Mara Castillo Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

- Supported the day-to-day management and operations coordination of the service- Assumed interim management responsibilities for a team of 14 Crisis Workers during a transitional period from November 2022-May 2023 to uphold service continuity and support team morale- Collaborated closely with team members to address emerging challenges, implement process improvements, and maintain high standards of our services- Enhanced team engagement through facilitating community process spaces, coordinating fun team events, developing a monthly newsletter, etc. to foster stronger connections and a greater sense of community- Managed scheduling logistics for the Lifeline Crisis Worker team of approximately 50 counselors- Trained new counselors by facilitating listen-ins, role plays, workshops, and monitored shifts, providing guidance and feedback- Created wellness initiatives aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of Lifeline Crisis Workers, mitigating the effects of secondary trauma, and making necessary adjustments to ensure that the counselor role was more sustainable. Conducted feedback sessions with Crisis Workers and Supervisors and collaborated with stakeholders to develop processes and tailored resources to foster a supportive environment that prioritized counselor mental health

- Fielded over 3000 calls and provided crisis intervention counseling to LGBTQ+ young people nationwide- Conducted suicide risk assessments with Lifeline contacts and helped to deescalate callers at high risk- Built trust and provided a safe space for youth to explore issues including mental health, sexuality, gender identity, and suicidal ideation- Provided support to fellow Crisis Workers through cocounseling and debriefs- Trained new Crisis Workers by facilitating role plays- Supervised Lifeline as “Shift Point” and provided Crisis Workers and Lifeline Volunteers with on shift support

Greater New York City Area

- Used advanced camera equipment and techniques to capture visually appealing and technically accurate photographs- Ensured proper composition, lighting, and focus to achieve desired results - Collaborated with clients to understand their needs and preferences- Photographed portraits and special events, including the National Student Leadership Diversity Convention (NSLDC) and the Latinx Leads Student Leadership Conference (Ceceilyn Miller Institute for Leadership and Diversity)- Performed digital processing using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop to enhance and retouch images, adjust colors, exposure, and other elements- Delivered final images to clients within agreed timelines and specifications

Greater New York City Area

- Empowered high school students to become effective advocates and allies for social change- Led interactive workshops and facilitated group discussions to promote empathy, critical thinking, and awareness of social inequalities and systemic oppression- Supported campers in exploring their own identities and perspectives through individual conversations and group discussions- Ensured the safety and well-being of the students through regular check-ins and overnight cabin supervision- Guided students in exploring their creativity through music, writing, and photography