Flashback Friday – A DREAMer Gives Back
Former LSA client and volunteer, Prioska Galicia, is featured in the New York Times story, A Dreamer Finds Her Voice. In the article, Prioska reflects on her time at LSA and the impact that the organization has had on her future.
Today, we take a look back at Prioska’s story published originally on the LSA blog in December 2015.
Prioska Galicia, volunteer with reception, data entry, and food pantry
When Prioska’s mom asked where they could go to get help with a DACA application, a friend sent her to LSA.
LSA has been on the forefront of helping people like Prioska apply for DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – which protects people who came to the country as children and know no other home. Our deep roots in the community help us to reach people who are eligible, and our partnerships with organizations like the Legal Aid Society and the NY Legal Assistance Group help us connect individuals to the support they need.
Through LSA, Prioska got assistance in completing her DACA application. Her mom got help, too: “we didn’t know she could get her papers – we thought that she didn’t qualify. But they told her, yes, you’re eligible to become a citizen.”
Her relationship with LSA did not end there. This DREAMer is now giving back to the LSA community through volunteerism.
On her first visit to LSA, Prioska befriended Melina, one of our client advocates. Prioska offered her volunteer assistance as she wanted to give back to LSA in some way. Since then, Prioska has been a regular fixture at LSA, helping out in our food pantry, at our reception desk, and doing data entry.
Prioska said: “What I like is that I get to interact with people one on one, to practice both my English and my Spanish, and to learn how to be on time and have responsibility. At the reception desk, I need to be ‘open ears and open eyes,’ so I can see who comes in and who needs help, or I’m on the phone helping people. In the food pantry, I’m making them feel comfortable. I just like helping people.”
She has been volunteering since September of 2015 for about six hours a week. Her friendly face often greets our LSA clients at the reception desk when there is an Advocacy staff meeting on Monday afternoons or during an all-staff meeting. She moves seamlessly among the three programs with which she volunteers, and has become an essential help to all.
“Prioska is always enthusiastic and eager to help – she is very attentive to the children, very engaging with our families. Her positive energy is great for children to be around,” said Wendy Miron, Director of the Education and Youth Services program. Prioska helps Wendy with data entry, and also with child care activities on Friday afternoons.
Prioska’s first impression of LSA was the everyone was “very nice” “friendly” and “welcoming.” Volunteering at LSA has really helped her “to be able to speak up more for myself – I can get along with a lot of different people as I have to help many different people in the food pantry,” she said.
Through her volunteer work, she is gaining skills that she hopes will prepare her for a future career in Communications. She says she feels “more prepared to face the challenges ahead,” thanks to her volunteer experience at LSA.
Where does she see herself in 5 years? “I see myself graduating college and having a stable job. I would like to do communications and I would also like to be in the community helping people. That’s my plan.”
Photo by Micah Rubin.