Valeria García Lara, M.Ed Email and Phone Number

As the Community Engagement Graduate Fellow at Hands to Help (Manos para Ayudar), a community resource center in Lawrence, MA which provides services to a predominantly Latina/o/x population, my responsibilities and duties included:• Serve as the key point of contact for service delivery to community members through translations, nonprofit referrals, and general assistance • Manage, develop, and implement Hands to Help’s after-school tutoring program• Recruit, train, and manage college student service-learning volunteers• Coordinate workshops, events at the center, and local field trips• Plan and execute bilingual parental engagement activities and meetings• Facilitate volunteer and parent meetings, orientation, and training sessions• Partner with and maintain relationships with community members and community organizations• Assess and evaluate existing Hands to Help programs through survey and evaluation development• Implement program improvements following evidence-based practices and community voice• Assist with the organization, implementation and evaluation of the annual Back-to-School Drive• Develop an updated Community Resource Manual for organizational and communal use• Lead creative social media and communications efforts• Assist in the organization, implementation, and distribution of the Holiday Toy Drive• Organize and execute the annual volunteer appreciation event • Develop a culturally-inclusive and relevant training for volunteers and H2H stakeholders

• Work closely with the directors of each center to develop and implement innovative strategies to advance community projects servingimmigrant families• Lead creative reflection sessions for Latino, low-income youth that foster critical thinking, reflective expression and future building• Develop and maintain relationships with foundations, individual donors and nonprofit partners to maximize outreach• Identify and conduct research for funding opportunities to increase project budgets and assist with grant writing• Collaborate in the planning, management and execution of fundraising events• Create marketing and communication materials for all development activities

• Work with a local nonprofit organization that responds to the daily challenges neighbors face• Engage in a range of service opportunities: supporting staff in community health centers; educating in local schools and after-school programs; working in pastoral ministry and social services• Cultivate authentic relationships with their neighbors• Live simply in intentional community – sharing meals, gathering for prayer and reflection, and supporting and encouraging one another• Guide groups of US high school and college students who visit for a week-long immersion experience

• Performed general administrative duties for the International Immersion Program• Correspond with Civic Engagement Director for project management• Planned and organized special events, fundraisers, meetings and presentations• Assisted with events involving the Office of Civic Engagement• Communicated with sponsors, donors and university members• Assisted with marketing materials (flyers, brochures, etc.)• Assisted with writing and editing letters• Managed social media

One of 30 student leaders whose mission is to serve and represent the President and St. Mary’s University at special events, to promote the vast successes and advancements of our university, and to communicate through all that we do, the virtue of our beloved Marianist heritage. We network with directors from all over the nation, distinguished alumni and the community both on and off campus and symbolize the rich cultural, geographic and academic diversity of the student body.

One of 15 student leaders who were selected as the orientation leaders who welcome and help guide the incoming freshmen class to St. Mary's University. With the goal of introducing the students to a new atmosphere and helping them feel comfortable with a new environment, a set of diverse skills are used to accomplish the task of a Zaragoza Leader. Along with introducing the university, speaking about the Marianist charism which distinguishes St. Mary's, help give information on how to access tools and resources on campus, Zaragoza Leaders perform basic office tasks and reflect the image of a proud Rattler.

We are a young generation of students who share traditions, cultures, faith and religion within our St. Mary's community. We welcome everyone who wishes to grow in or learn more about Hispanic traditions, cultures, and languages. We want to help students have a smooth transition into the college life while at the same time learn more about one's culture and faith through social, spiritual, and service events.

The Summer of Service (SOS) Program is an eight-week program that invites St. Mary’s students to live in intentional community and to engage actively with the Holy Rosary Parish and surrounding West-side community. This program roots itself in an interpersonal format that requires critical thinking, theological reflection, and social analysis; students are invited to further understand their vocations through personal discernment, community living and a shared faith journey.

• Performed a wide range of administrative tasks including meeting coordination, data entry, email management, and document preparation• Researched most effective development strategy; worked with Director of Development to develop implementation plans• Collaborated with the Director of Development to successfully write various grant applications; tasks included conducting online prospect and funding research and in-person interviews, writing grant proposals and letters of intent, and creating case for support letters• Supported planning of special events, including all logistics, marketing and design details, supply purchases, and budget organization• Tasked with researching and drafting disaster plan template to facilitate proposal advancement; prepared reports and agendas for meetings

• Provided administrative support through day-to-day operations, supply inventory and ordering, data entry, and calendar management• Supported development efforts, including mailings, e-newsletters, phone calls, donation inquiries, special events and media outreach• Contributed in large-scale fundraising event planning and logistics; managed in-kind donation tracking and led donor engagement efforts • Assisted in marketing activities including writing press releases and maintaining marketing materials, social media and website updated• Organized volunteer schedules, activity and responsibilities chart, and managed volunteer communication for fundraising events• Assisted with guiding Annual Employee Giving Campaign through staff interviews, employee photographs, and drafting final digital report