By Rachel McFadden, U.S. Fellow
Stepping off the plane in El Salvador in November 2024, my business partner, Hazel Geary, and I were filled with excitement. Together, we co-founded Drio, a Baltimore-based creative agency specializing in values-driven website design and marketing. This trip was about reconnecting with Gladys Avelar, a Professional Fellow who spent six weeks with us earlier this year, and witnessing the impact of her action plan—a strategy she developed to apply what she learned during her exchange back home. While there, I also found myself reflecting on how community has always been at the heart of Drio’s story.
Drio has always been about community. When Hazel and I started, we didn’t have a playbook or a polished business plan. What we had was our network—amazing people in Baltimore who guided, supported, and trusted us. I often remind myself how privileged we are to have had that support, which gave us the opportunity to grow a thriving business. Gladys saw this during her time with us and took it to heart. She experienced firsthand how our relationships fuel our business and drive our mission forward.
In El Salvador, the power of community became immediately apparent, this time through the incredible network of the Professional Fellows Program, ITD, and Voces Vitales. Claudia Cruz, the executive director of Voces Vitales, welcomed us with open arms and immediately made us feel at home. Claudia’s energy was magnetic—her passion for empowering others and her initiatives, like forming Glee clubs in schools through Glasswing, reflected how impactful a single person can be when they lean into connection and inspiration.
We also met other Fellows, including Tomás Cerna, whose story left a lasting impression. A participant from a previous cohort, Tomás shared how his fellowship in the U.S. opened his eyes to the importance of community—not only for business growth but for giving back. Inspired by his experience, he launched a program in El Salvador to support women in IT and software design, recognizing the need for equity and opportunity in those fields.
Our time in El Salvador gave Hazel and me the chance to encourage Gladys to continue to foster these connections. Seeing how the Professional Fellows Program had created a vibrant network of changemakers left us inspired. We spent time brainstorming with Gladys about how she could build on the relationships she had formed, recognizing countless opportunities for collaboration. It became clear that this was more than just a program—it was the start of a movement.
This trip also sparked new ideas for Drio. Our business thrives because of the connections we’ve made locally, but in El Salvador, we saw the potential to expand our collaborative mindset on a global scale. The people we met—changemakers ready to drive growth and opportunity—reminded us that while individual efforts are impactful, it’s through collaboration that lasting change happens.
I left El Salvador with a renewed belief in the power of community and a deep appreciation for the Professional Fellows Program. The connections we fostered and the opportunities we uncovered reaffirmed that growth is never a solo journey—it’s something we achieve together. As we continue to support Gladys and nurture these relationships, I’m excited to see how this shared commitment to collaboration will lead to real, lasting change.
All opinions expressed by the program participants are their own and do not represent nor reflect official views from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, or of the Institute for Training and Development, Inc.
