Meet Lale!
Lale Santelices is by far our cheeriest staff member. Over the years she has done a little bit of absolutely everything. She recently signed on as a permanent employee, and we want to celebrate by shining our staff spotlight on her. Meet Lale!
You have been with the Community Cycling Center for a while. What all have you done here?
I worked as a Bike Camp and Bike Club instructor; I helped coordinate Bike Camp and Bike Club; I helped with Create a Commuter workshops; I worked as a retail helper at the shop; I co-lead ride leader training for ABC (Andando en Bicicletas en Cully), and I have laughed a whole lot!
What is your current role?
My title is Program Coordinator and I work with the ABC group. I help create and lead workshops for the ABC group so they can organize and spread knowledge throughout Hacienda and the Cully neighborhood. I am also in charge of making funny faces whenever needed. It is not on my contract; I am still negotiating this topic.
What do you like about working at the Community Cycling Center?
I LOVE working at the Community Cycling Center because I get to work with people of all different ages and stages of their lives. Working with different people and being SUPER busy is what makes me SUPER happy. I also love the “community” aspect of the Community Cycling Center. I love the fact that we all work together for the same common goal, and everyone is willing to help each other to meet the organization’s goal! When I come to work, I feel like we are all cheerleaders!
How long have you lived in Portland?
I have been in Portland for about 4-5 years. The first few years I only lived here in the summer, but now I love it so much I can not think of living anywhere else at the moment! I am from the south of South America. So south in fact, that I am from the south of an already very southern country of the south of South America. I am from the south of Chile. And if you say south enough times, it loses all meaning… I am from a place that is THAT far south.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to work on other things! But these things have nothing to do with my work-work. Instead of working with things relating to bikes (that only have two wheels), my outside work involves tricycles, which as you all know have THREE wheels! So it is a TOTALLY different animal. And when I am not working at all, I like to travel… My dream is to travel to EVERY country in the world! I know it is very ambitious, so I am starting with all of South America and reassessing from there. So far I have been in 14/21 countries! I hope to get to the other countries soon.
What is your catchphrase?
“When teaching: If you_(blank, often times referring to something kids need to do)_____ give me a woot woot”
“Just for FUNzies”
What would the title of the movie version of your life be? And who would play you?
I would play me, because there is only one me…. (insert Jazz hands.)
