Community is key, according to Isabel. “I grew up in Managua, Nicaragua during a time of social transformation and this is how I learned the importance of getting people involved in their communities.

“I attended college in the United States; my first job out of college was in community organizing in Chicago, and later I worked in organizations that help battered women. I learned that long-term transformation can only happen if people receive needed services and also have a place where they can be agents for change.

“I obtained my MSW from Washington University in 2008. My concentration was Mental Health and this enabled me to focus my studies on the area of Social Work that I felt I knew the least about. I now feel more able to support people and motivate them to achieve their goals.”

Today, Isabel is working in Los Angeles, CA at The Serra Project, an agency that provides housing for people who are HIV positive and have additional barriers that prevent them from finding housing on their own. Isabel is also involved as a volunteer in a community theater project called El Teatro de la Realidad where participants address personal and political issues and perform for free at community events.