Compassionate People. Meaningful Work. Stronger Families.

Behind every Welcome Baby class, workshop, and family success story is a dedicated team that cares deeply about Durham’s children and parents.  Learn about our amazing staff below...

Patience Mushipe-Mukelabai

Welcome Baby Program Manager

Patience Mukelabai is the Program Manager of Welcome Baby, a Durham County Cooperative Extension program. She holds a Master’s in Public Health with a focus on Community Health and is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Health at Walden University. Patience brings extensive experience in community health, parenting education, and program management. In her role, she provides strategic leadership, oversees budgeting and evaluation, and guides a dedicated team in delivering services that support more than 3,000 families each year. Patience helped launch the Welcome Baby’s annual Coat drive, and the Fatherhood Initiative.

Patience also has significant experience in grant writing and management, working to secure ongoing funding for curricula that strengthen families through evidence-based practices promoting child development, safety, and well-being. She applies a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach to her work, ensuring that programs are accessible, equitable, and tailored to the diverse needs of the community.

Her academic and professional interests lie at the intersection of public health and family support, with a strong commitment to reducing disparities, advancing health equity, and building stronger communities. Patience’s leadership is rooted in compassion and guided by data-driven strategies, making her both a trusted advocate for families and a thought leader in community-based public health.

Evelyn Ramirez

Welcome Baby Bilingual Parent Educator

Evelyn Ramirez has dedicated her career to supporting families across North Carolina since 1998. She has served in a variety of roles, including Spanish Facilitator for Durham Public Schools’ after-school care program, Home Visitor and Family Service Coordinator for Orange County Head Start/Early Head Start, and Parent Educator for Durham, Orange, and Chatham Counties.

Throughout her work, Evelyn has focused on engaging parents and families in classes and programs that strengthen parenting skills and support healthy child development. She holds multiple professional training certifications, including:

Evelyn’s extensive training and decades of hands-on experience reflect her commitment to empowering parents and promoting the well-being of children and families.

Carmen Reeves

Welcome Baby Bilingual Parent Educator

Carmen Reeves brings over 18 years of experience and a deep passion for supporting families to her role as a Bilingual Parent Educator with Welcome Baby. A trained Parent Educator and certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, she provides essential guidance to new parents while ensuring services are accessible to everyone.

Carmen holds an Associate of Arts in General Education, which laid the foundation for her commitment to family support and community engagement. Before joining Welcome Baby, she spent nearly 25 years in Seattle working with the nonprofit Together!, managing after-school and summer programs for children in low-income housing.

Her bilingual skills and cultural insight, shaped by four years living in Panama while her father served in the Army, enrich her compassionate and inclusive approach to family education.

Alfonso Blanco

Welcome Baby Bilingual Parent Educator

Alfonso has over 10 years of experience as a Parent Educator, supporting families in strengthening their parenting skills. Three years ago, he helped launch the Fatherhood Initiative in Durham, aimed at encouraging fathers to take an active and nurturing role in their children’s education and development.

Alfonso is also a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, with more than 1,000 hours of experience teaching families how to safely install and use car seats, ensuring the safety and well-being of children in the community.

Axel Fonsceca

Welcome Baby Bilingual Parent Educator

Axel Fonseca is a Parent Educator/Facilitator for the Nurturing Fathers Program with Durham County Cooperative Extension’s Welcome Baby Program. He is trained in the Triple P Positive Parenting Program, The Incredible Years, Circle of Parents, and is also a certified Car Seat Technician.

Originally from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Axel attended bilingual schools, which helped him develop strong communication skills and a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. In 2020, he moved to the United States, where he gained valuable experience in a variety of fields, including construction, culinary arts, and operations management. He has also worked as an ESL instructor and technical support specialist for Google Nest, further strengthening his ability to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Currently pursuing a degree in Family and Human Resources at BYU-Idaho University, Axel is passionate about helping families thrive. His greatest joy is being a husband and father to his young son, which inspires his work every day. He is excited to be part of the Durham community and looks forward to supporting families through his role with Welcome Baby.

Abimbola Olorode

Welcome Baby Parent Educator

Bola Olorode is a Parent Educator with the Welcome Baby Program and holds a Master’s degree in Public Health. She is deeply passionate about education and community support, and is dedicated to helping families thrive through compassionate care, advocacy, and parent education. The most rewarding part of her work is making a positive difference in the lives of the families she serves.

Outside of her professional role, Bola is a proud wife and mother of two. Balancing career and family life has strengthened her resilience and shaped her commitment to intentional living. She is excited to continue advancing Welcome Baby’s mission and to work alongside her colleagues in building healthier, stronger communities.

Venessa Diaz

Welcome Baby Office Manager

Venessa Diaz is the Office Manager for the Welcome Baby Program in Durham. She has been part of the team for more than two years and is passionate about supporting families and strengthening the community.

Before joining Welcome Baby, Venessa worked with Durham families navigating health resources and food security - an experience that continues to guide her work today. One of the most rewarding aspects of her role is connecting families to the services they need, ensuring children and caregivers have access to support that fosters brighter futures.

Venessa is deeply committed to serving the Durham community and brings dedication, compassion, and a strong sense of purpose to her work with families every day.

Tommy Hernandez

Welcome Baby Car Seat Safety Educator

Tommy Hernandez has been involved in community and public health work since 2021. He began his career as a nutrition educator, serving K–12 youth in Durham County, and in 2023 joined the Welcome Baby Program as a Program Assistant. Tommy is also a certified Car Seat Technician and is passionate about teaching and supporting families in the community.

In his role, Tommy leads weekly car seat safety classes in both English and Spanish. His classes emphasize hands-on installation, familiarizing families with car seat anatomy and best practices to increase their confidence and ensure the safety of their children.

Robin Mason

Welcome Baby Giving Closet Program Assistant

More information coming soon...