Kava Vasquez

Director of Programs, Strategy & Community Partnerships | Movement Builder & Cultural Architect | Co‑Founder, Bronx Girls Skate

New York, New York, United States

About

I’m a multi‑lingual program, strategy, and operations leader shaped by community organizing, skate culture, and global research. I build experiences where culture and structure meet, making sure the vision is strong and the systems behind it actually work. Bronx Girls Skate (BXGS) began as a vision I developed through my study abroad experience in Brazil, my Davis Peace Prize project creating Mozambique’s first girls skate program "Meninanda", and my Thomas J. Watson Fellowship researching women’s skateboarding movements around the world. I later invited Mel Ramirez to co‑found BXGS with me in 2020, and together we’ve grown it into a community rooted in friendship, mutual support, and giving back. As Co‑Founder and Director of Programs, Strategy & Community Partnerships, I lead program design, youth engagement, community partnerships, event production, and cross‑functional execution. I’ve guided major collaborations - including the BXGS x Nike SB Dunk - ensuring cultural integrity and seamless coordination from concept to launch. Across roles in education, tech, and nonprofit spaces, my throughline is the same: creating environments where people feel valued, supported, and empowered. I’m exploring opportunities in product, marketing, customer success, and operations - spaces where I can blend cultural insight with technical clarity to build experiences that resonate and systems that scale. If you’re building something meaningful and need someone who can bridge vision, strategy, and execution, let’s connect!

Experience

  • Sales Associate at Paragon Sports
    Apr 2026 - Present · 4 mos

    I provide high‑volume, multilingual support in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French at one of NYC’s busiest specialty retail stores. I help customers find the right gear across multiple sport categories, maintain strong product knowledge, and keep the floor running smoothly during peak traffic. Within my first two months, I reached the highest sales per hour in my department for three consecutive weeks, reflecting clear communication, fast problem‑solving, and a consistently positive in‑store experience.

  • Co-Founder + Programs & Operations Director at Bronx Girls Skate
    Jul 2020 - Present · 6 yrs 1 mo

    Bronx Girls Skate (BXGS) is a women's skateboarding collective based in New York City. Co-founded by Kava Garcia Vasquez and Mel Ramirez in 2020, our organization empowers women, girls, and gender-expansive skateboarders in The Bronx & beyond through events, media, and mentorship. As the Co-Founder and Programs & Operations Director, I shape the programs, partnerships, and operational systems that drive BXGS forward. My work spans youth engagement, event production, cross‑functional coordination, and long‑term strategy. I also guided the BXGS x Nike SB Dunk collaboration from early concept through launch, ensuring the project stayed aligned with our values and executed smoothly across creative, marketing, and product teams.

  • Program Manager at Harold Hunter Foundation
    Sep 2021 - Sep 2025 · 4 yrs 1 mo

    I managed a portfolio of youth programs centered on skateboarding, mentorship, and workforce readiness, serving the people & culture Harold Hunter’s legacy was built around. I oversaw daily operations, built strong relationships with participants and partner organizations, and produced events that connected young people with resources, creative opportunities, and a sense of belonging. During my tenure, I also supported the organization through a major merger, helping maintain continuity for participants and preserving the authenticity and cultural history of HHF’s work throughout the transition.

  • Client Support Specialist at Yext
    Sep 2019 - Aug 2021 · 2 yrs

    I supported small business enterprise clients in three languages, helping them navigate Yext’s platform through clear troubleshooting, workflow guidance, and product education. I triaged incoming support requests to ensure urgent issues were prioritized and routed effectively in a high‑volume environment. Alongside daily support, I contributed to a data project running and refining multilingual data queries that helped train and improve the AI behind Yext’s Answers (now "Site Search") tool. I collaborated closely with engineering, product, and account teams to resolve complex issues and surface insights that strengthened customer experience. My work blended technical problem‑solving with relationship‑building, ensuring clients felt supported, informed, and confident using the platform.

  • Contributing Writer at Skateism
    Aug 2019 - Sep 2019 · 2 mos