Creating Meaningful Change Through Volunteerism ft. Jessica Carrera

Jessica Manzo Carrera is a first-generation college graduate from Stockton, CA. She grew up in the projects and was inspired by her hard-working parents who were immigrant farmworkers. Determined to succeed, she took advantage of mentors and her local AVID program and graduated high school at the top of her class as a Dell Scholar. She attended Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles where she earned her BA. Determined to create social change, she joined L.A. Works’ RSVP team and has worked her way up from program coordinator to director in the past few years. During this time, she was part of The CUP (Council of Urban Professionals) Fellows inaugural west coast class. Which encourages participants to create meaningful change through board service, political engagement, volunteerism, public-private partnerships, social entrepreneurship, and more. As the RSVP Director, she holds primary responsibility for all RSVP activities including strategic planning, day-to-day program management, reporting, and budget management, management of the Advisory Council, and staff supervision. She ensures compliance with all RSVP program requirements, accountability, and efficient use of resources, as well as assists in RSVP community priority volunteer mobilization. In a fast-paced world where overworking and overlooking others has become a cultural norm, one of Jessica’s biggest priorities as a leader has always been to take the time to acknowledge everyone and to advocate for work-life balance when possible. This has become even more important and equally challenging as a first-time mother during the pandemic. Learn about how Jessica's early environment inspired her to pay it forward with her actions and give back to worthy causes through both volunteering on her own and encouraging volunteerism throughout her community.