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Teresa Castelli
We've mentioned before on these pages how helpful it
is to have a project leader make a "continuing
commitment" to a project, and this month we salute
one of our leaders who has done just that.
Teresa Castelli has been regularly leading our Baby
Care project at Gramercy Family Center for several years
now.
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Some of the many kids that Teresa
and
her volunteers care for each week. |
She
and former project leader of the month Meghan
Lee split up the weekly project between them, ensuring
that the project has a knowledgable leader every week
throughout the year.
Teresa is a bankruptcy analyst for a law firm in Los
Angeles. We asked her how she got involved with L.A.
Works and made the leap to becoming a Project Leader:
"I have been involved with LA
Works for six or seven years. I attended an L.A. Works
day and liked the idea of volunteer activities without
a huge time commitment. I started volunteering at Bethesda
House (now Alegria) and was really inspired by my first
leader, Pat Shaver. Since then I have worked at Aviva,
Reading to Kids, Good Shepherd, Gramercy Family Place
and the Center for Non-Violent Education and Parenting
as well as on various LA Works Days and on the "United
We Stand" event.
I started volunteering at Gramercy Family Center. I
really fell in love with the children and the project
– when I could not get in every week because the
project filled up, I started co-leading with Meghan
Lee. I had worked with Meghan on a variety of projects
and she has been a great inspiration to me. I was encouraged
by other leaders and volunteers who had projects to
which they were "committed" and Gramercy is
now that project for me.
I know I get far more from my projects than I am able
to give to them. I hope at Gramercy that we are providing
some regular support and friendship to the mothers and
to the children. I have been with the same children
for several years now and it has been great to see them
grow and develop and to share life changes with them
and their families. My horizons have been broadened
so much – I have been to places I never would
have visited and have met people I never would have
met had I not participated in these activities.
I think many of us live very privileged existences and
have a real obligation to give something back to our
communities. I became an American citizen in 1999 so
I think a great deal about the duties and responsibilities
of citizenship. If each of us gave back just a little
the effects could be enormous. I have my moments of
doubt, but I suspect most of us are making more of a
difference than we know."
Teresa is an example of a volunteer who was unafraid
to take the one extra step to becoming a leader. It's
easy to lead our projects, and in doing so, you allow
us to create additional, new projects, and to create
more opportunities for others to volunteer and continue
to make a difference. Thank you Teresa for your continued
support and leadership!
Past
Project Leaders Recognition Pages
Dec. 2003
Nov. 2003
Oct, 2003
Sept, 2003
Aug, 2003
July, 2003
June, 2003
May, 2003
April, 2003
March, 2003
February, 2003
January, 2003
December, 2002
November, 2002
October, 2002 |
