Sierra Barnedo
Takoma Park,MD
Summary
Passionate advocate and proven leader in DC youth and adult housing systems, dedicated to serving my community through continuous personal and professional growth.
Overview
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Manager of Rapid Rehousing and Latinx Street Outreach
SMYAL
Washington, DC
2022 - Current
- Designed and implemented outreach program serving undocumented LGBTQiA+ people ages 18-30 at SMYAL and brought in over $500,000 and a newly funded program to SMYAL
- Drafted reports for senior management and street outreach funders highlighting key milestones achieved throughout the program lifecycle
- Coordinated with internal stakeholders to ensure successful implementation of the program initiatives.
- Facilitated workshops and trainings internally and eternally to educate stakeholders about best practices for advocating and serving undocumented Spanish speaking people in DC and Maryland.
- Represented SMYAL at ICH youth policy and shelter and outreach IRSO meetings
- Frequently collaborated with OHR, the ERC, and washington legal clinic for the homeless at it relates to advocacy for undocumented clients
- Managed outreach program of two staff serving over 300 Spanish speaking and/or undocumented clients in DC and Maryland
- Developed "niche" case management and service navigation style and an expert in serving and navigating benefits for people who are undocumented and/or immigrants
- Collaborated with DC Action and organized groups of outreach participants to testify before DC Council members in budget oversight hearings
- Managed and monitored spending in outreach privately funded budget as well as TCP funded rapid rehousing program
- Managed staff of two in Rapid Rehousing
- Held weekly supervisions with rapid rehousing and street outreach staff and provided "lead by example" leadership style
- Responsible for oversight of youth rapid rehousing program ages 18-24 serving 20 clients matched through CAHP system
- Attended SMYAL at youth CAHP housing meetings and was responsible for facilitating matches to SMYAL housing programs (transitional and extended transitional housing programs)
- Frequently assisted executive director as a subject matter expert in youth housing and resources in DC
- Built strong rapport with OSSE, MOLA, and MOLGBTQ and collaborated with audits done by all of above to SMYAL programs
- Assisted clients in resource navigation through family and adult system as it relates to housing in DC
- Built strong rapport with organizations in the community to benefit clients and organization
- Created presentations outlining proposed solutions for addressing systemic racism in DC spesifically towards Latinx people and presented them at staff meetings and for other orgs upon request
- Championed continuous improvement initiatives, incorporating lessons learned and best practices into program operations.
- Directed the development and maintenance of comprehensive program documentation in HMIS, including plans, reports, and presentations
- Created tactical relationships with mental health core service agencies to propel projects and attain results for clients
- Negotiated scope changes with stakeholders, managing expectations and ensuring program deliverables remained aligned with strategic goals
Bilingual Senior Youth Street Outreach Specialist
FRIENDSHIP PLACE
Washington, DC
2017 - 2022
- Handled Youth CAHP correspondence with DHS - Linked youth to housing providers after they had been matched to housing programs, attended biweekly meetings at 64 New York Ave
- Conducted street outreach in all eight wards of the city
- Created rapport with at risk and homeless youth ages 18-24 in DC - Mainly concentrated in Wards one three and five
- Recorded service transactions in HMIS that reflected what Friendship Place resources were utilized when interacting with youth
- Trained new staff members in completing TAYSPDAT, VISPDAT, and Full SPDAT assessments
- Worked Welcome Center Drop-in shifts weekly and assisted with transitioning youth to adult outreach teams
- Assisted participants with becoming connected to health insurance, hormone therapy treatments, behavioral health services, and becoming connected to primary care clinics
- Assisted youth with obtaining vital documents from other countries and created rapport with several embassies and consulates
- Created rapport with Carlos Rosario, The Next Step Charter School, and OSSE as it relates to participants furthering their education
- Attended several Community Partnership Trainings, CPR and Narcan Trainings
- Facilitated cultural competency trainings with DHS and Pathways for service providers as it relates to working with people who are undocumented and Spanish speaking as it relates to language justice
- Trained youth outreach workers and put together onboarding schedules for new staff at Friendship Place and various other street outreach programs in The District including Her Resiliency, LAYC, and The H3 Project
- Participated in weekly team meetings and presented updates about the youth street outreach program
- Compiled funding needs quarterly and sent monthly reports to DHS as it relates to numbers, staff trainings completed, and collaborations with other organizations
- Completed daily maintenance on Excel Spreadsheet used to track youth served services completed to be recorded into HMIS
- CPR Certified, CPI Certified, and Completed training to administer and carry NARCAN.
Volunteer Advocate for Undocumented People Migrating From Southern Mexico and Central America Using "La Bestia," or the Train
FM4 EL PASO LIBRE /APOYO A MIGRANTES
Guadalajara, Mexico
2016 - 2017
- Worked directly in all areas of the Casa de Migrantes, including: Initial formal interviews of the migrants upon arrival to the center, the kitchen, roperia (clothes station for migrants who needed crucial items such as tennis shoes, backpacks, and jackets, instructed English classes for migrants and other volunteers, directed minor unaccompanied migrants and those fleeing for refugee situations to social worker and lawyer
- After three weeks assisted in training new volunteers about rules and regulations of FM4
- Conducted tours of the facility to local schools and those who were potential donors.
Youth and Community Development Organizer\Administrative Assistant
TENANTS AND WORKERS UNITED
Alexandria, VA
2014 - 2016
- Assisted in organizing several social justice campaigns involving: Gentrification, fighting unjust Deportation in NOVA, youth Development in low income neighborhoods
- Handled social media on selected campaigns
- Assisted in instructing ESOL classes for adults and children
- Organized agenda for Social Justice\Immigration Reform club meetings for youth at TC Williams High School
- Completed several administrative tasks in the office using Excel and Microsoft Word
- Served as a translator from English to Spanish for several Alexandria City Council meetings that allowed community members that only spoke Spanish to be more civically engaged.
Education
Double Majored in Sociology and International Relations -
MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY
01.2016
Woodbridge High School
01.2012
Skills
- Fluent in Spanish
- Subject matter expert in navigating youth (18-24) and adult (25) housing systems and benefit navigation in DC
- Subject matter expert in assisting undocumented people in benefit navigation and recovery of vital docs from other countries
- Effective leader and fierce advocate
References
- Maisha Pinkard, Friendship Place - Division Director, (202) 409-5640, mpinkard@friendshipplace.org
- Diana Martinez, Daily Planet Health Services - Bilingual Outreach Coordinator, (703) 505-6288, dmartinez@dailyplanetva.org
- Erin Whelan, SMYAL - Executive Director, (214) 208-4711, Ewhelan@smyal.org
- Pam Lieber, Sasha Bruce Youthworks - Director of the Drop in Center, (202) 560-9050, plieber@sashabruce.org
Accomplishments
- Highlighted in SMYAL strategic plan two years running
- Street outreach program highlighted in telemundo and univision news stories
Certification
- Narcan
- CPR Certified
- Various TCP/DHS Contract requirement trainings (Harm Reduction, Cultural Competency, UIR)
Timeline
Program Manager of Rapid Rehousing and Latinx Street Outreach
SMYAL
2022 - Current
Bilingual Senior Youth Street Outreach Specialist
FRIENDSHIP PLACE
2017 - 2022
Volunteer Advocate for Undocumented People Migrating From Southern Mexico and Central America Using "La Bestia," or the Train
FM4 EL PASO LIBRE /APOYO A MIGRANTES
2016 - 2017
Youth and Community Development Organizer\Administrative Assistant
TENANTS AND WORKERS UNITED
2014 - 2016
Double Majored in Sociology and International Relations -
MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY
Woodbridge High School
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