Gabriel Muro
Outreach Coordinator, Nuestra Comunidad Sana
written by Jody O’Connor, Program ManagerIt is our pleasure to announce
that Gabriel Muro is Employee of the Month for October 2011. Gabriel is a great asset to Nuestra Comunidad Sana. We truly appreciate his dependability and strong work ethic; when something needs to be done, he will see it through, whether it involves working evenings and weekends, making hundreds of phone calls, sharing compassion, understanding and leadership with troubled youth, or even hard labor—including gardening at the greenhouse, stomping through the poison oak with Summer Employment Program youth, and hauling out hundreds of dumped tires.
Gabriel led a Boys Council group at The Dalles Middle School this year. The boys felt welcome, safe and respected with him and with each other. By the end of the group they were asking to do it again next year and the school counselor expressed great appreciation for his ability to bring a bi-cultural perspective to the group. Because of the positive response from the youth the school asked Gabriel to lead three more groups during the 2011-12 school year.
He does not shy away from hard work, especially when it is something he believes is important for the community. The OYCC youth work crew he led this summer and fall did such a fine job with trail maintenance that the grant was extended for 6 weeks to help with fire prevention efforts.
Gabriel is a multi-talented staff member who can do all these things and still help with IT needs and other needs that pop up regularly, like sorting out that storage closet! On top of that he still makes a lot of time for his family; we love it when he gets the chance to bring his beautiful little daughter around. Thank you for everything Gabriel, I don’t know what we would do without you!
March, 2008
written by Claudia Montaño, Program Manager
Gabriel officially joined Nuestra Comunidad Sana in March, 2008, after volunteering for the Raices program for several months. Prior to his volunteer work with NCS, Gabriel had graduated from Portland State University. Gabriel is a native of the Columbia Gorge who grew up in the upper Hood River Valley.
Gabriel assists with the Oregon Raices project and serves as the Financial Literacy Trainer, helping dozens of Latinos learn about credit reports, business plans and how to obtain loans (NOT predatory lending loans!!). He has also been learning and assisting with the NCS Latino leadership development and community organizing projects.
Most recently, he has taken on the Oregon Youth Conservation Corps (OYCC), supervising 26 youth and five crew leaders as they help clean up and maintain our beautiful scenic area in collaboration with the National Forest Service.
Since his start with NCS, Gabriel has been an asset, always willing to help, motivated to learn and extremely flexible to adjust his work week to meet the needs of the community. He has become a very welcome addition to the NCS family and continues to amaze us all with his energy.
Muy merecido! He is very deserving of this recognition. Thank you Gabriel!