It has been a pleasure to volunteer at Unidos’ Homework Club the past several years. I’ve had the opportunity not only to build relationships with the students but also with the staff at Unidos. The love and respect that the staff and volunteers have for the residents is why I keep coming back.
Unidos shows so much respect for the residents in their neighborhood of focus. They don’t tell the residents what they need to change to improve the community but take the time to listen to what the residents feel is needed. They then look for the community’s existing strengths in that area and help them to build strength where needed. In some cases (like Homework Club) they bring in the resources needed to help. I feel it is Unidos’ attitude of helping the community build their own strength that makes them so successful. It has been an honor to be a small part of helping this community grow. And seeing the excitement on the kids faces when they master a skill is an added joy!
Unidos is transforming lives! The organization’s approach—partnership with the neighborhood + empowerment of its residents—is an exemplar for nonprofits. I’m consistently amazed by how the residents supported by Unidos build their voices, find community with each other, and collectively activate toward change. And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? Transformational!
I had the honor of working as a volunteer with Unidos in a variety of ways. I say “variety” because I so appreciated that when I asked if I could be a part of the organization somehow, I was asked in what ways do I think I could use any of my experience to benefit the community.
It was then that I utilized my teaching experience to help at their homework club. And because I had worked in the fitness industry I had skills to offer fitness classes to a group during the week.
Lastly I had the pleasure of combining both my teaching and fitness experience to conduct a physical education class for students as well.
I so appreciate how Unidos purposefully connected my personal experience and skills to the needs of the organization which made for an ideal volunteer opportunity that blended my passions with the community’s needs and made for a great partnership and a blessing for all involved.
Unidos as an organization knows people and leads them well both inside, and outside the organization and in all aspects of the work they do.