Diana Morales was COTS’ Employee of the Year in 2018. She won the honor because of her competence and her kindness toward our clients and her colleagues. Diana worked at the front desk, often late into the night, juggling many duties, the most important of which was to listen to our residents and encourage them.
Recently, she took the job of Community Engagement Specialist.
What do you do for COTS?
I’m the Community Engagement Specialist. I started in September. What I do is right there in the title. I’m here to engage the community in what we do here at COTS and how we do it. So many people want to help. I’m that bridge to help them come in and see what we do and how they can get involved.
I’ll give people tours, I’ll answer questions, I’ll come speak to groups, I’ll go to events.
I’m looking forward to working with all the businesses and groups who provides goods or services for us. I want to make sure they know how grateful we are and how much of a difference their gifts make.
A big part of my job is working with our volunteers, who are wonderful. I schedule them in a variety of jobs. Our biggest need is at Mary’s Table, where we’ve just expanded our community meal program. We’re also building other opportunities because we’re trying to increase our programming for children.
Why were you interested in this work?
I’ve worked at COTS for several years. But I first came to COTS as a resident. I was living in the shelter. My self-esteem was shot. I couldn’t even look up from the ground. When I went through the food line, the volunteers always had a big smile for me. They asked me how I was doing, and I had to hold my head up to answer them. And doing that every day—that helped. The volunteers made a beautiful quilt for me which I still have on my bed—a thing of such beauty for me! I couldn’t believe it. They helped me find clothing, and that helped me hold my head up, too. Volunteers helped me in the Rent Right class, they helped me open my eyes about the challenges of living here in Sonoma County. Volunteers helped me get ready to go back into the working world. They helped me find a job. They were integral to getting back my self-esteem.
I truly believe and always have believed that our volunteers hold us up and allow us to do our jobs. They are like the bones of COTS and all our programs. So, I am thrilled to be doing what I can to strengthen the volunteer program and support our wonderful volunteers.
How has your experience serving our Mary Isaak Center residents helped prepare you for this job?
The most important skill for my job is listening. That’s the number one thing whether I’m working with residents or volunteers. My job is not about me. My job is helping COTS and helping the people who help COTS.
What’s your dream for this job?
When I get up in the morning, I go over my gratitude list. I want to always remember how great it is to get up and do work that give me such pleasure. At the end of the day, I don’t know who’s helped more—me or the people I’ve been helping all day. I get to lay my head on the pillow every night and fall into a deep, happy sleep because I know I’ve done what I can.
I want to make sure volunteers feel the same way.
I want to help create an atmosphere where our volunteers get up in the morning and they smile and say “I’m going to serve food today.” Or, “I’m going to clean out the fridges or read to the children.” I want them to smile and say, “Today is the day I rake leaves.” I want them to be fulfilled and embraced in their roles.
Who has inspired you?
My former mother-in-law. She was a nurse her whole life. Her home is literally a place where family goes to live out their last days. She has suffered so much loss but helped with the passing of so many. She’s amazing: kind, soft-spoken, smart, and interested in everything. She learned Spanish in her 70s so she could communicate better with her patients. She taught me how fulfilling it is to help others. It’s a two-way street. You help others and in return, you get a feeling of completeness. Mind, body and spirit are all taken care of when you help other people.
What would you say to someone who’s interested in learning more?
I am so proud to work here. I believe in what we do. I want to tell the world, “Look, this is going on! Let me show you what we’re doing here!” I really believe in this. I’m one hundred percent in.
I would encourage people to get in touch, come over and see what we do here and get involved doing something they like to do.