Maria velasquez

Maria Velasquez, Peer Support Specialist 

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:13  

Maria Velasquez, from the Bay Area, Oakland, CA to be exact. The city was not as safe and  peaceful as some may be but it is her home. This city felt more like home than any because  this is where her family is and they shaped the person she is today. With their nurturing  love, care, support they provided her with the tools of life to thrive in whatever. Family is a  big part of her life and she lives by her family motto “Love Hurts”. This motto is her life.  Unfortunately as a child, life did hit. She experienced some challenges and struggles with  family divorce and family issues. Through this she learned the importance of support and  wanted to provide that to others.  

Maria Velasquez attended San Leandro high school in 2021. At this high school, she was  apart of the Social Justice Academy which focused on critical conciseness and changing  the community through transformative social, emotional, and cultural activism. This  program strengthened her knowledge of systematic oppression and the need for change in  our society. She then continued her education at Sacramento State University where she  received her B.A. in Family Studies and Human Development. She chose this major  because of her empathic heart, her passion for helping others, and her family oriented  lifestyle. During her studies, Maria Velasquez learned bout the different dynamics of family  and its impact on an individual, the development of human from infancy to adulthood, and  how to best support people and their families.  

Her passion has always been to help and support others since she was young. Maria  Velasquez has been a active in her community working with her church as well with food  and clothing drives for people who are experiencing homelessness. Her big heart pushed  her to want to do more and provide more support to the community. Working with Village is  Possible, she strives to be a support system to all who need it and continue to create safe  and healthy spaces for everyone.