Karina Donayre serves as the Marketing and Communications Manager at Stand for Children Illinois, bringing years of dedicated experience in nonprofit communications to the organization. Her career path has been defined by a love for mission-driven work, and began with her experience as an immigrant rights activist while attending college. Over the years, Karina has expanded her impact by supporting multiple nonprofit organizations, leveraging her background to amplify voices and advocate for systemic change.

As a graduate from Illinois College with a bachelors in Political Science and International Studies, Karina possesses a deep understanding of the systemic structures that influence public policy. She uses her education and advocate experience to understand the meaning behind communications strategies and organizational goals. To complement her professional experience, she completed a Digital Marketing fellowship at COOP, where she refined her technical skills in communications and digital strategy. This accomplishment allowed her to master data-driven communication strategies, ensuring that her advocacy work is backed by an understanding of policy and the digital tools necessary to mobilize communities effectively.

Karina’s commitment to Stand for Children is rooted in her own history. Growing up as an immigrant child, she relied on the support from her teachers, school counselors and mentors to learn English and achieve her dream of going to college. When Karina was asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?” She would often tell people she wanted to be Barbie because “Barbie was everything!” meaning she had every occupation. That same curiosity and desire to try new things has led Karina to discover her passion for communications and storytelling. When she is not working, Karina is visiting new places in Chicago, spending quality time outdoors, and remaining curious about what the big city has to offer.