Who’s New in the Crew: Street Outreach and Volunteer Coordination

Introduction

Just like the seasons, La Puente is going through some changes. There are new faces in some of the programs and familiar faces in new positions. These individuals share their La Puente origin story and how they ended up working their current programs. This section is going to include the latest position updates at Street Outreach and Volunteer Coordination.

Who is Amanda?

Amanda Suthers was born in Santa Fe, NM, and has lived in Alamosa since she was two. The new Assistant Director of Street Outreach found herself in the Street Outreach office after a recommendation from a former supervisor. Amanda grew up with misconceptions about the poverty crisis in Alamosa. It wasn’t until she accepted a temporary management position at a quarantine facility, where the majority of her clientele was homeless, that her views began shifting. 

Before working with the city, Amanda had no experience in a managerial or social work position. She grew overwhelmed by the different needs of these clients and slowly realized that she wasn’t fully qualified to provide the care needed. Her then-supervisor recommended she contact Shanae Diaz, the former Director of La Puente’s Street Outreach Program. Shanae became a mentor for Amanda and helped her better understand the homelessness crisis and how complex it truly is. Amanda’s views drastically shifted as she integrated into Street Outreach. She became an employee in August of 2021 and was recently promoted to Assistant Director. 

The Street Outreach Program works with individuals who are considered homeless by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards. One of its main priorities is building relationships and connections with clientele. Through these connections, the team can introduce clients to other La Puente programs and eventually help them toward self-stabilization. Amanda hopes that, in the long term, she can continue to build meaningful relationships with her clients. She is also excited about the future endeavors of La Puente and the possible expansion of its services.

As an avid reader, Amanda takes any opportunity to grow and learn. Inspired by her own experiences, she provides these words of advice for anyone starting a new position or job, “Never be afraid to ask for help or ask questions…and look to your coworkers for support if needed.”

Who is Amber?

Amber Mitts is originally from Lake Charles, Louisiana. They found themselves in Alamosa after being appointed as a Methodist Pastor here. From there, Amber was introduced to La Puente and often tasked with speaking at events like H.O.P.E. Week. Amber expressed their excitement for the upcoming H.O.P.E. Week since it will be their first one post-COVID restrictions. They look forward to experiencing all the H.O.P.E. Week events.

Amber began working as La Puente’s Director of Volunteer Coordination after connecting with the previous director, Shanae. Amber, a Methodist Reverend, was searching for a different way of connecting with the community. After talking with Shanae, Amber saw how they could take care of the community through the services and impact of volunteers. As the Director of Volunteer Coordination, Amber connects community and mandated volunteers at La Puente to different projects. They also organize work groups of all ages and skill sets. These groups come from all over the country to collaborate with La Puente projects. Through their work, volunteers can gain a more intimate understanding of the services that La Puente programs provide. 

From the ages of 19 to about 25, Amber participated in plenty of church mission trips. Amber recalls the first female pastor they met and how she oriented the missions around individual gifts and interests. Amber puts this into practice when assigning volunteers to the right program. Through being a pastor, Amber learned how to organize large groups of people, plan events, and engage with workgroups. They use these skills daily.

When Amber is not working, you can find them playing video games, reading, or camping. Camping is a way of escapism for them and allows for a reset. When asked what new La Puente employees and volunteers need the most, Amber says, “Deep breaths…Be kind to yourself, it’s going to take time to learn new things and get the hang of it.”

Contacts

Amber Mitts, Director of Volunteer Coordination: [email protected]

Amanda Suthers, Assistant Director of Street Outreach: [email protected]