Get to know the dedicated leaders and staff who make the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation’s mission possible. Our team is passionate about empowering communities, supporting families, and building a brighter future for New Mexico.
Abel Covarrubias is the founder and Chief Executive Officer for the Aprendamos Family of Services organization and Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. Abel founded Aprendamos Early Intervention in 2006 to provide early intervention services for children ages birth to three who are affected by a developmental delay or disability. To continue meeting the community’s needs, Abel created five additional programs to provide a continuum of services for children and their families to include Esperanza Children’s Therapy Clinic, Mariposa Autism Service Center, Alegría Family Counseling, Cariño Home Visiting Program, and the Conscious Fathering Program of Southern New Mexico. These six programs round out the Aprendamos Family of Services organization.
Abel’s background has shaped who he is as a leader. As a first-generation Mexican American and native of New Mexico, his journey began in the farming community of Arrey, NM. He relocated to Las Cruces, NM where he attended New Mexico State University and received a Master of Arts Degree in Special Education/Communication Disorders. It was at NMSU where he met his wife, Monica Marrujo. They later welcomed three daughters to their family: Alexa Rae, Avery Sofia, and Nyla Jade.
Although he did not become a farmer like his brothers, Abel believes in planting seeds to support future generations and giving back to our community. He is a Co-Founder of Hearts for Autism and actively involved in various boards including Las Cruces Catholic Schools, NMSU College of Health, Education and Social Transformation Transition Advisory Committee, Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico Economic Development Advisory Board, Southern New Mexico Catholic Education Foundation, NMSU Foundation, and ZERO TO THREE, a national board based in Washington, DC.
Abel is passionate about philanthropy and believes we have the opportunity to help shape future generations through our actions. He has completed mission trips to Ecuador and Nicaragua and enjoys running marathons, reading a good book, and spending time with his family. Thanks for leading with your heart, Abel, and all you do to make a difference for Aprendamos, the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation, and our community!
Monica Marrujo Covarrubias is a lifelong advocate for children, families, and community well-being in southern New Mexico. With roots deeply grounded in service, faith, and compassion, she has spent more than two decades supporting initiatives that strengthen families, expand access to early childhood services, and invest in the growth and development of local communities.
Monica currently serves as a Theology Teacher at Las Cruces Catholic School, where she blends academic rigor with faith-based formation to help students deepen their understanding of Catholic teachings, moral development, and service to others. She is passionate about inspiring young people to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose—values that align with her broader work in philanthropy.
As a founding member of the St. Joseph’s Fund at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico—established alongside her daughters, Alexa, Avery, and Nyla—Monica helped launch a philanthropic initiative dedicated to empowering local non-profit organizations through strategic mini-grants. The fund reflects her belief that even small investments can create meaningful, long-term change when directed toward education, health, and youth development.
Monica is also a co-founder of the Covarrubias–Aprendamos Foundation, where she brings her passion for service, family-centered values, and collaborative leadership to projects that expand opportunity for children and families across the region. She is especially committed to initiatives that inspire young leaders, foster community belonging, and promote a culture of generosity and hope.
Outside of her work, Monica enjoys spending time with family, traveling, supporting her children in their academic and extracurricular journeys, and cultivating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and empowered. Her dedication to love, service, and community continues to shape the Foundation’s mission of planting seeds of hope for future generations.
Alexa Covarrubias is a proud graduate of Las Cruces High School, Class of 2023. During her time at LCHS, she was actively involved in student leadership and service, participating in Student Government, the French Honor Society, and the tennis team, while volunteering with several local non-profit organizations.
As a founding member of the St. Joseph’s Fund at the Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico—alongside her mother, Monica, and sisters, Avery and Nyla—Alexa helped create a philanthropic initiative designed to empower local organizations through mini-grants that uplift and strengthen communities across southern New Mexico.
Now a sophomore at Texas Tech University, Alexa is pursuing a degree in Personal Finance, where she combines her passion for helping others with her interest in financial empowerment and community building. Her love for philanthropy continues through her involvement with Alpha Phi Sorority, whose national philanthropic focus centers on women’s heart health.
In her free time, Alexa enjoys traveling, practicing yoga and Pilates, and spending time with her friends and family. Guided by compassion, generosity, and community spirit, Alexa embodies the Covarrubias–Aprendamos Foundation’s mission of planting seeds of hope for future generations.
