 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Cool Careers: Program Coordinator by: Jenny Heath For the past eight years, Elizabeth Morales has been working for Girls Quest, a non-profit organization that supports NYC girls from low-income backgrounds through summer camp programs, year-long mentoring and youth leadership development. Elizabeth’s eagerness and passion for her work comes from her own background, which is not unlike the girls she serves. Having grown up in the projects herself, she is aware and sensitive to the needs of young girls and their families. As if running three programs |
| wasn’t enough, Elizabeth also finds time to be single mom for two kids. This super mom squeezed us in for a chat about how she balances two important jobs: being a program coordinator and a full-time mom. Q What do you do as a Program Coordinator? A. Primarily I am responsible for finding girls who are interested in our summer camp program SEED. There are three sessions that run during the summer and I meet with girls who are interested in applying to the program from the five boroughs of NYC, Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and |
| Queens. A little more than half of the girls return again the next summer so I have to go out and visit local schools to find more applicants. Q What is Girls Quest? A. Our mission statement says it best “to nurture girls from low-income families in New York to help them achieve their full potential and become active members of their communities by building academic and social competence." This is done through outdoor experiential education, year- round mentoring and leadership training programs. Q What kind of training or education prepared for you this position? A. I started here in this agency as an intern when I was attending Berkley College. I got my associates degree in Business Administration and Applied Science. I felt prepared for this position because I had had so much experience working with different types of people and in this job I encounter many different types of families. I also attended many workshops on youth development, which prepared me to work with parents. Q What projects are you currently working on? A. I spend most of my time recruiting and responding to applicants for the summer program. We recruit 300 girls every summer! I am also involved in AYRE (Advanced Year-Round Engagement), which keeps veteran girls connected during the school year through monthly activities. We go apple picking, ice-skating and take them on college tours. Q What does your typical day look like? A. Most mornings, I spend time responding and following up with parents and families of applicants. I am bilingual so I am able to connect with Latino families and speak to agencies that are referring girls to the program. I organize open houses at local schools to tell more communities about Girl’s Quest. I wear a lot of hats! Q How did you get interested in Girls Quest? A. Following my internship here, I chose to apply because I loved the vibe here. It is a small non-profit company that helps to get kids out of their neighborhoods. I can relate to these girls because I grew up in the projects, too. Q What is your favorite part about your job? A. I love connecting with the girls. After getting to know them, I feel deep bonds with all the girls. I also get to reach out to their families and provide them with resources. The girls say that it is easy to relate to me perhaps because we share similar backgrounds. Q What advice would you give someone interested in working with teen girls? A. Take lots of courses on youth development or get your degree in youth development. This is important for working with young girls and their families. It would also be helpful to read up about non-profits. There are many aspects that are particular to working in a non-profit such as fundraising and grant writing. If you already have a degree in something else it is helpful to attend workshops on working with children and families. |
Q. And lastly, how do you balance your professional life with your personal life, being a working mom? A. It can be challenging taking on more programs at work because it means I have to put in more hours on the weekends, which is usually when I can spend more time with my kids. I get a lot of support through my mom! I stay positive and optimistic by |
| striving for my own personal goals. Being a single mom is hard but not impossible. You can accomplish anything with an open mind. I am used to working really hard. I worked two jobs and put myself through college. I actually graduated college and then had my son four days later. Thank you for taking time to speak with Athena Magazine, Elizabeth! It is not hard to imagine why girls can so easily relate to her. Her positive and determined attitude is both amazing and inspiring. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |