This month, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the many Red Cross volunteers who give their time and talent to our mission. Volunteers like Janessa Paez, who are driven with passion to serve others. Janessa is on a mission to promote preparedness education and is committed to building a safer and more resilient community for her neighbors.
Janessa’s favorite Red Cross memory centers around a heartwarming encounter with a high school teenager. Witnessing his youthful enthusiasm and genuine desire to make a positive impact on others left a profound impression on her. This experience served as a reminder that the Red Cross mission transcends generational boundaries and resonates with the younger generation.
She finds great excitement in witnessing young individuals like him embrace the mission, recognizing that they represent the future and bring fresh energy and hope to the organization’s humanitarian efforts.
Serving as a Red Cross Ambassador
When describing her volunteer work with the Red Cross, Janessa emphasizes her role as a connector and ambassador for the organization’s essential services. She underscores the importance of establishing valuable partnerships with other organizations, all with the common goal of creating a safer and more prepared community. Janessa’s work takes various forms, including education and outreach, as she strives to ensure that people are well-informed and empowered to face emergencies and disasters.
Encouraging Preparedness
To encourage others to become more prepared, Janessa often shares a touching personal story. She recounts an incident involving a neighbor with no medical background who found herself in a life-or-death situation when her firefighter husband suffered a heart attack. This experience highlighted the critical role of disaster preparedness in safeguarding lives. Janessa emphasizes that preparedness is not solely about self-preservation but also about protecting family members, friends, and children. It’s a shared responsibility to create a safer community, and Janessa stresses the importance of education and hands-on training, such as CPR, which the Red Cross offers to make it more accessible and affordable.
How has your heritage shaped you into the person you are today?
Janessa holds her Latin heritage in high regard. As someone deeply connected to her cultural roots, she understands the significance of preserving one’s heritage, especially in a country like the United States, where generations often become more Americanized over time. Her passion for maintaining and celebrating her Spanish heritage is not a rejection of American culture, but rather an affirmation of the rich diversity that strengthens the nation. Janessa values being proud of her cultural heritage and cherishing its traditions.
What are three words that describe what your heritage means to you?
Family. Food. Music.
As a Hispanic woman, Janessa’s background has had a profound influence on her work with the Red Cross. In her culture, helping others is a core value. It doesn’t matter if someone is a blood relative or not; hospitality and generosity are extended to anyone who comes to their home. This strong sense of community and compassion has shaped Janessa’s character and serves as a driving force behind her involvement with the Red Cross. The instinct to lend a helping hand to those in need is deeply ingrained in her, reflecting the teachings of her culture.
Legacy of Selfless Service
Janessa’s legacy is not defined by personal recognition or fame. Her primary goal is to create effective systems that benefit others. She has no desire for her name to be recalled; instead, she wants her actions to leave a lasting impact. Her purpose transcends personal acclaim, as she believes that there is a greater purpose in the Red Cross’s humanitarian efforts. It’s about working to assist others in any way possible and striving to make a positive contribution to the world. Ultimately, Janessa hopes to leave behind a legacy characterized by selfless service and a commitment to building a more compassionate and prepared community.
Janessa’s dedication to the Red Cross, fueled by her Hispanic heritage and a deep sense of community, exemplifies the organization’s mission to alleviate human suffering and create a better future for all. Her story serves as an inspiration to others, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and the power of selfless service. Join her at redcross.org/volunteer!
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