It was an eventful June 2023, and we have quite a few Masada updates to share. Keep reading to get the latest Masada Homes’ news!
👋🏾 Welcome to the Masada Team (4th Quarter)
Masada strives to achieve a well-balanced staff by promoting in-house talent while also welcoming new ideas.
We appreciate the fresh ideas and energy that our newest teammates contribute, and we are excited to share our knowledge and expertise. We welcome the following staff who joined the Masada team this past quarter:
- Brenda Gonzalez, Lynwood Wraparound Child and Family Specialist
- Stephanie Quintero, Lancaster Wraparound/IFCCS Rehab Specialist/Child and Family Specialist
- Aldo Martinez, Lancaster Wraparound/IFCCS Parent Partner (5/1/2023)
- Yvonne Villa, Lancaster Wraparound Therapist (5/1/2023)
- Alfredo Lopez, Lancaster Wraparound Parent Partner (Temporary)
- Carla Escobar, Lynwood Wraparound Child and Family Specialist
- Angelica Rodriguez, Lynwood Outpatient Student Intern
- Megan Castro, Lynwood Outpatient Student Intern
- Elizabeth Melendez, Norwalk Support Specialist
- Circe Von Haus, Lancaster Wraparound/IFCCS Clinical Supervisor
- Gabriela Diaz, Lancaster Outpatient Community Therapist
- Gio Itzel Calleja, Lancaster Outpatient Case Manager
- Andra Bonilla, Norwalk FSP COD Counselor
- Micqwaun Wright, Norwalk FSP Adult Therapist
- Sarah Hoover-Castorena, Norwalk FSP Student Intern
🌼 Please Share Your Memories of Mr. Smith
Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in the memorial service for our dear friend and colleague, Bernard Smith.
We’d like to extend a reminder to pleasesubmit stories, memories and photos to newsletter@masadahomes.org. We’ll be compiling them to share with family and friends.
🏆 May Raffle Winners
We held our May Virtual Raffle on Friday, 6/16 to celebrate our hardworking staff. Congrats to our 10 lucky raffle winners!
🌞 June Virtual Raffle & 4th Quarterly Staff Recognition Invitation
✊🏿 Juneteenth
We learn in our history lessons that the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 freed approximately four million enslaved individuals in the Confederate states. However, freedom was not granted instantaneously. It was not until June 19, 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger marched into Galveston, Texas, and proclaimed the freedom of all enslaved people in the Confederacy–marking the origins of Juneteenth. A key point to remember, however, is that the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneetenth did not free all enslaved people, as the process for liberation was staggered. Around half a million individuals remained legally enslaved in border states that remained in the Union until the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865.
Juneteenth holds both joyous and somber undertones. It commemorates the end of chattel slavery in the US and serves as a testament to the resilience, strength, and endurance of Black Americans and their ancestors. It is a poignant reminder that this holiday emerged from the painful history and lasting impact of slavery. It reminds us that freedom was not immediately granted to all enslaved individuals–emphasizing our shared responsibility to acknowledge that Juneteenth is an integral part of American history, as the United States was built upon the forced labor and suffering of enslaved Black ancestors.
By celebrating Juneteenth, we engage in an act of resistance against racial inequality, oppression, and modern-day slavery such as prison labor. Nonetheless, it also underscores the ongoing work required to achieve true freedom and equality for all. As we honor this historic day, it is crucial we guard against the erasure of Black history and the suppression of knowledge. We must remember the purpose behind Juneteenth’s celebration and safeguard the freedom to learn about the past to shape a more equitable and inclusive future.
To learn more about Juneteenth please visit the following sites:
- TED-Ed: What is Juneteenth, and why is it important? Karlos K. Hill and Soraya Field Fiorio (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq8TNKZVEWs)
- https://www.nytimes.com/article/juneteenth-day-celebration.html
🌈 LGBTQIA+ Pride Month
During Pride, let us come together to celebrate and embrace the diverse range of gender identities and sexual orientations. Pride, held annually in June, commemorates the historic Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969. This pivotal event ignited the LGBTQIA+ liberation movement and established LGBTQIA+ rights as human rights.
