By Anna Kumor, Red Cross Communications Volunteer
For Micaela Duarte, volunteering is not about filling shifts — it is about helping people discover how their time and talents can create real change. As a Volunteer Recruiter, Micaela connects people to meaningful opportunities that strengthen communities and build long‑term engagement with the American Red Cross.
Originally from Colorado, Micaela first came to Ventura, California through AmeriCorps, helping a local nonprofit build its volunteer infrastructure. That early experience — supporting people as they found their place in service — would become the throughline of her career.
Micaela joined the Red Cross in 2019 as an Account Manager in Biomedical Services, organizing blood drives to recruit blood donors and support hospital patients. In 2022, she transitioned to Volunteer Services and stepped into her current role as a Volunteer Recruiter for the Pacific Coast Chapter. When you speak with her, you quickly notice her gift: she sees potential in people long before they see it in themselves.
“I love showing people the different ways they can make a difference,” she said. “Being a recruiter allows me to show them all the different ways they can be part of the Red Cross.”
Youth programming is one of the places where Micaela’s people-centered approach shines. She empowers Red Cross Clubs on high school and college campuses and helps young volunteers step into age‑appropriate roles, from blood donor ambassadors to preparedness instructors to international humanitarian law advocates.
Her favorite part? Watching young people discover the work that sparks something inside them.
She recalls one transformative moment during the annual Youth Disaster Academy, where a group of girls unexpectedly discovered their enthusiasm for food services in shelter settings.
“They were taught all the ins and outs of what we do to keep clients safe — what we’re feeding in a shelter,” Micaela explained. “There were a handful of young women in the class who absolutely fell in love with feeding. I think a lot of that had to do with the Red Cross instructor, Christine Rosso, who was able to inspire them through food. They bonded really well — they vibed off each other.”
Inspired by Christine’s teaching, those volunteers were the first to raise their hands to serve meals to their peers. Each day that week, when help was needed, they volunteered without hesitation.
“For me, being able to bring them to Christine, and then seeing her inspire them, it was just icing on the cake,” Micaela said.
The full-circle moment came later: when those girls turned 18, they made a commitment to become long-term volunteers — ready to help whenever their community needs them.
Micaela also brings a big‑picture perspective to disaster response. She deployed to the devastating Los Angeles wildfires in 2025, where more than 14,000 community members stepped forward as event‑based volunteers.
While the volume of support was inspiring, it required thoughtful coordination to ensure volunteers felt valued and connected.
Their goal was to meet people where they were, give them meaningful ways to help and create momentum that lasted beyond the response. We wanted to make sure that we left LA better than when we got there,” she said.
Event‑based volunteering offers a low‑barrier way for neighbors to support disaster relief locally, serving alongside experienced Red Cross volunteers. For many, it becomes the first step in a longer journey of service.
From empowering youth leaders to supporting neighbors who step up in times of crisis, Micaela brings a people-first vision to every layer of Red Cross volunteerism. She sees the big picture: not just filling positions, but building pathways, nurturing confidence and helping every volunteer find where they belong.
Her work is one of the reasons the Red Cross remains ready to respond — today, and for the generations who will follow.
Your time and talents can make an impact. Find the best way for you to get involved by visiting redcross.org/volunteer.
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