June guzman
rest, case manager
June is a Case Manager for the ERC Emergency Shelter guests. She partners with guests to attain their individual goals over the course of their 90-day stay, advocating for the guest, communicating with resources, searching for housing that suits their needs, and making referrals to internal and external resources.
What is your favorite inspirational quote or best piece of advice given to you?
“And so, she decided to start living the life she imagined.” -Unknown
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
My way of giving back is to contribute to systems and use my creative background to make the workplace most effective in serving others.
I created the Welcome Packet for guests, gathering information and feedback from coworkers and management, so that the 90-Day Journey brochure could be used as a tool to provide a visual of what to expect upon entering the ERC.
I also created the BinGO sheet to inspire guests to see their progress and have a visual to share in the celebration of all accomplishments during each month in the ERC. I believe when guests have visual reminders and better understand the services and resources available to them, they will be able to more effectively collaborate with the team and access services.
I created the tools to support the team in the ERC, and I want to continue to gather feedback and contribute to teams and systems in that way.
In honor of Women's History Month, can you spotlight a woman from either your life, history or your community who has personally inspired you?
I have had experiences with many women throughout my lifetime that inspire me, some of which were mere moments together; others, for a season. Even moments of inspiration can change a lifetime.
My teacher, Ms. Seifert, stands out, as she wrote the word "positive" across the board. I was in sixth grade and during that year, had entered the foster care system. This teacher emphasized what it means to think positively and found a way to intertwine this lesson with curriculum throughout the year. She taught me the importance of altering my perspective in any given situation, even in the face of adversity. I am grateful to have known her and how the impact of just one word can impact a lifetime.
As a woman community leader, how do you approach mentoring and supporting younger generations of women in your community to ensure a sustainable legacy of leadership and empowerment?
I took in my four cousins almost 10 years ago. I was a single parent of seven, with my three. I wanted the four sisters to stay together, and they would have been separated in the state's care.
During that time, I familiarized myself with the current foster system and helped to support and collaborate with multiple systems to support my cousins and family as a whole. I also started a community outreach project, and as a family, we served. The idea was to inspire anyone to see that you can serve the community, even if you were working with a minimal budget. I partnered with other organizations and people in the community and created fundraisers, going live to promote and show progress with the project.
The family funded, prepared, and served over 1,500 in the community. We created so many memories together. My four cousins and my daughter are all young adults now, and I believe these experiences changed all of our lives. The experience of needing support in my childhood gave me the direction I needed to be there for these, now, women, in the way that I was.