Jara Montez

Freelance availability: 🟢

More things I've built 🔗

Educated Guess Substack
Doodle Street

Actual fun facts 😎

First job: Tae Kwon Do instructor

Worst job: Being the eldest sister. IYKYK.

Favorite fictional characters: Janine Teagues, Issa Dee, Arya Stark, The Fresh Prince, Maxine Shaw, Blossom (PPG), and Dana Scully

Favorite artist: Faith Ringgold

I help organizations figure out what to build.

Program designer, curriculum builder, and nonprofit founder.

Some highlights:

The Art of AI Prompts

Teaching students to tackle community problems through AI prompt design.

Black and white photo of a collage of a website wireframe for mental health services

Prototype for Good

Introducing students to the fundamentals of Figma prototyping.

Photo of the Pivot cohort smiling and holding certificates

Pivot Program

Building a no-cost workforce development initiative designed to introduce participants to in-demand tech skills.

Black and white photo of Webflow's Global Leader group in Peru smiling and posing.

Webflow Global Leaders

Designed the relaunch of the Webflow Global Leaders program, which offers support to 100+ global Webflow ambassadors.

Who I've built programs with

How I can help

Strategy & design

Turning a program idea into a workable strategy.

💡 Best for orgs with a vision for their program who need help shaping it into a real plan.

AI systems & automation

Setting up the AI tools and systems that make your team's day-to-day easier.

💡 Best for orgs ready to operationalize AI but not sure where to start.

AI education

Design and deliver curriculum that makes AI click for any audience.

💡 Best for orgs building AI education programs who need curriculum, facilitation, and delivery.

Testimonials

"As our lead Technology & Innovation facilitator, Jara Montez has done an extraordinary job introducing and instructing our global youth audience to UX/UI design. Jara brings a wealth of knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm in the realm of technology. Our students went from beginners in Figma and Webflow to designing beautiful user personas, wireframes and prototypes."

Ian Elmore-Moore

Director, Beloved Community Leadership Academy, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

"I would like to thank you for your leadership, commitment, dedication, patience and support for all of us cohort members. I have grown intellectually in this field 7x it feels like. As I prepare for future events coming up, I think my mission now will be finding a way to give back to the cohort as I grow in strengthening and supporting the community however I can. You are an awesome teacher and professor!"

Reagan Mutombo

Pivot participant

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Just some long-form thoughts on education, culture, and tech.

Let's work

Available for program design + build, edtech consultation, and workshops.

Artist

I studied art in undergrad with hopes of working for Pixar. That didn't work out, but I'm still doing art and community-focused initiatives!

Screenshot of the jara.studio homepage — three collages.

Jara.Studio

With a background in art and education, my portfolio can be defined as a child's textbook, reimagined. My work consists of mixed media collages, bold illustrations, and educational tools.

One Pot Studio

My store full of cool doodles on paper and the occasional homage to donuts.

The Vanguards

THE VANGUARDS, which started as a grad school project, is a collection of Black women who have made a remarkable impact on society. Sharing a tune with the original definition of vanguard, we define popular culture, spark social movements, and break records.