Amanecer, Inc.

Who We Are

Our Team

Laura Sanchez

Founder & Executive Director

Bio

Laura Sanchez is a licensed clinical social worker and therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting individuals and families through life’s most complex challenges. Since beginning her career in 2008, Laura has worked extensively with children, teens, and adults, providing therapy, case management, and leading macro-level initiatives aimed at improving community systems.

 As the founder and Executive Director of Amanecer Inc., Laura guides the organization’s mission to expand access to culturally responsive mental health care and social services in Omaha. Drawing from her background in trauma treatment and systems-focused care, Laura ensures that Amanecer’s services are rooted in evidence-based practices while remaining client-centered and community-driven.

Her leadership has been recognized at the state level; in May, she was honored with the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) Ambassador Award for her dedication to expanding the behavioral health workforce and addressing mental health needs in Nebraska’s underserved communities.   

In addition to her executive role, Laura also serves as clinical director for Amanecer’s sister practice, providing supervision and mentorship to provisionally licensed therapists and overseeing staff development.  Laura continues to focus her work on building strong, ethical teams and ensuring that both clients and clinicians have the support and structure needed to thrive.

Kassandra Nolasco

Case Manager

Bio

Kassandra Nolasco is a dedicated MSW/MPA graduate student with a strong passion for serving underrepresented communities, particularly Latino and Spanish-speaking populations. As a first-generation college graduate, Kassandra brings lived experience, cultural humility, and a deep commitment to equity and social justice. Kassandra’s long-term goal is to become a therapist who can continue empowering youth, especially those impacted by systems of oppression and trafficking.

Beatriz Pedro-Simon

President

Bio

Beatriz believes that quality mental health care should be within everyone’s reach. She works with Amanecer to expand access to culturally competent care and provide essential resources for Nebraska’s underserved populations. With a strong understanding of the community’s needs and challenges, she aims to help build a spare where everyone feels valued and supported.

Candice Sortino

Vice President

Bio

Candice joined the board of Amanecer in 2024, bringing her passion for mental health advocacy and her deep roots in the Omaha community to the organization. As a mental health therapist, she is dedicated to improving access to culturally competent care for underserved populations in Nebraska.
Drawn to Amanecer’s mission of empowering communities through education, advocacy, and mental health support, Candice is excited to be part of a team creating meaningful change. In her role as Vice President, she helps support program development, community outreach, and strategic planning as the organization continues to grow.

Noelle Landon

Board Member

Bio

Noelle “Noelia” Landon is a PLMHP in Omaha, NE where she lives with her husband and two dogs. She currently works in a mental health setting, with children through senior citizens aged individuals, families, and couples who speak English and Spanish. She brings years of experience working in and with non-profits, ranging from direct care roles working with youth and families, to member and volunteer database management, to administrative support of the executive team. She joined Amanacer because of her shared desire to increase access to quality care and continue reducing the stigma towards mental health car. She is passionate about bridging the gap between the dream and the reality, and getting there by doing what works and makes sense within the vision and values of Amanacer.

Roman Sanchez

Board Memeber

Bio

Haley Elder

Board Member

Bio

Haley Elder is an MSW student at UNO. At Amanecer, Inc., she utilizes her journalism and marketing background to connect with the Omaha community while building social work and therapy experience. She shares in the mission of making mental health services accessible for all, and wants to make sure her community has all the information they need.

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Our History

What We Do

Founded in 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska, Amanecer Inc. was established by Executive Director Laura Sanchez and a team of therapists from AM Counseling. Created to expand access to mental health care and social services, Amanecer’s mission focuses on fostering wellness and empowerment within immigrant and underserved communities, as outlined at Amanecerinc.org.

From its inception, Amanecer, Inc. has partnered with local organizations to deepen its impact. Notably, the nonprofit collaborates with For All Counseling, providing ongoing mental health care to clients undergoing immigration court proceedings. In October 2024, Amanecer worked alongside the University of Nebraska Omaha’s social work honor society to create a small pantry serving clients experiencing food insecurity. The organization also actively hosts UNO social work and clinical students for internships, helping to train the next generation of culturally competent practitioners.

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