Maria Gonzalez
I Belong Philly Co-founder + Award-winning Children’s Book Author + Project Manager
Nomination:
Nominate by Gloria Scaroni : "Maria is a wonderful person, professional, and colleague—always optimistic and ready to help her peers. Apart from the work she does as a business systems analyst, she writes and translates children's books. In her downtime, she volunteers with a group called I Belong Philly, helping immigrants new to the Philadelphia area with their resumes and cultural acclimation, among other things."
About Maria:
Maria Eugenia Gonzalez is passionate about helping new immigrants in Pennsylvania. She is an award winning Children's book author, having achieved the Campoy-Ada award. She is also a computer engineer, runner, avid reader, dog mom, and co-founder of I Belong Philly.
Maru, as her friends affectionately call her, made one of her wishes come true by working with other colleagues and co-founding I Belong Philly. However, when she first moved to Pennsylvania six years ago, she struggled to find her path.
“I took my suitcase full of dreams, with my few words in English, and embarked on the adventure of being a successful and valuable immigrant in the United States" - Maria
A challenging journey with a suitcase full of dreams
Like many immigrants in the USA, Maru faced barriers: she didn't speak fluent English, she had no job, and her more than 15 years of work experience did not matter when finding a job in her field. When she found The Welcoming Center, she was able to surround herself with people that were willing to help her overcome those many barriers. Now, she is a successful professional in an American company where she contributes her skills, talents, cultural perspective, and past experiences.
“Don't be afraid to be wrong, to make some mistakes. If you know a few words in English, it is okay. We need to remember that this country really has some amazing people that try to understand you and will try to help you. And also, don't be afraid to ask for help. There are a lot of organizations like I Belong Philly, that are helping immigrants” - Maru
I Belong Philly: a passion that came true
The I Belong Philly journey started with the completion of the first cohort of the Leadership Institute, a program offered by The Welcoming Center. In February 2019, Maru and other colleagues created I Belong Philly as a way to give back to the immigrant community and facilitate a space for creating dialogue, building relationships, networking, and appreciating culture with the goal of improving the lives of immigrants. I Belong Philly has held more than twenty projects during this short time, and has helped more than 400 people. From Maria's point of view, this is a huge step towards social inclusion, equality, and civic engagement.
Maria is proud to be a part of I Belong Philly. She is convinced that there are so many immigrants who have endless things to share–they just need an opportunity. She is determined to create a better place for immigrants, like her, to thrive.
"It doesn't matter if you have a lot of challenges. If it is something you like, you can do it." - Maria
Article by I Belong Philly. Created by Maria Gonzalez, Geórgia Consença, and Cristina Zanoni.
Quotes from Maria:
"Don't be afraid to be wrong, to make some mistakes…if you know a few words in English, that’s okay. We need to remember that this country really has amazing people that try to understand you and try to help you. Don't be afraid to find help. There are a lot of organizations like I Belong that are helping immigrants, not just for their English, but also for overcoming other barriers like finding a job. I have a mantra, and I think that it describes everything: stop wishing and start doing."
"I am convinced that there are so many immigrants who have endless good things to share, they just need an opportunity and, humbly, I offer them my support, even if it is a grain of sand, with projects, help, information, or simply a helping hand."
”It doesn't matter if you have a lot of challenges, if it is something you like, you can do it."