September Spotlight

Monica Guzman, Latinos en Spokane

Latinos en Spokane is an organization dedicated to supporting the Latino community in Spokane through citizen participation, integration, community development, and empowerment. Through their work, they are able to assist in wraparound services such as helping to find housing, transportation services, and schedule appointments.

I had the opportunity to speak with Monica Guzman, a community health worker, social worker, and doula. Monica has made significant personal achievements, including completing UCLA courses in community help for workers and earning her doula certification. Monica pointed out that she is currently the only Latina doula in Spokane - a role she hopes will become more common in the future.

Monica has a diverse background, including experience as a preschool teacher in Guatemala and North Carolina. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys making caldo de res (beef broth), hiking, and designing tumbler creations. She is a mother of four sons and is passionate about her work in the community.

Monica’s journey with Latinos en Spokane began when she initially declined an offer to volunteer at an event but later decided to participate in distributing cleaning supplies during the COVID pandemic. This experience sparked her ongoing involvement with the organization.

Monica's favorite aspect of working with Latinos en Spokane is the opportunity to be of service. She takes pride in equipping individuals with the tools they need to achieve independence, such as making appointments and navigating the transit system.

During our conversation, Monica highlighted the primary challenges faced by the organization, with housing being the most pressing issue. She explained, “There are apartment complexes and private landlords who are not flexible with their requirements, making it difficult for families, couples, and individuals to find housing.” Due to this, the organization could use more support in securing additional housing resources. Many individuals face difficulties in renting due to missing documents, and couples often struggle to find shelters that will keep them together. Therefore, establishing connections with landlords who are willing to be flexible would significantly benefit the organization and those it serves.

Monica also shared how Latinos en Spokane is working on establishing a Spanish-language driving school in Spokane. Currently, the nearest location for a Spanish-language driving test is Kennewick, Washington, which presents challenges related to time off work, childcare, and transportation. Having a driving school in Spanish is important as it makes it easier for Spanish-speakers to understand the driving rules and instructions. This not only helps them become safer drivers but also makes it simpler for them to get their driver's license and be more involved in the community.

Despite ongoing challenges, Latinos en Spokane has achieved notable successes, such as helping individuals secure medical insurance and access benefits. Monica highlights how CHAS has been a significant partner, providing translators in multiple languages, which helps build trust and effectively support those seeking assistance.

Monica draws inspiration from colleagues like Jennyfer Mesa (Executive Director), who she admires for her outstanding accomplishments and collegiality, and Karen Zamora (Community Comadre), who contributes significantly to the organization’s efforts. Monica describes the company culture as calm and respectful, where everyone is committed to helping each other in a supportive manner.

Outside of Latinos en Spokane, Monica supports Shades of Motherhood, an organization dedicated to providing high-quality, culturally relevant childbirth experiences for Black mothers and mothers of infants of color.

Looking ahead, Monica hopes that within the next five years, Latinos en Spokane will establish a birthing center to educate and empower expectant mothers, offer postpartum classes, and create career opportunities for Latinxs in these areas.

Monica’s advice to her younger self is: “Study and educate yourself about what you are passionate about. Believe in yourself, have self-confidence, and don’t be afraid to pursue your goals. Lánzate a la oportunidad.”

The interview was conducted in Spanish and has been translated to English.