OUR
TEAM
MEET THE TEAM
Javier Mendez
Javier Mendez founded L.E.G.I.T. as a small group Bible study in his living room after the loss of one of his church’s youth, Rodney Martinez, in 2008. Since then, his dream of engaging youth and young adults in church has evolved into an overall passion for equipping and empowering all generations in their leadership potential. His leadership and relationship building skills catalyzed the organization’s growth across the country and internationally. Likewise, his visionary thinking grew the organization from a faith-based ministry to a non-profit that moreover serves communities in their needs including leadership training, health clinics, orphanage development and clean water initiatives. Javier left his longtime work as a security guard in the public school system in 2016 to pursue L.E.G.I.T. as a full-time endeavor. While he’s a father-figure to many, Javier has a son and a daughter whom he lovingly brought up with his wife, Maribel -- the ministry’s mama bear. In 2019, his family welcomed the first grandchild. While over 50 years old, Javi isn’t slowing down just yet. You can catch him slinging weight at his CrossFit style gym as he trains for whichever mission might come next.
Angel Alonso
Angel Alonso directs staff and gets them to go all in and out to engage especially our youth and young adults. No matter how great the programming, the best way to reach the next generation is in relationship building, Angel truly masters that. He came to the ministry through the young adult Bible study early on and his first job was working at Cool Camp, the inspiration for L.E.G.I.T. Kids, back in 2011. Angel is outnumbered at home as he’s married to our Assistant Director, Christina, with whom he parents arguably two of the cutest little girls. A talented storyteller, Angel is passionate about writing, voice acting and world building. But, you can find him teaching Spanish at a private school by day.
Christina Alonso
Christina Alonso is one of two assistant director’s on the team. She joined the team first as a local camp director in an often overlooked coal town in Central Pennsylvania. Where others found any opportunity to leave, Christina has a heart for the town and its kids which she also serves as a public school teacher. Christina supports the team by collaborating with camp directors to implement camps annually with great care for logistics and organization. Her own actualization of the three-step evangelical program makes her perfect to mentor and instruct camp directors to engage campers, youth and young adults year round. Christina married Angel Alonso, another member of the L.E.G.I.T. team in 2016 and is mom to two beautiful little girls, whom she loves to wear matching outfits with. If you need a running partner, look no further than Christina who has by far put in the most miles of the team.
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Gabriella Mendez
Gabriella Mendez is one of two assistant directors on the leadership team. An “OG” member of L.E.G.I.T., Gabby was in the room where it happened, the first meeting of L.E.G.I.T. Worshippers that is. Daughter to founder and Executive Director, Javier Mendez, Gabriella has seen the ministry grow from the start. As a result, she’s well-versed in all of the organization’s programming and assists in training chapter’s to implement our three-step programming. Gabriella is a preschool teacher and student pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She also blesses us all with her gift of singing and regularly leads out worship for the team, at her church and elsewhere. She’s a proud dog momma to a Jack Russell named Pepper and recently made the big move from home to the DMV, currently our furthest residing member of the leadership team.
Melissa Alonso
Melissa Alonso, most commonly known as Missy on the team, directs all things marketing and leads development for L.E.G.I.T. She came to L.E.G.I.T as a young adult through the young adult Bible study program and stuck around for the long-haul by supporting camps and later joining the non-profit leadership team. Melissa works as full-time Corporate Recruiter and in 2020 started her own interview coaching business, Nine to Five. Melissa married her husband Ralfy in 2017 and nurtures her fur-son, Toby, an orange tiger cat. In her free time, you’ll find Melissa chasing thrills whether traveling or close to home.
Miranda Alvarez Guillen
Miranda Alvarez Guillen manages and implements L.E.G.I.T.’s Communication efforts including this very site. She’s the resident photographer, website manager, copy editor and social media master. Miranda walked into the Mendez living room in 2012 for the young adult Bible study and has been part of the team ever since. Not unlike her work for us, she works by day in non-profit marketing and communications. In 2021, she started her own marketing and communication business, MIRA Communications, and married her now husband Jonathan. With Jon, Miranda parents a pomeranian mix named Samson. If you ever want to hear an oddly specific fun or not so fun fact or a social commentary on just about anything, strike up a conversation with Miranda. Otherwise, find her lifting heavy in the gym with her husband, reading or nurturing her plant babies.