From Personal Roots to Professional Impact

Sam reflects on her journey as she marks her first anniversary as a Volunteer Coordinator at World Relief Quad Cities. In this Q&A, she shares her personal experiences, the inspirations that drive her, and how these elements connect to her believe in the importance of advocacy.

What does being a Volunteer Coordinator mean to you personally and professionally?

Being a Volunteer Coordinator has a personal meaning for me. Refugees and immigrants arrive to a completely new country and community. Volunteers are their new neighbors, coworkers, landlords, doctors, and are part of their new community. My parents came as immigrants from Mexico which influenced my perspective on immigration. They had to navigate a new country, overcoming language barriers, securing work, housing, and everything that was new to them without community support. World Relief helps ease these barriers that refugees and immigrants face by programs including education, legal services, employment services, and many more. In my role, I have the privilege of sharing the mission to community members, which can empower them to support their immigrant neighbors, whether clients of World Relief or not. 

Professionally, my role as a Volunteer Coordinator gives me opportunities to build relationships and connections. Part of my role is engaging with churches, colleges, community groups, community events, and individual volunteers. All of these interactions bring unique stories and experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. I can also connect with our clients, as I get to learn firsthand about their journey and experiences. 

My professional and personal interests include politics and religion, my knowledge has grown through this role and organization. I am better equipped to have conversations when speaking to my elected officials and community about refugees and immigrant policies. I can also have conversations with my church and fellow Christians about welcoming the stranger. Overall, I feel I have more insight and knowledge, and this role has transformed my understanding of the world we live in. 

What inspired you to take on the role of a Volunteer Coordinator?

During my time in college at St. Ambrose University, I organized a few community service events and found a passion in helping others. One significant service event, “Bee the Difference Day,” was the largest event I planned, with over 600 volunteers who came together to serve our campus neighborhood. I witnessed the impact of volunteers; how grateful our community was and the connections that formed through this experience. I found joy in organizing but also helping our community, I knew I needed to continue this work in my professional career. 

After graduation, I came across the role of a Volunteer Coordinator at World Relief Quad Cities. I resonated with the job description because it aligned perfectly with the skills that I gained in college working with volunteers. With my degree in Political Science and Theology I was drawn to World Relief’s mission and work with refugees as well as being a Chrisitan organization, this overall sounded like a great opportunity. My parents are immigrants, so I have a personal connection that fueled my passion to continue to help others. Everything about being a Volunteer Coordinator seemed perfect for me, so I felt a strong sense that God was calling me to this mission. 

What keeps your motivated in this work?

What drives my motivation in this work is seeing the success of our clients, volunteer stories, and reflecting on my own family’s story. When clients return to us and tell us how grateful they are towards World Relief, I see the impact of our work. Volunteer stories are important to my motivation as well. It truly shows the transformational change when they observe client’s growth and their meaningful connections. Additionally, my family’s story always motivates me when looking back to how they arrived in the United States with little support or community. As I engage with our community, I can share with others about resources available with our organization and how they can support their immigrant neighbors. 

Can you share a success story that highlights the positive impact of volunteers and your role in that process?

My personal favorite experiences are witnessing children volunteer with us and engage with our organization. We often host youth groups or school groups, and I always present an overview of our organization and clients we serve. Over time, I am able to predict questions adults will ask, but with children, it’s always a new question! 

Their perspectives on refugees and immigrants are always enlightening. Many have no knowledge about what a refugee is, and I have heard them express that if they meet someone in this situation, they will always try to offer a helping hand. Some say that they have classmates or neighbors that are immigrants or refugees, but they had no idea what that meant, and now have a deeper understanding of their experiences. I believe that engaging youth is crucial to a more inclusive future. If we instill in them values from a young age of respect and compassion to their neighbors and what the church calls us to do, we can create a more just and welcoming world. 

How has your role as a Volunteer Coordinator influenced your personal values or perspectives on community service?

My role as a volunteer coordinator has shaped my worldview and perspective on community service. I am inspired by the passion volunteers have about our mission, as our world is constantly changing, there is a sense of solidarity in our community and hope for the future.  

When I engage with volunteers, non-profits or community groups, I see how our work is collaborative, something we can’t do without community support. This role has taught me the importance of advocacy for our immigrant neighbors and walking alongside others to create a positive and lasting change. Community service helps foster a compassionate, just, and equitable community. 

If you are interested in employment opportunities with World Relief Quad Cities, please visit World Relief

Kler Soe is the Communications Specialist at World Relief Quad Cities. She joined the team after graduating from St. Ambrose University in May of 2023 with a degree in Public Relations and Strategic Communication. As a refugee herself, she hopes to bring awareness to World Relief’s work through stories.