Jul 15, 2015 | Being a Social Worker, Blog, Community Change, Ending Homelessness, Having a Home, Homeless Outreach, Inspiration
Imagine if you will that you are sitting in your doctor’s office talking to him about an upcoming procedure and he tells you that you will need someone to be in the waiting room during the procedure and also someone to drive you home. For many of you, you have a...
Dec 12, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Inspiration
As I sit here at an empty desk, I’m a ball of emotions, unsure of how to feel exactly, because it is my last day with Aurora. I started my journey (and yes, it truly was a journey…) with Aurora three and half years ago. This was my first leap into the...
Nov 19, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Inspiration, News
This is Part 2 of a four-part series over the next month as Luzada’s time at Aurora comes to a close. She will be retiring from her current position as Executive Director on December 31. Part 1 can be found here. My quest to end homelessness has been filled with so...
Nov 10, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Ending Homelessness, Homeless Outreach, Inspiration
I began my foray into homelessness in 2009 when I nervously began my social work career as an intern on Aurora’s Homeless Outreach Team. However, it didn’t take long for me to come out of my shell and jump right in to servicing our local homeless. Like an addiction, I...
Aug 26, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Blog, Homeless Outreach
Pull out your ID. Take a look at it. I bet you are critical about the picture; would you really like it better if you could have smiled? Now embrace your ID. That’s right, hold it up to your cheek, gaze at it longingly, and truly appreciate it because most of you...
Jul 17, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Blog, Community Change, Inspiration
Staying positive can serve as our best weapon against our most challenging moments! It has been 21 months since I was given the opportunity to become a part of the “Aurora Family.” During this time, I have been able to cross paths with many courageous individuals and...
Jul 3, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Blog, Having a Home, Inspiration
Love is a shelter in a raging storm Love is peace in the middle of a war This is a quote from one of my favorite songs. This song is “Love is Not a Fight” by Warren Barfield. Love is the great motivator in our lives. If we are motivated to work with our...
Jun 10, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Blog, Having a Home
Stability. A concept most might take for granted without giving thought to its true meaning. Let’s take a moment to explore this seemingly simple idea. Where does one find stability? At first glance, more tangible things come to mind; employment, family and a...
May 27, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Blog, Inspiration
I am actually mid-vacation as I write my blog today. That was my mistake for not looking at the calendar on the right day, but at the same time it brings up an important concept that I figured I might as well share. I think about my clients all the time. Even on...
Apr 28, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Blog, Homeless Outreach
As case managers, we are encouraged to “meet people where they are.” When I met with Darla, we sat on the floor of a storage room within the House of Bread and Peace. The room, not only was crowded with Thanksgiving donations ready to be sorted, but it was also the...
Mar 31, 2014 | Being a Social Worker, Blog
Happy Social Work Month to my colleagues! From time to time, we need to be reminded of why we choose to work in this industry and “Beth” did that for me last summer… I guess it was second grade when I realized that we were poor. One of the snotty...
Sep 23, 2013 | Being a Social Worker, Inspiration, News, Social Work Education
It is with no exaggeration that I explain my emotions and difficulties in writing this letter to you. There are knots in my stomach making me feel ill, lumps ink my throat making it hard to swallow and talk, there is heaviness in my heart that doesn’t want to...
