Meet staff member Mackenzie Martinez

Mackenzie Martinez is a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at the Center of Hope. In this month’s Q&A, she shares a few reflections on her time at the Center and what she enjoys most about supporting participants.

1. Please describe your role at the Center. Here at the Center, my role as a DSP is to help guide all my participants in the right direction of whatever it is they want to achieve or improve at. Whether it’s day-to-day activities like cooking, cleaning, and working or academic skills like money management and reading or communication skills like building relationships, learning to hold a conversation, and self-advocating! I do all of this by coming up with fun activities to do in the classroom and out and about in the community!

2. Why did you choose this field? My mother worked here at COH for 14 years. She started when I was just 1 year old. I grew up knowing a lot of the participants who still attend here and was involved in a lot of events happening at the Center! Being introduced to this field at such a young age showed me how rewarding and amazing the work done as a DSP truly is. I knew from when I was young this was something I was passionate about!

3. What makes you excited about coming to work each day? I’m excited to come to work each day because of the individuals I get to see and interact with. Days go by so quickly because you find yourself genuinely having such a fun and enjoyable time with everybody!

4.  What has been your biggest surprise since you started working at the Center? When starting at the Center, I knew I’d be helping every individual I serve. What I didn’t know was how much they’d be helping me in return. Having rough days is inevitable here and there but it’s crazy how often I find that my participants make me feel better. Whether it’s when I come in tired or stressed, they all know the right ways to distract me and cheer me up! 

5. What advice would you give someone who is interested in working at the Center? Being driven to make a difference and actually help people within this community is the whole point. If you don’t desire that it may be more challenging. If you do have that passion, use it to do good. COH can help you make a difference is so many people’s lives!

6. Anything else you’d like to add? Working here is so much fun! You build so many great and strong relationships with the individuals. They have no problems showing and letting you know in various ways how much they value you!