We are so happy to announce a new member of the Words Alive team: our Program Operations Coordinator Alex Guerrero! Scroll below to meet Alex (they/them) and learn more about their journey to Words Alive and their time with us so far!
With two associate’s degrees, livestock management and agricultural technology, Alex comes from a background of farming education. They found their first nonprofit staff experience as well as a place for themself at Words Alive after working through a number of jobs that did not seem to be the right fit.
As the Program Operations Coordinator, Alex works under Melinda, our Program Director, and also closely with the program managers, who oversee our three core programs: Family Literacy, Read Aloud, and Adolescent Book Group. Alex directs the majority of their attention at Words Alive towards the tangible aspects of the organization and is in charge of all of our materials! They do crucial work in inventory so that our programs are always supplied with what is needed to serve our mission of cultivating lifelong success through reading.
Triple checking materials with diligence, Alex ensures that all the kids benefiting from our programs get their supplies on time and that everything is as quality controlled as possible.
One of the many fun facts about Alex is that they like to view their tasks at Words Alive as a combination of the main job (materials) constantly running in the background and the various side quests they encounter throughout the day! Alex’s long term goal is to be able to grow everything on their own land, in a way that allows them to be as good and caring to the planet we live on as possible
Now, a few words from Alex!
How did you encounter Words Alive? Why did you want to join the team?
Before Words Alive, my working life was very inconsistent. I probably had 10 or so jobs prior, and they only lasted about three or four months each. In those jobs, I felt that people weren't willing to train me like they said that they were going to, didn't like when I would ask questions for context, or saw me less as a person and more as a machine to get work done. I have ADHD and autism, and those two together can be challenging for those who have no idea what’s happening. A big reason I went through many jobs before Words Alive is because management wasn’t willing to work with me.
Last year in September, a friend of mine who previously worked in my position brought me onto staff temporarily, and the more that I was here, the more I realized that I like the people. I feel that our Program Director Melinda approaches managing by seeing people as people before employees, and that the Words Alive team actively advocates for me to accommodate my needs to be able to do what I need to do. The supportive atmosphere of Words Alive is the reason I’m here, and February this year I was brought on as the permanent Operations Coordinator.
How has your experience at Words Alive been?
Words Alive is truly a nonprofit that is run for nonprofit work, and there is a very supportive environment. You can never ask a stupid question, we’re always encouraging each other, and we try to help each other become better humans. Everybody is willing to help each other and point each other in the right direction to understand our work as a whole, which is the biggest part for me about why I like Words Alive.
I feel like everybody has the right personality for wanting growth, and that we have a very aware group of people who want to do the best that they can. Personally, I also enjoy the freedom of being able to figure my work out on my own without having to worry too much about what somebody else is telling me to do.
What inspires you personally? What are you passionate about?
Words Alive fulfills my passion for people because I'm literally helping the next generation to do better than mine. Outside of Words Alive, I am passionate about the planet. I went to school for farming, and I want to grow all of the food for myself and my closest people.
“I am passionate about the planet and people. I want to do as much good as I possibly can.”
I want to be as good to the planet as possible. I want to be as good to the animals that I will eat as possible, fix the soil. Whether that's people or the planet or anything, I'm passionate about caring.
What is your favorite book?
One of my favorite books is The Giver. I loved that series so much. The different books are not connected, but they all share a similar story. They’re all about how it's better to have more perspectives. Although you might feel like you're different, that might be a good thing, and you might be the Chosen One who's supposed to bring everybody else into the light. I really enjoyed that because I feel like I'm different, and I feel like I am the kind of person who does a lot educating people about all the different aspects that are Alex. I really connected to the idea that there’s more here, we just have to help people understand it.