Who we are

Maria Elena Kuykendall Executive Director

Maria Elena Kuykendall is a woman of many roles. First and foremost, she is a proud mom, a loving grandma, and a lifelong humanist who loves gazing up to the skies in wonder. She has a broad background in Psychology studies, international cooperation, and nonprofit engagement. Maria Elena's journey hasn't always been easy. Having faced the hardships of being an undocumented immigrant, she is well aware of the barriers imposed by systematic oppression. She dedicates most of her life's efforts to building a strong community that can rise above these unfair obstacles. Maria Elena's strong desire is for El Centro to be a place where every immigrant's life is uplifted with dignity. She hopes El Centro can become a safe and welcoming space that embraces and celebrates all immigrant communities of Tulsa. She hopes that people can learn from each other through resilient and thriving connections and build a better future together.