Building
The Learning Quest
Growing the idea of Falls Church as an open-walled learning ecosystem.
Communications · Community · Connection
MaríaBelénQuellet
Communications professional. Community builder. Connector.
I build communications, partnerships and community around ideas that matter.
My work sits at the intersection of communications, community building, education, social impact and civic life. I'm at my best when I can bring people together, make complex ideas understandable, and turn a good idea into something people can actually participate in.
✦
Communications.Community.Connection.
I build bridges between people, ideas and organizations, and turn good ideas into things people can see, understand and participate in.
What I do
Communicate
Strategy, storytelling, media, digital communications, campaigns, writing, messaging.
Connect
Partnership development, stakeholder engagement, community building, facilitation, networks.
Create
Programs, initiatives, events, resources, campaigns and new projects.
Navigate
Working across organizations, sectors and cultures. Moving between strategy and execution. Figuring things out when there isn't an obvious playbook.
I am comfortable being the strategist in the room, and the person making things happen.I wear a lot of hats.
Hats I wear
Eight of themCommunicator
Writing. Messaging. Media. Digital.
2 pieces →Strategist
Seeing the big picture and figuring out the next move.
1 piece →Facilitator
Getting people in a room and helping them have a useful conversation.
1 piece →Community Builder
Creating spaces where people actually meet each other.
1 piece →Program Designer
Turning ideas into things people can participate in.
1 piece →Storyteller
Finding the human story inside complicated issues.
2 pieces →Connector
Knowing who should be talking to whom.
3 pieces →Doer
Making the thing happen.
1 piece →In the press
All coverage →Podcast · Learning Unboxed · Feb 16, 2026
Building Citywide Learning Ecosystems with Belén Quellet
A 32-minute conversation on turning Falls Church into an open-walled learning ecosystem, with repair clinics, education passports and local internships.
Open ↗Interview · Laboratorio de PeriodismoBelén Quellet: la mejor forma de ampliar nuestra audiencia es identificar qué piensa, qué busca y qué necesita
In Spanish. On understanding what audiences think, look for and need.
Open ↗Feature · DDIA on InstagramDo you know Belén Quellet?
Introduced as a 2026 Spring participant in the DDIA Latino Media Development Program, working on media, democracy and social impact across the Americas.
Open ↗What I'm working on now
Building
Building
Exploring
Writing
Consulting
The Learning Quest
Growing the idea of Falls Church as an open-walled learning ecosystem.
Little City Dinner Club
Experimenting with how something as simple as dinner can create new connections between people and support local businesses.
AI + community
Helping families and organizations navigate AI thoughtfully.
On community, communications, education and civic life
Working with organizations
For organizations that need someone who can move between strategy, communications, partnerships and execution.
Let's talk.
Working with organizations that need someone who can move between strategy, communications, partnerships and execution.
About
About
Communications professional, community builder, strategist and connector.
I wear many hats, work comfortably across sectors, and tend to see collaboration where others see silos.
I'm at my best when I can bring people together, make complex ideas understandable, and turn a good idea into something people can actually participate in.
Where my work sits
- Communications
- Community building
- Education
- Social impact
- Civic life
Where I've worked and served
- Executive Director, The Learning Quest, Falls Church, Virginia
- Member, Business in Education Partnership Advisory Committee, Falls Church City Public Schools
- Community ambassador for Virginia Village, Falls Church Forward
- Participant, Latino Media Development Program, DDIA, 2026 Spring
- Member, Environmental Sustainability Council
- Previously Senior Communications Officer at the Global Initiative for Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, leading communications across Latin America, Africa and Europe
- Previously Social Media and Information Specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires
Experience
Download résumé (PDF)2023 – Present
Executive Director, The Learning Quest
Falls Church, VA. Leading a city-wide learning ecosystem that connects public, private and civic resources, and building partnerships with city officials, schools, nonprofits and businesses.
2024 – Present
Part-Time Counselor
Residential center for girls ages 13–20. Certified by the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice.
2023 – 2024
Freelance Writer, Falls Church News-Press
Covering local community, education and civic issues.
Nov 2021 – Nov 2023
Senior Communications Officer, GI-ESCR
Remote / Global. Coordinated communications across Europe, Africa and Latin America and led the redesign of the organization's website and visual identity.
Aug 2018 – Oct 2021
Engagement Editor & Membership Coordinator, RED/ACCIÓN
Buenos Aires. Built partnerships, grew membership and managed projects with United Nations Argentina.
Feb 2016 – Dec 2018
Executive Director, HelpArgentina
Directed a U.S.-based nonprofit facilitating cross-border donations and fiscal sponsorship for Argentine nonprofits.
2018 and 2021
Communications Consultant, World Bank (Argentina)
Supported communications for the Investor Forum ahead of the G20 Summit.
2012 – 2016
Social Media Information Specialist, U.S. Embassy in Argentina
Led the Embassy's social media strategy and served as Public Affairs liaison across sections.
2006 – 2012
Journalist & Program Manager, La Nación Newspaper Foundation
Buenos Aires. First Community Manager; created an Education Award sustained for 16 consecutive years.
Earlier
Professor, Red Solidaria and international service
Professor at the Argentine Catholic University (2015–2020), program leadership at Red Solidaria (1998–2020), and service with the Missionaries of Charity in India and the Philippines (1994–1998).
Education
B.A. in International Relations, Honors
University of Belgrano, Buenos Aires, 1994.