Pride holds different meanings for each person within the community, and there is no one-size-fits-all way to participate. For some, this year’s Pride may be a time of healing and reflection, particularly in light of the increasing number of anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and hate crimes. For others, it is an opportunity to celebrate visibility and continue the fight for equality, while honoring the bravery of past activists and recognizing present-day efforts of allies and advocates.
Showing solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community goes beyond Pride month; it is a commitment we should carry throughout the year. This involves actively challenging and unlearning implicit biases and anti-LGBTQIA+ beliefs, whether from within or outside the queer community. It is crucial to use our voices to stand against discrimination whenever and wherever it arises. By building intersectional connections and uplifting the LGBTQIA+ community, we can work towards a world where everyone can live authentically with dignity and love.
Let us embrace the spirit of Pride and strive for a future where all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, are respected, valued, and accepted.
To learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community visit the following sites:
- Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG): https://pflag.org/
- List of Support Hotlines: https://pflag.org/resource/support-hotlines/
- The Trevor Project: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
- Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/
- LGBT National Help Center: https://www.lgbthotline.org/
- Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD): https://glaad.org/
- National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE): https://transequality.org/
🎗️ PTSD Awareness Month
PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. According to the Department of Veteran Affairs, about 6 out of every 100 people in the U.S. will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
Contrary to popular belief, PTSD extends beyond the challenge of moving forward from trauma as it fundamentally alters the structure and functioning of the brain. Symptoms can vary and manifest differently in each individual such as intrusive memories, avoidance, dissociation, hypervigilance, memory loss, anxiety, and depression. As such, the same traumatic event can impact people in different ways; however, it is essential not to compare or minimize anyone’s symptoms or experiences with PTSD.
We must never underestimate or downplay the symptoms and experiences of those with PTSD. Each person’s struggle is unique, necessitating validation, understanding, and support. Thankfully, there are effective and safe treatments available for individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Approaches like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and medication can significantly aid in symptom management and recovery.
By recognizing the diverse manifestations of PTSD, embracing the individuality of survivors’ experiences, and ensuring accessible care and treatment, we can foster healing and resilience. Let us unite in raising awareness, reducing stigma, and promoting equitable access to effective treatments for all individuals affected by PTSD.
For more information and resources visit https://www.ptsd.va.gov/index.asp
Open Positions at Masada
Below are the open positions we have at Masada Homes. If you know of someone who is a great fit be sure to let us know!
A referral bonus of $250 will be provided to any current employee who refers someone that gets hired by Masada.
Hawaiian Gardens Office:
- Full-Time Community Therapist
Rancho Cucamonga Office:
- Full-Time Occupational Therapist
- Full-Time Parent Partner
Norwalk Office:
- Full-Time Full Service Partnership (FSP) Adult Case Manager
Bellflower Office:
- Full-Time Child and Family Specialist/Rehab Specialist (Bellflower/Gardena)
- Full-Time Wraparound Parent Partner
Gardena Office:
- Full-Time Community Therapist
- Full-Time Wraparound Facilitator/Care Coordinator
- Full-Time Multidisciplinary Assessment Team (MAT)/Intake Assessor
- Full-Time Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) Specialist
- Full-Time Quality Improvement Clinician
- Full-Time Therapeutic Behavioral Specialist (TBS) Supervisor
- Full-Time Executive Assistant
- Full-Time Wraparound Parent Partner
Lynwood Office:
- Full-Time Wraparound Therapist
- Full-Time Parent Partner
- Full-Time Community Therapist
Lancaster Office:
- Full-Time Therapeutic Behavorial (TBS) Specialist
- Full-Time Occupational Therapist
- Part-Time Community Therapist (Hybrid)
Los Angeles Office:
No open positions at this time