Welcoming our Interns

It is September, the time of year that our new interns arrive at the Village.  This year they arrive early – August 30, 2021. As always, they are coming with enthusiasm and excitement about working at the Village.  And, as always, we eagerly anticipate their arrival.  

Each of our two interns will be spending two days per week with the Village. Chloe Camarena will be with us on Monday and Tuesday; Stephanie Rivas on Monday and Wednesday. As the year begins contact between our interns and members will be limited to telephone, email and zoom.  We are all very hopeful that as the year unfolds, we will be able to expand contact to home visits and direct physical contact as the threat of the coronavirus is reduced.  

Our first goal is that our interns have an opportunity to learn from us about older adults – our strengths, our abilities, our wisdom generated through life experience, our need for human contact; our challenges, losses of loved ones, friends and the need for personal relationships, slowing down in a fast-paced world, health issues, etc. We hope that they will develop an understanding of the broad scope of the aging experience that they will carry with them into their professional careers.   

For Village members… we can expect to see our interns in a variety of situations: they may be contacting us by phone for special projects. They will be working with Katie and Belinda.  They will be working with several of our committees.  They will be available to help new and existing members effectively overcome technical limitations and get connected with Village activities and events.   When you see their name pop up on your caller ID please take the call. They are legitimate representatives of the Village.  They will have a specific reason for reaching out to you.   

 So, let’s get acquainted with our interns: 
After securing her AA degree at Pasadena City College in Social and Behavioral Sciences, Chloe Camarena received a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from San Jose State University and is now working on her master’s degree in Social Work at Azusa Pacific University (APU).  While going to school, Chloe works at the Family Advocate Center in East Los Angeles where she provides case management services to families, helping them create goals to promote school readiness for their young children.  She has past experience as an undergrad intern working with West Valley Community Services in San Jose, California, where she learned to use the Santa Clara County Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to complete assessments and secure transitional housing for clients who were homeless.  She served as an intern for the Alum Rock Counseling Center (ARCC) where she prepared lessons and helped conduct life skills classes including a 50-minute group session for middle school students. 

Stephanie Rivas has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, and is working on her master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California (USC).  
She has worked at El Nido Family Centers in Los Angeles as a Case Manager and as a Data-Entry Technician. At Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, she has worked as a Student Admission Representative providing virtual campus tours and support to incoming students in the admissions process. As a volunteer, she served as a paid intern with the Archdiocesan Youth Employment Services, Los Angeles, and at El Nido Family Centers provided tutoring services to 3rd to 12th grade underserved students in Math, English and reading comprehension.  She has had some experience working at Los Angeles Hospice, Inc., and volunteered with the Echo Park Public Library to help children and teens who frequented the library to enroll in various programs according to their interests and needs.  She also helped provide and monitor the free summer lunch program for children, and assisted students to find homework and project resources through the Los Angeles Public Library system.  Stephanie is a member of Latinas Unidas and a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS).  

We are looking forward to an exciting and productive year.  With great enthusiasm we welcome Chloe and Stephanie.