Krystal L. Chavarria is a Developmental Instructionist II/Evaluator for Aprendamos Early Intervention. Krystal received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from New Mexico State University and endorsements in Bilingual Education and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages.)
Krystal’s career at Aprendamos began in 2006 as a File Clerk when she was a senior at Oñate High School. Upon graduation in December 2011, she became a Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist II. In her 19 years with Aprendamos, she has held many positions such as Lead Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Specialist, Child Care Liaison, Community Education Coordinator, Evaluator, and Program Director for the Early Intervention Program. Krystal also created the Early Intervention Internship Program that included collaborations with NMSU, WNMU, UNM and ENMU for the Family Service Coordinator/Developmental Instruction department and later expanded to other therapy departments. She married her husband, Valente Arnulfo González, and with the birth of their daughter, Avelina Andrea González, in November of 2022, she took a pause in her career and returned to Aprendamos in February 2023.
Krystal maintained her presence and participation in Leadership and Coalition initiatives through UNM, Doña Ana Early Childhood Coalition, ACT Early Statewide Coalition, and the Gadsden Chapter and serves on the board of directors for the Children’s Reading Alliance. Krystal is also a co-author for “CREATE EC,” a Zero to Three Journal article published in June 2023. The CREATE EC (Creating Responsive Educational Avenues for Training Environments in Early Childhood) Leadership Academy aimed to strengthen early childhood goals for culturally responsive workforce development through relational leadership and co-create a community-informed approach that shifts early childhood education to grow educators from statewide rural, indigenous and Spanish-speaking communities.
Through her Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation board involvement, Krystal looks forward to using her leadership skills to strengthen the Advancing Social Equity Initiative and Nuestra Juventud programs, initiatives she has participated in since their inception. She looks forward to collaboration with school districts in rural communities such as Gadsden Independent School District, Deming Public Schools, and Hatch Valley Public Schools to support our youth in the surrounding rural communities and develop mentorship opportunities for students in sectors such as health, education, business, technology, science, math, and engineering. Thank you, Krystal, for your dedication to youth in our community and your leadership on the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation!
Alejandra “Ali” Covarrubias-Parra is the Director for Alegría Family Counseling, a Mental Health Clinician, and a board-certified supervisor in New Mexico. She earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2014 and her Clinical Social Work license in 2020. Ali began her career with Aprendamos Early Intervention as a Development Therapist and Social Worker. She has worked with the Children Youth and Families Department, Treatment Foster Care, Public School Districts, and Building Bridges Counseling Services to provide Play Therapy Counseling for children.
Ali is certified to provide training to parents through the Circle of Security Parenting Program and certified in CAMS, a framework approach in treating suicidal risks. She has received training in Synergetic Play Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) and offers individual and family therapy for complex trauma and PTSD, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, behavioral management, parenting support, suicide ideation, and caregiver-child attachment issues. In her free time, Ali can be found exploring the outdoors with her daughter, weight lifting, or spending quality time with her family. Thank you for making a meaningful difference for the children and families served through Alegría and throughout our community, Ali!
Danny Palma is the Founder of Direct Therapy Services (DTS) and a shareholder for the DTS and Aprendamos Family of Services organizations. Originally from New Mexico, Danny attended New Mexico State University and received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, and Master of Arts in Communication Disorders. Specializing in Augmentative and Alternative Communication and Medical Speech-Language Pathology, Danny has used his expertise to serve Direct Therapy Services clients on the New Mexico Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program.
Danny has also been able to see the impact made in the lives of the clients and families served through the DTS and Aprendamos programs, and now the Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation. He shared, “I have observed people get the power of choice making and the pride and self-determination developed when people are valued and allowed to direct their own lives.” The power of positive testimonials has also reinforced the difference these programs can make in people’s lives. Danny added, “I have so many people tell me what a great impact Direct Therapy Services and Aprendamos have had in a friend or family member’s life. It always humbles me and I am always grateful for all the people who have chosen to work with DTS and Aprendamos. What we do matters to so many people.”
In his spare time, Danny enjoys mountain biking, playing pickleball, hiking, and traveling with his wife, Elaine. Thanks for your leadership and all you do for the Direct Therapy Services, Aprendamos Family of Services, and Covarrubias-Aprendamos Foundation organizations, Danny!
