CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Encantos, the storyteaching platform connecting creators with kids to inspire them to learn 21st-century skills, today announced the appointment of Anna María Chávez to the newly created position of Chief Impact Officer (CIO). As CIO, Anna María will develop, lead and implement Encantos’ impact strategy and initiatives including strategic partnerships, corporate and public affairs, and community impact activities. In addition, Anna María will become the President of Encantos.org, a new non-profit focused on advancing the understanding of the importance of 21st-century learning, literacy, and life skills for children through the development of research, programs, and fellowships.
The CIO will oversee the portfolio of programs, partners, and related products and services, engaging with the community, educators, government, and business leaders to ensure the continuous evaluation, learning, and effectiveness of Encantos’ storyteaching platform and impact initiatives. Anna María will report to Encantos’ CEO and Co-Founder Steven Wolfe Pereira and become a member of the Encantos Executive Team.
Chávez brings over 25 years of extensive experience in education, government and non-profit organizational leadership and management, including growing businesses, building corporate and non-profit partnerships, and advocating for children and under-served populations with federal and state legislators. Chávez was most recently the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), the leading advocate for public education supporting equity and excellence in public education through school board leadership. Previously, she was the Interim President and CEO for the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and for five years Chávez served as Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the USA.
“Anna María is a trailblazer, a storyteacher, and one of the most distinguished public service and non-profit leaders in the world,” said Steven Wolfe Pereira, Chief Executive Officer, Encantos. “Throughout her career, Anna María has been inspiring kids to learn collaboration, critical thinking, STEM, resiliency, leadership, and other 21st-century skills. A true champion of diversity, equality, and inclusion, Anna María understands our purpose and embodies our values, and we could not be more proud to have her join the Encantos familia.”
“After a year and half of leading through COVID-19 Pandemic, I have witnessed the great need to reimagine both what and how kids learn,” said Anna María Chávez. “Through their innovative storyteaching platform, Encantos is democratizing and diversifying learning for kids around the world. With their commitment to creating a curated, personalized, and safe environment, Encantos is extending the learning experience from the classroom into the living room. I’m so excited to join the incredible Encantos team and help drive real impact so kids can learn the 21st-century skills they need to thrive.”
In addition to her role as Chief Impact Officer, Chávez will also serve as President of the newly-formed Encantos.org. Encantos.org is being created as the philanthropic arm of Encantos to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of 21st-century skills in education and to provide assistance to families and underserved communities who will benefit from the impact of the Encantos storyteaching methodology and curriculum. With the establishment of Encantos.org, the company seeks to close the gaps in educational equity, provide supplemental and enrichment opportunities for children outside of the classroom, and help school districts redefine their curricula to include the important 21st-century skills that will define success for this next generation of students.
In 2015, the World Economic Forum released a seminal report called “New Vision for Education: Unlocking the Potential of Technology” which provided a detailed analysis of the research literature to define the 16 most critical “21st-century skills” organized into three main areas. The competencies for how students approach complex challenges are the “learning skills” such as creativity, critical thinking, and communication; the foundational literacies for how students apply core skills to everyday tasks are the “literacy skills” such as civics, financial literacy, and STEM; and the character qualities for how students approach their changing environment are the “life skills” such as adaptability, leadership, and social and cultural awareness. In her new role as President of Encantos.org, Chávez will collaborate with major research institutions and universities to advance the understanding of the importance of these skills and advocate for their inclusion in both the classroom and the living room.
With over 2 billion kids needing to learn 21st-century skills, impact is at the heart of Encantos’ global mission and a primary reason for incorporating as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC). Benefit Corporations are for-profit companies obligated to consider the impact of their decisions on society at large, not only shareholder interests. As a result of the PBC structure, positive impact on society becomes part of a Benefit Corporation’s legally defined goals. Encantos is proud to be among a growing list of forward-thinking organizations — like Allbirds, Etsy, Kickstarter, Lemonade, and Patagonia — that have taken the important step to become a Benefit Corporation.
Born and raised in Eloy, Arizona, Chávez received her BA from Yale University and JD from the University of Arizona Law School. Driven to transform the world through servant leadership, Chávez entered public service and held numerous posts in President Bill Clinton’s administration and later returned to Arizona to serve then-governor Janet Napolitano. Her success led to her appointment as CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA, where she served from 2011-2016 as the first woman of color to lead the 104-year group with 2.7 million members in over 90 countries and 59 million alumni in America. One of the world’s top experts on women’s leadership and youth development, Chávez has received numerous awards and recognition for her leadership including being named as one of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders by Fortune and one the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company and most recently, Chávez was chosen from a pool of more than 10,000 nominees to become a member of Forbes inaugural 50 Over 50 list. Her keen insights and dynamic presentations have inspired thousands of individuals around the globe to lead authentically and has helped organizations work together more collaboratively and create dynamic impact. Anna has appeared on CBS News, NBC’s The Today Show, FOX News Channel, CNBC’s Squawk Box, CNN, Bloomberg Radio, and NPR.
About Encantos
Encantos is a global creator platform where kids can learn from the world’s best storyteachers. Named by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in education, Encantos is on a mission to inspire kids to learn 21st-century skills by democratizing and diversifying both what and how kids learn. Encantos creators are called storyteachers and they build immersive play-based digital and physical experiences including audio, video, books, games, and more. Kids and parents experience these creator-led storyworlds through a subscription that offers a safe, curated environment with unlimited access across a wide range of learning, literacy, and life skills, including creativity, critical thinking, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and resilience. Encantos helps kids, parents, creators, and learners of all ages and backgrounds connect with the tools and 21st-century skills they need to build a brighter future and a better world. An award-winning public benefit corporation, Encantos is based in Culver City, CA. For more information, visit encantosbrands.com and follow @encantosbrands on Instagram and Twitter.
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