About Us

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KIM BOGART

Founder & Director

Kim Bogart founded Kim’s Open Door in 2013 and has been inspiring, empowering, and mobilizing quality volunteers and staff who have served kids at risk in all kinds of wonderful ways over the last 30 years.

Her energy is contagious. She received her degree in education at the University of Oklahoma. She has created programs for kids at risk that have received grant status. Kim has devoted her life to serving the next generation. She has trained and mobilized thousands of people on behalf of vulnerable children, both in the States and abroad.

Kim’s Open Door is located in Jacksonville, FL in the area code 32207 and serves refugees, immigrants and other vulnerable populations.

Meet the Team

Our
TEAM

Kim's Open Door is made up of a diverse team of high-level volunteers and contracted professionals who bring unique skills and experiences to support our mission. We are multi-generational, multicultural, multi-talented, and crazy about kids.

Educational Specialist and Program Director for all Reading and Writing Programs

Jane Howell

-BA, English Literature and Art History, Vanderbilt University

-MA, Journalism and Public Relations, University of Florida

-Over 15 years of classroom experience.

Jane is a passionate advocate for not only teaching children of all ages to read, but to instill the love of reading. She believes in the power of literature to expand and enrich the lives of

children. A favorite saying of hers is, “Reading well helps you become a better writer, writing well

helps you become a better reader, reading and writing well help to deepen your thinking.”.

Program Director for Jr High Girls, Super Saturdays, Soccer, Dance, Music, Movement &

Emotions

Grace Masci

-BS, Early Childhood Education, Reading and ESOL

Endorsement, Florida State College of

Jacksonville

-Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, National

Council for Mental Wellbeing

-Completed extensive Trauma Informed Training led by an

LMHC-QS, CATP-certified instructor

-Currently pursuing certification in Therapeutic Mentoring,

Center for Evidence-Based Mentoring

-Over 8 years of experience working with children

Grace is a dedicated advocate for at-risk children. She has tutored and taught children from

diverse backgrounds from around the world. She is passionate about providing arts and

athletics—such as music, dance, and creative expression—to children who lack access to these

opportunities. At Kim’s Open Door, she serves as an Educational Specialist for the Elementary

and High School Programs, as well as overseeing our Dance, Music, and Soccer programs.

Program Director for Jr and Sr High School Tutoring Programs

Timothy Smith

-BA, Philosophy, Florida State University

-Certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid, National

Council for Mental Wellbeing

-Completed extensive Trauma Informed Training led by an

LMHC-QS, CATP-certified instructor

-Abuse Prevention Assessment Coordinator at the

Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP)

-Masters Level Certification, Nashotah House Theological

Seminary

-Over 19 years of experience working with youth.

Tim has a wealth of experience working with youth, starting from his days as a student at FSU.

He has successfully led teams of up to 25 students on international outreach trips, reflecting his

leadership skills and commitment to service. Together with his wife, Ana, he focuses on helping

students develop character and heal from past hurts. Tim is passionate about empowering

students to recognize their strengths and abilities, all while infusing humor into the process to

create a positive and engaging environment.

Program Director for Elementary Programs

Brie Nennstiel

-Certified Barton Reading Tutor

-Completed extensive Trauma Informed Training led by an

LMHC-QS, CATP-certified instructor

-Bi-Lingual

-Over 10 years of experience working with children and

over 5 years tutoring in English.

Brie has worked with children in education and after school programs for 11 years. She studied

TESOL in college and is a certified Barton Reading Tutor for students with reading disorders.

Her passion is to assist children get the tools they need to flourish in the classroom. Brie is a

dedicated worker who brings joy and patience into the multiple programs that she oversees. For

three years, she has developed and taught ESL curriculum for Kim's Open Door that has

produced incredible growth in students.

Dance and Emotional Wellness Educator

Kim Hunter

-Founder & CEO of Unity Christian Arts, Inc., 501(c)(3)

-BS, Health Promotion with Honors, University of North

Florida

-Over 30 years of teaching experience

Kim has been teaching dance and organizing events for over 30 years, both in the US

and Europe. She is highly respected in her field, having opened for large events, including a

CeCe Winans concert. With a passion for ensuring all children, regardless of their abilities, can

dance, Kim offers classes for children with special needs. Her competent and assured presence

fosters respect and creates a positive learning environment. Kim’s ability to guide the students

at Kim’s Open Door to perform in an organized, well-executed recital at the end of the year is

remarkable. As both a mentor and role model, she provides invaluable leadership and support

to the girls she teaches.

