Pamela Gilbert
CEO/Founder of Centro Educativo La Minga, Inc.
Pamelita is the eldest of three children born to a hard-working couple who started their own hardware store in 1950 in a suburb of Detroit, MI. She graduated summa cum laude from Central Michigan University with a major in mathematics and minor in economics. Early in her teaching career, she discovered Colorado and taught the majority of her high school math classes in Boulder, CO. Pam also had the opportunity to teach in Japan, Australia, and China plus visit (either on motorcycle, bicycle, public transportation, etc) over 60 countries. To develop additional skills, she has run several ‘micro-businesses’ both for profit and non-profit: landlady, tax preparer, landscaping service, tutor, ESL teacher, handy-woman service, x-c ski assistant, Colorado Master Gardener volunteer, and more. After 30 years of teaching experience she decided to be ‘jubliada’ – Spanish for ‘retired’. And she is jubiliant with her current passion – since 2003 - to help the Kichwa in the Andes of Ecuador with education, potable and irrigation systems, and erosion control projects.
Richard E. Newton
Board Member of Centro Educativo La Minga, Inc.
Principal of Stern and Newton Attorneys at Law, P.C.
Ex-President and Founder of Grand Recycles
Ex-President of East Grand Education Foundation
In 2005, Rich motivated and accomplished pro-bono the 501(c) 3 non-profit corporation status for “pam’s project” now formally known as Centro Educativo La Minga, Inc.
Lynn Veeser
Board Member of Centro Educativo La Minga, Inc.
Lynn Veeser was raised on a dairy farm along the shores of Lake Michigan in northeastern Wisconsin. His education was at the University of Wisconsin, and he finished with a PhD in nuclear physics in 1967. He is retired after a long career at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and now works part time as a consultant doing science experiments, data analysis, technical writing, and editing. Lynn's hobbies are skiing, biking, tennis, reading, and the guitar. He has a special interest in science and math education.
Jenny Beltman
Board Member of Centro Educativo La Minga, Inc.
My name is Jenny Beltman to my students Madame or Maestra Beltman. I teach 6th, 7th, and 8th graders both French and Spanish at East Grand Middle School in Grand County, Colorado. I was born in the U.S.A. and I first heard French spoken in my home from ages 3-5 when my family hosted Amity-Aids and exchange students from Tunisia and France. This sparked my interest in languages. I went on to receive a B.A. in French from the U of Minnesota and did two study abroad programs in France for a total of two years. While teaching K-8 French in Grand County, Colorado, I received my alternative teaching license in 2003. I took a sabbatical in 2004-05 to Veracruz, Mexico to learn Spanish and teach English to 1st graders at El Colegio American de Veracruz and to Todos Santos Guatemala where I volunteered at a Spanish and Mum Language School. My photo is taken in Todos Santos, Guatemala. I am dressed in the hand- woven traditional “traje” of the village. I am holding Monkey the Dog who I saved from her street dog life. She is now a happy and healthy Colorado dog. I achieved Masters of Education in World Language Instruction from Concordia College in May of 2012. I first became acquainted with El Centro Educativo La Minga in 2007 at a library presentation of Pam’s. Pam was surprised and delighted when I raised my hand to volunteer for a month in Malingua Pamba after she casually concluded her presentation with “Would anyone like to volunteer?” I spent a month in Malingua Pamba in July 2007. I continued with my association with El Centro Educativo La Minga through my friendship with Pam and my sponsorship of a student at El Centro Educativo La Minga. I have recently become a El Centro Educativo La Minga Board member in the fall of 2012. I spent another week volunteering in Malingua Pamba in April of 2013.
Amy Miller
Board Member of Centro Educativo La Minga, Inc.
Amy Miller
I graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies. My emphasis and specialty is Early Childhood Development. My travel bug was ignited during college when I had the opportunity to travel to 10 counties while spending a Semester at Sea After graduation; I found my way to Grand County and began teaching 3 and 4 year old children how to ski at Winter Park Resort. I am currently the director of Eternal Hills Preschool and a proud mother of 2 wonderful children. I have a deep passion for Ecuador and the Kichwa people.
If you would like more information on Minga, including donations and volunteer opportunities,
please contact: Pam Gilbert Fairview High School Math teacher, retired Boulder, Colorado, USA
call: 303-543-8223, Write:
PO Box 1877
Granby, CO 80446-1877
or email me at
Tax deductible checks can be sent to:
Centro Educativo La Minga, Inc.
c/o Pamela Gilbert
PO Box 1877
Granby, CO 80446-1877