December Volunteer Spotlight - Neriah Sosa
We are so excited to honor and celebrate our December Volunteer of the Month: Neriah Sosa. Neriah is a longtime Girl Connect co-facilitator who began volunteering with GIRLS in 2017! Neriah has been phenomenal at supporting Girls Empowerment Network and has been instrumental in ensuring girls are engaged in every Girl Connect group! Girls Empowerment Network wants to give a HUGE shoutout to Neriah for everything she’s done to bring the magic to our programs!
What sparked your interest and made you want to volunteer at Girls Empowerment Network?
GEN sparked my interest because of the healthy habits we are planting in these girls. With the ability to have conversations about often ignored or difficult topics, these girls are building a toolset for their future success.
Can you tell me about an experience while volunteering that resonated with you?
A volunteer experience that resonates with me was at Paredes middle school. It was a smaller group, which facilitated the growth of trust over the months. One conversation with the girls remains with me today. They opened up about their home life, struggles, and identities. When they realized they had many shared experiences, and that they were seen, heard, and understood, I knew that everything we had been discussing that semester was worth it. They knew they had a group of girls to rely on.
Looking back, what advice did you need to hear as a young girl?
When I was a young girl, I was insecure about my personality, looks, and many things I couldn't necessarily control. I wish someone had told me that it was okay to be me and that whoever I was, it was wonderful. Self-acceptance is a lifelong process, but back then I could have used the support GEN offered.
Who is a woman that inspires you and why?
I am greatly inspired by La Pasionaria de Texas, Emma Tenayuca, a union leader and organizer of the San Antonio Pecan Sheller's Strike during the 1930s. A woman who fought for human rights during a time when many Mexicans and Mexican Americans (no matter if they were American citizens) were deported and lived in fear of deportation for voicing their struggles. She was brave in the face of great opposition.
What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering with Girls Empowerment Network?
For someone who is considered volunteering with GEN, I would tell them to do it! Working with these girls only makes our community stronger. Keep an open mind, and expect the unexpected. Each experience is different.
If you had $1,000,000 to donate to alleviate any social justice issue, which one would it be?
If I were to pick one social justice issue to alleviate $1,000,000, I would choose organizations that house, feed, and provide a social network for immigrants and their families. This would look like providing daycare services, helping get legal documents or legal assistance, assisting with the job hunt, educational and language classes, the list goes on.