Co-Founder & CEO

Javier Payano!

I am excited for you to join the Teach Human Values Membership because you will learn how to bring mindfulness and emotional awareness to your relationships, promoting wellbeing for everyone lucky enough to know you, including your colleagues and students.

Becoming a member will also connect you with a community of teachers that believe they can make an impact through practicing Education in Human Values. Our teachers, students, and families have benefited so deeply through human values and I want you also to experience the same freedom and power.

Wellbeing is a skill, and we learn better when we practice it!

Board Chair & Directo

Jamie Umanzor

amie is a neurodiverse, queer person of color and child of immigrants with invisible disabilities. They were YMCA of the USA's first national manager for an LGBTQ+ portfolio. With over 14 years of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) experience, Jamie has led grassroots efforts in California, Hawaii, and Chicago through national and regional trainings, conferences, and initiatives.

In 2020, Jamie founded C3 Equity, offering LGBTQ+ and DEI consulting through culturally humble, trauma-informed strategies. In 2021, they joined the executive team at Howard Brown Health as Director of DEI. Jamie holds a B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Public Administration, and they are a self-proclaimed "super-nerd" passionate about indigenous spirituality, anti-racism, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and Dungeons & Dragons (D&D).

Jamie created a homebrew D&D5e campaign inspired by Hawaiian culture and the modern sovereignty movement, eager to guide their team of LGBTQ+ indigenous players through this unique world.

Co-Founder & CEO

Andrea Benavides Chaves

As a Conscious Parenting Coach and a Human Values Education certified teacher, Andrea is specializes in creating spaces of awareness and healing that inspire community members to create the best quality of life for everyone.

Formerly Program Director at Chicago Metamorphosis Orchestra Project (ChiMOP) and Assistant Director of Music Education in Human Values and Research at EMCO (Cóbano Music School, Costa Rica), Andrea has extensive experience in community music programs that aim to provide excellent music education to historically disinvested populations.

She attended North Park University with the Rita Simo Scholarship after studying violin for 7 years at SiNEM (National System of Music Education, Costa Rica) and received the Certificate in Music for Social Change and Human Values.

Marketing & Finance Team

Victoria Gabrielsen

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Victoria’s love of music began at age 3, when her grandmother took her to her first musical. She grew up in New Berlin, Wisconsin, with passionate and supportive orchestra teachers. Her music education journey started in 2011 at Northern Michigan University, where she received the Harden Scholarship, a full four-year scholarship.

Victoria earned her Bachelor’s in Music Education with honors in 2015 and taught beginner strings and youth orchestras in Marquette. In 2016, on the day the Cubs won the World Series, she fulfilled her dream of moving to Chicago.

She currently teaches violin and viola at LYRIQ Music School and lives in Edgewater with her partner, Ana, and their cat, Kitty. Victoria enjoys exploring Chicago, reading, learning mandolin, playing video games, and cooking.

Practice Guide Team & HVC Podcast Host

Melody Fevrier

Melody was born in Castries, St. Lucia, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Arts and General Music Studies at North Park University, studying violin with Dr. Renée Gauthier.

In 2017, Melody interned at the intentional Christian community Jesus People USA, sparking her love for community life and service. After transferring to North Park in 2020, she deepened her work through classes and discussions with the Human Values Collective, fostering growth as a person and musician. She hopes to continue advancing Education in Human Values globally.

Melody is part of the Practice Guide Team, contributes to the Human Values Collective Podcast, and plays in the University Orchestra, the ‘Pour Clara’ Piano Quintet, and a contemporary folk Indie band. In her free time, she enjoys writing, reading, learning languages, poetry, dancing, biking, and volleyball.

Teaching Team & Webmaster

Mi Ran Choi

Mi Ran Choi is a Chicago-based cellist and cello instructor. Originally from Los Angeles, Mi Ran moved to Chicago in 2017 to complete their Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance and Certificate in Music for Social Change and Human Values at North Park University. There, she was introduced to Education in Human Values (EHV) by Dr. Tom Zelle and Javier Payano through the certificate program & annual workshops.

Through these experiences, especially from completing the Sathya Sai School of Thailand's teacher training course in 2019, Mi Ran enjoyed tremendous personal growth and opportunities to serve their new home community. This led them to become involved with forming the Human Values Collective and assist with workshops and website design.

They currently teach cello lessons at the Chicago West Community Music Center and at Northeastern Illinois University's (NEIU) Community Music Program as senior cello faculty. At NEIU, Mi Ran additionally completed their Master of Arts degree in Applied Music Pedagogy in December 2022.