Languages
- Spanish, native
- English, fluent
In the press
Three conversationsPodcast · Learning Unboxed · Feb 16, 2026
Building Citywide Learning Ecosystems with Belén Quellet
A 32-minute conversation on turning Falls Church into an open-walled learning ecosystem, with repair clinics, education passports and local internships.
Open ↗Interview · Laboratorio de PeriodismoBelén Quellet: la mejor forma de ampliar nuestra audiencia es identificar qué piensa, qué busca y qué necesita
In Spanish. On understanding what audiences think, look for and need.
Open ↗Feature · DDIA on InstagramDo you know Belén Quellet?
Introduced as a 2026 Spring participant in the DDIA Latino Media Development Program, working on media, democracy and social impact across the Americas.
Open ↗Work
Work
I turn connection into something people can experience.
Communicate
- Strategy
- Storytelling
- Media
- Digital communications
- Campaigns
- Writing
- Messaging
Connect
- Partnership development
- Stakeholder engagement
- Community building
- Facilitation
- Networks
Create
- Programs
- Initiatives
- Events
- Resources
- Campaigns
- New projects
Navigate
- Across organizations, sectors and cultures
- Between strategy and execution
- When there isn't an obvious playbook
Selected work, by hat
Every link opens in a new tabCommunicator
Writing. Messaging. Media. Digital.
Article · Falls Church Independent · Nov 2, 2026
Community Looks Beyond Classroom as FCCPS Launches Next Strategic Plan Process
On the FCCPS Virtual Town Hall for the next strategic plan, and how learning could reach beyond the classroom into the wider community.
Open ↗Article · Falls Church News-Press · Sep 26, 2024Celebrating Citizenship: A Community Effort at Goodwin Living
How a resident’s idea grew into a program that helps Goodwin Living staff pursue U.S. citizenship.
Open ↗Strategist
Seeing the big picture and figuring out the next move.
Initiative · Falls Church
Falls Church Learning Ecosystem / UNESCO Learning City initiative
Developing the strategy to position Falls Church as an open-walled learning ecosystem and pursue membership in UNESCO's Global Network of Learning Cities. This involves ecosystem mapping, stakeholder engagement, coalition building, advocacy, and identifying how existing community assets can work together.
Facilitator
Getting people in a room and helping them have a useful conversation.
Community Builder
Creating spaces where people actually meet each other.
Program Designer
Turning ideas into things people can participate in.
Storyteller
Finding the human story inside complicated issues.
Connector
Knowing who should be talking to whom.
Letter to the editor · Falls Church Independent · Mar 18, 2026
Connect, Borrow, Repair, Create, Repeat
Maps how businesses, the library and neighbors keep repair, lending and mending alive in Falls Church.
Open ↗Committee · Falls Church City Public SchoolsBusiness in Education Partnership Advisory Committee
María Belén sits on the committee that links local schools with area businesses and nonprofits.
Open ↗Instagram · The Learning QuestFalls Church declares Repair Day
The City’s declaration celebrating Repair Day on October 17, under the 2026 theme “How repair brings us together.”
Open ↗Projects
Projects
Ideas I'm turning into things people can join.
Building
Little City Dinner Club
Experimenting with how something as simple as dinner can create new connections between people and support local businesses.
Visit the Dinner Club ↗Exploring
AI + community
Helping families and organizations navigate AI thoughtfully, starting with a bilingual Community Commons for Latino families.
Writing
Writing
On community, communications, education and civic life.
EducationCommunityEducationCommunications
Community Looks Beyond Classroom as FCCPS Launches Next Strategic Plan Process
Falls Church Independent · Nov 2, 2026
What the community said at FCCPS's Virtual Town Hall about the next strategic plan, from learning beyond the classroom to technology.
Connect, Borrow, Repair, Create, Repeat
Falls Church Independent · Mar 18, 2026
How repair and lending help a city strengthen its social fabric.
Building a Community Commons for Latino Families: Helping Parents Navigate AI with Confidence
The Learning Quest
Why parents do not need to become AI experts, and how families and schools can work as partners.
Celebrating Citizenship: A Community Effort at Goodwin Living
Falls Church News-Press · Sep 26, 2024
A resident’s idea becomes a citizenship program for the staff who care for her neighbors.
Portfolio
Portfolio
Past work and what is coming next, in one place.
Past work
Every link opens in a new tabPodcast · Learning Unboxed · Feb 16, 2026
Learning Unboxed, episode 296
A conversation about building a learning community.
Open ↗Article · Falls Church Independent · Nov 2, 2026Community Looks Beyond Classroom as FCCPS Launches Next Strategic Plan Process
On the FCCPS Virtual Town Hall for the next strategic plan.
Open ↗Article · Falls Church Independent · Mar 18, 2026Connect, Borrow, Repair, Create, Repeat
Community repair and sharing, from The Learning Quest.
Open ↗Program · InstagramLEGO Drive
A community drive designed and run through The Learning Quest.
Open ↗Program · InstagramRepair Day
Neighbors fixing, sharing and learning together.
Open ↗Program · InstagramTeddy Bear Fix It Clinic
A hands-on clinic for families.
Open ↗Out in the world
Events, talks and community
Planned work
In progressThe Learning Quest
Building
Growing the idea of a community learning space in Falls Church.
Little City Dinner Club
Building
Experimenting with dinners that connect neighbors.
AI + community
Exploring
Helping families and organizations understand and use AI well.
Let's Talk
Let's talk
Working with organizations that need someone who can move between strategy, communications, partnerships and execution.
Tell me what you're working on.
A project, a partnership, a community that needs a bridge. Start anywhere.