New Yorkers in Behavioral Health — Kara: Deputy Director for a non-profit organization’s intimate partner violence reduction program

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Tell us about your career path. How did you start out and what steps did you take to grow and advance in your profession?

My behavioral health journey started with a criminal justice bachelor’s degree, which I pursued out of a desire to explore law enforcement and ways to make my community safer. As I continued throughout my program and graduated, I had an opportunity to do an internship with a non-profit based in my own neighborhood. There, I learned that there were many ways to address violence, some of them being community-based strategies. Seeing an approach that didn’t break up families and cause further harm to the community I grew up in made be think about continuing my career in social justice. I finished my internship and was hired by the organization, where I was a Support Services Case Manager for a couple of months. In that position I realized I really enjoyed engaging community members, and when a new position opened up, I applied to be the Community Engagement Liaison, a position I then served in for 2 years. My job included collaborating to organize and host community events, attending stakeholder meetings, working with volunteers, and supporting with neighborhood outreach related to violence prevention and healing-based initiatives.

During this time, a project that started off as a pilot program was being funded to expand into a larger program called that would become a new branch of the organization. This initiative was designed to respond to intimate partner violence (IPV) across NYC by engaging people who cause harm to change their behavior and practice accountability, while also supporting community members who have been harmed. I became one of the Project Coordinators and worked on building capacity within communities around responding to IPV. After 2 years, I was promoted to an Associate Director of Community Initiatives and then Associate Director of Programs.

I am still with this organization today, now serving as the Deputy Director. I oversee the development and implementation of community-based intervention and prevention initiatives related to intimate partner violence and gun violence. I supervise program staff, manage relationships with city-wide stakeholders, and coordinate borough-wide trainings, workshops, and events. Additionally, I develop and implement strategies for community accountability, bystander intervention, and restorative justice practices. I also manage aspects of grant implementation, including relationships with funders and partner providers.

Were there any obstacles, unexpected circumstances, or hardships you had to navigate while pursuing your education and career goals? How did you handle these challenges?

I come from an immigrant family and was a first-generation college student. Before I went to college, I was living in public housing. Money was always a concern, and I didn’t know how I’d pay for school. Fortunately, there were scholarships, grants, and FAFSA, which supported me throughout my bachelor’s program.

What contributed to your success in creating a meaningful career?

I believe having a supportive network, not only at your workplace but in your personal life as well, plays a key role in professional success. I had friends who encouraged and supported me to apply myself to different jobs, and I’ve had mentors and supervisors who have seen my value and motivated me to push myself. Also, keep learning wherever you can. If you have an opportunity to do a training, listen to a webinar, go to a panel, do so. There’s so many great sources of information out there, many perspectives, and many different experiences. Soak those in and continue to learn.

Are there any education, training, or career goals you are still pursuing?

I’m currently pursing my Master’s in Public Health with a specialization in Violence.