This month’s ALF Voices blog post is by our Outreach Coordinator, Valerie Connor. Valerie has been with ALF for over 2 years and is primarily responsible for liaising with the community, organizing community events, and representing ALF at various community gatherings and activities. We love having Valerie on our team and hope you enjoy learning a bit more about her below!
What is your role?
Outreach Coordinator
Are you a native islander? If not, what brought you to the island?
Yes
What inspired you to work with ALF?
ALF has two core pillars – education and community development. Education is essential for building a safe and secure community. This has inspired me to work with organizations that prioritize the education and well-being of the people. Education helps in creating safer communities and motivates people to strive for a better future.
How have you noticed our work impacts Roatán’s community?
The ALF Programs have expanded into different communities and have made a significant impact. