Laetitia Morrisson
Cecilia Majors joined YNPNdc in 2018 as a Board Member leading our Volunteer network. In her day to day, Cecilia is a Diversity & Inclusion Consultant at the American Institutes for Research and in her spare time, she leads our Volunteer Engagement strategy here at YNPNdc. Cecilia is passionate about creating inclusive and diverse work environments where people can thrive and she brings that unique experience to her work with our volunteers and members at YNPNdc. We asked Cecilia some questions about her background and unique experience so come get to know her and make sure to say hello at our next event!
What brought you to the non-profit world?
I studied Sociology and Latino studies at NYU, where I was inspired to get involved with my Latino community. In my first non-profit job, I managed an internship program where I was able to motivate and mentor Latino college students, helping to expand their opportunities and expose them to new job possibilities. Over 200 students graduated during my four-year tenure. This job was extremely rewarding as it taught me the importance of making a difference in someone’s life and opening up new trails. Since then, I have continued to look for opportunities to make a difference in peoples lives.
What’s your favorite thing about your job?
I enjoy working with people from different walks of life. They teach me new things about their culture and their experiences and in turn, they learn about mine. I have developed meaningful relationships and expanded my network. Through my job, I have become more self aware of the power of my own strengths and opportunities where I can grow. This has had a tremendous impact in both my career and personal aspirations.
What’s the most important life lesson you’ve learned?
The most important life lesson I have learned is to understand where a person has been before you form an opinion. This allows you to be more open minded about people and may avoid misunderstanding or judgments. This lesson has helped me greatly as I continue to shape both my professional and personal relationships. My favorite quote is, “Before you start to judge me, step into my shoes and walk the life I’m living and if you get as far as I am, just maybe you will see how strong I really am.”
How have you grown at YNPNdc?
This role has allowed me to think outside of the box. I continue to be inspired by the dynamic composition of our nonprofit partners and the talented people we come across who are dedicated to serving communities. With YNPNdc, we are challenged to be innovative on how we can best reach out to our peers and engage them with YNPNdc. I enjoy the teamwork and the collaboration with the YNPNdc team on launching new ideas and approaches.
What do you love about volunteering with YNPNdc?
I have been exposed to many talented, like-minded, non-profit colleagues who are committed to serving our communities. Working in the Diversity & Inclusion field, I am always striving to learn from various people of different cultures and backgrounds. These engagements invigorate me and I am able to better understand new perspectives. I enjoy broadening my mind and making a difference.
What causes do you care about most?
Education, Latino/Hispanic Community, Immigration, Human Rights