliance, empowers indigenous Mayan families and communities in the Central Highlands of Guatemala to be healthy, educated, and self reliant through programs in education, women’s empowerment, small business development, health promotion, clean water, and volunteer engagement.

Internship Description

This internship offers NTU students meaningful, hands-on experience in international nonprofit development and community empowerment. Interns will work alongside Local Hope’s staff and community partners, contributing to initiatives in education, health, women’s leadership, and small enterprise development.

Key Responsibilities

Assist in project research, reporting, and documentation.
Support social media, communications, and outreach to local and international audiences.
Contribute to cross-cultural exchange programming and volunteer coordination.
Assist with fundraising campaigns and donor engagement activities.
Help design a formal volunteer trip program for NTU students and families—a transformative nine-day experience offering:
- Immersive participation in Local Hope’s development programs.
- Opportunities to engage in meaningful, interest-aligned volunteer projects.
- Cultural exchange and understanding of Mayan heritage.
- Safe, modern accommodation and guided experiences in the local community.

This collaboration aims to deepen understanding of global citizenship and sustainable development through direct participation in an established and highly regarded community program.

Learning Outcomes

• Gain firsthand insight into grassroots nonprofit operations and international project management.

• Develop skills in program evaluation, communications, and community outreach.

• Explore key issues in international development, sustainability, and cross-cultural collaboration.

• Strengthen professional English and Spanish communication skills in a real-world context.

• Acquire practical experience in volunteer program design, implementation, and optimization for NTU student and family participation.

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Preferred Intern Education Level

Undergraduate students (third year and above)
Master Students

Preferred Intern Skill Sets or Qualities

Passionate about community development
Creative
Good conversational Spanish
Able to work cooperatively in cross-cultural settings
Creative and flexible mindset — because you’ll be asked to adapt an existing volunteer program into a meaningful, culturally engaging experience for NTU students and their families

Internship Period

Others

Expected working hours per week: 32 hours
Salary/Financial Support: Voyage of Aspiration Intern Scholarship
Free Accommodation
Most meals will be provided