Unmarked Streets was founded by Andrea Stachnik in 2011. Andrea graduated from Loyola University Chicago with a BBA in finance and economics, and has worked in financial forecasting, reporting, and budgeting. She has been involved in microfinance since 2007 when she began volunteering with a charity called TradeRelief which supports social enterprises: their current projects include several growing businesses in Western Kenya.

She joined a volunteer program in summer 2010 in Solola, in the Guatemalan highlands, hoping to get some field experience in microfinance. While there, she realized how saturated the market was for small loans, and how hungry the community was for a different approach to creating jobs. When she returned to the States, she sat down with her friends and family and started brainstorming what is now Unmarked Streets.  

Emily received a B.A. in Communications with a focus in Sociology and Urban Studies from Loyola University of Chicago.  After graduation, Emily traveled throughout Central America experiencing the rich culture and traditions which make the region so vibrant. When she returned to the US,  Emily worked in fundraising and volunteer recruitment for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Emily works for Potbelly Sandwich Works, a quick service restaurant based out of Chicago, as their Marketing Specialist.

Denise graduated from Williams College with a BA in American Studies and concentrations in Gender Studies and Leadership Studies. She met Andrea while she was living in Guatemala and volunteering at a shelter for victims of domestic violence. During college and since, she has worked on various grass-roots education and community-focused projects: co-founding Williams College’s Women Center, and designing and teaching entrepreneurial curriculum at an educational non-profit called Young Entrepreneurs Alliance. Denise has also worked as Director of GoGirlGo! Boston, which aims to get young girls involved in sports and making healthy living choices.