Assistant Program Director

Natalia Bermudez

-BA, Child Psychology with a Minor in Sociology,

University of North Florida

-Currently pursuing MA in Mental Health Counseling

-Completed extensive Trauma Informed Training led by an

LMHC-QS, CATP-certified instructor

-Bi-Lingual

Natalia’s story mirrors that of many of our students here at Kim’s Open Door. She immigrated to

the US as a teenager in 2012, knowing no English, and entered Florida’s public schools as an

ESOL student. She faced the challenge of starting her education without knowing the basics of

the English language. Her journey was hard and had its challenges, but with determination, she

successfully earned her BA and is now pursuing her MA in Mental Health Counseling. Having

experienced firsthand the struggles of navigating a new language and culture, Natalia truly

understands what it takes for our students to succeed. She encourages them to never give up

and maintains a relaxed yet structured approach in the classroom, which resonates well with our

students. As Assistant Program Director, Natalia supports our Program Directors in all aspects

of the classroom and is also responsible for handling administrative tasks to ensure the smooth operation of our programs.

Mentor-Tutor Team for Refugee Students

Shakir & Farida Husein

-Completed extensive Trauma Informed Training led by an

LMHC-QS, CATP-certified instructor

Shakir and Farida are invaluable members of our after-school tutoring and mentoring programs,

bringing a unique blend of wisdom, strength, peace, and knowledge to our team.

Shakir & Farida, both immigrants from Guyana, have over 30 years of teaching and tutoring experience. Their personal journeys of immigrating to the US give them a deep, firsthand understanding of the challenges our students face. Shakir, a retired software developer, also served as an adjunct professor at FSCJ, where he taught math and computer programming. Prior to his work in higher education, Shakir was an elementary school educator. Farida, a retired payroll supervisor, has years of experience leading diverse teams and working with individuals from all walks of life. Her experience enables her to effectively work with our students, regardless of their learning levels. Farida's approach is firm yet gentle, earning the respect of both students and our team.

Programs Assistant

Genesis Acosta Santos

-Graduate of Kim’s Open Door!

-Bi-Lingual

-Currently pursuing her high school diploma

-Two years of experience tutoring students in English here

at Kim’s Open Door

Genesis first joined the Kim’s Open Door family as a student, quickly excelling in our programs

and becoming a favorite among the staff. She soon surpassed the basics and graduated from

our programs. Following her graduation, she began volunteering as a tutor, serving as an

interpreter between staff and parents, and helping to coordinate office needs. Over time, she

has become an invaluable member of our team and has transitioned into a staff role. Now, she

works closely with our Program Directors to ensure they have everything they need to run their

programs, provides one-on-one tutoring for students in homework and language acquisition, and readily assists wherever needed.

PARTNER WITH US

In 2014, there were THIRTY-ONE shootings in THIRTY days in my city, all gang related, and eleven-year-old kids were involved. These headlines inspired me to resign from a job I loved for fifteen years to become a full time missionary to the United States.

Our headquarters is located in the heart of our city where there are 8,900 students who speak English as a second language. This has now become our focus.

What I feel God has asked me to do cannot be done alone.

Kim Bogart, Kim's Open Door

THE HARD TRUTH

100 MILLION people have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution or natural disasters
26.3 MILLION refugees globally.
50,000+ people have died while migrating between countries since 2014.
Only 17% of refugees are hosted by high-income countries.

About Us

KIM BOGART

Meet the Team

Our TEAM

Kim's Open Door is made up of a diverse team of high-level volunteers and contracted professionals who bring unique skills and experiences to support our mission. We are multi-generational, multicultural, multi-talented, and crazy about kids.

Kim Bogart, Kim's Open Door

THE HARD TRUTH

​

100 MILLION people have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution or natural disasters

26.3 MILLION refugees globally.

50,000+ people have died while migrating between countries since 2014.

Only 17% of refugees are hosted by high-income countries.

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Our
TEAM