Maria Guzman is one of the compassionate and relational Community Connectors who serve on our team. She is from our community and has raised her children in the area with her loving husband. Having grown and watched her children grow up in our unique and dynamic region, Maria has a particular passion for her neighbors.
Although she’s only been with Ciudad Nueva for nine months, Maria is already making a big impact on our community and is stepping up as a connection professional. She brings with her experience and knowledge from growing up locally that has added tremendous value to our work. Community Connectors have a strong compassion for the needs of our neighbors. Connectors like Maria are readily and reliably available with resources, and they look for opportunities to expand the assets right here in our community. Our informed practice drives our team to engage the strengths and talents of our neighbors, while listening to them to discover their needs.
Maria exemplifies the beauty of Ciudad Nueva’s mission. Her favorite part of her work is the personal connection she gets to make with each individual. She takes pride in serving all levels of the community. She said, “We connect people with one another. With the food co-op. With economic help. With help for their children. Any type of help that people need.”
Maria also highlighted Tiendita, a part of our co-op where people can purchase daily necessities at discounted prices. She shared that this program is particularly helpful to those without access to transportation. As she’s served through the duration of the pandemic, she has seen firsthand the way our community has come together to uplift each family.
“It’s a blessing to serve the community. Especially now, when there are no hugs or handshakes. It’s an opportunity to be able to help someone — to extend my hand and offer support to people.”
Through her diligent work and courage to keep learning, Maria has adopted new talents in computer skills, public speaking, bilingualism, and community servanthood. She said, “Ciudad Nueva has taught me how to work on a team, promote solidarity in the community, gain new confidence to talk in public, and to always be serving.”
Advocating for her neighbors has revealed new blessings in her life. Through her newly learned skills and well-earned achievements, Maria hopes to be an example to her children.
As she raises her two teenagers and enjoys her grown daughter and granddaughter, she continues to grow in her professional development. She also models important virtues to her family through her work, like tolerance, compassion, and empathy.
Maria Guzman brings so much value to our team through her life experiences, caring personality, approachability, and bravery.
