Welcome Sierra Perez, our new Program Operations Manager!
We are excited to introduce you to Sierra Perez! Sierra is our new Program Operations Manager, supporting the systems, logistics, and relationships that help Moonshot’s programs thrive! Get to know more about Sierra’s journey and the impact she’ll be making as part of the Moonshot team.
introducing SIERRA
Born and raised in Denver, Sierra Perez’s work is deeply rooted in the community that shaped her. Her calling in youth development began at home, helping her grandmother raise her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their summers were filled with adventures: tending the garden, exploring the city, and creating space for curiosity and joy. What stayed with me most was the love she felt in creating those experiences and watching her cousins engage with the world through curiosity and wonder. That feeling continues to guide Sierra’s work today.
Sierra built my career around that same purpose, serving youth in roles ranging from soccer coach to Club Director with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver. Across every space, her focus has remained consistent: creating safe, affirming spaces where young people can grow authentically and unapologetically.
As a bilingual Chicana, Sierra’s identity is central to both how she shows up and why she does this work. It grounds her in culture, community, and a deep sense of responsibility to create spaces where young people—especially those who share similar backgrounds—feel seen, affirmed, and connected to who they are. She connects to this side of herself through facilitating Girasol, an indigenous rites of passage program for femme identified BIPOC youth. This evidence based 12-week curriculum explores the meaning behind generational trauma and blessings, and helps youth reclaim their sacred purpose. This work is deeply personal and reflects Sierra’s commitment to healing, cultural connection, and community care.
As the Program Operations Manager, Sierra now support emerging and established leaders who are reimagining what’s possible for youth in their communities. While Sierra may not work directly with young people every day, she remains grounded in the impact of this work. By supporting those on the front lines, Sierra helps to cultivate the spaces, relationships, and opportunities that allow youth—and our communities—to thrive.
Some of my closest people: my mom, dad, aunt, uncle, cousin and grandma. Missing a picture with my brother in it though so don’t tell him.
What is a project that you are especially excited to work on during your first year at Moonshot? Why?
I am beyond excited (and maybe a little nervous) to work on the fellowship national trip. It sounds like an adventure that, while it is major, is also full of magic and possibility. My goal in this position is to make the processes as smooth and seamless as possible so the fellows can focus solely on wholeheartedly pouring into their solutions. I can’t wait to be part of something so inspiring.
What is a local and/or small business that you love?
I love Lilac Coffee! Their main location is on Colfax, but they just opened a second location in Downtown Denver. The owner started Lilac with the vision of making specialty coffee accessible and affordable. They have such imaginative and tasty coffee creations, and their team is incredibly down to earth and community focused.
A local business Sierra especially loves is Lilac Coffee on Colfax.
What is a book/podcast/film/etc that you think is inspiring that the Moonshot community at-large might benefit from?
Stand and Deliver is the movie I go back to over and over again when I am feeling burnt out or like I am losing sight of my personal mission. The movie is based on the true story of Jaime Escalante, a high school math teacher who inspired 18 Latine students to pass the Advanced Placement Calculus test in 1982. He believed in them so fiercely when no one else did, and he provided them with the tools they needed to succeed. The movie reminds me that love and community will always win.
What does Moonshot’s mission and vision mean to you? How does it personally resonate with you, your experiences, and your identity?
Moonshot’s mission and vision, centered on building community and amplifying the voices of historically marginalized leaders and youth, resonates with me on a deeply personal level. As a kid, I rarely saw myself reflected in leadership. I grew up in spaces shaped by privilege. Where few shared my culture, my language, or my lived experience. I learned early on how to assimilate and made myself smaller to fit into rooms that were never built with me in mind. In doing so, I gained access, but I also lost pieces of myself. Being part of the Moonshot team means I get the opportunity to contribute to a future where young people do not have to lose parts of themselves to belong, and instead are celebrated fully and unapologetically for who they are.
Sierra’s furry family members: Meep (the orange menace) and Pudge (stage 5 clinger).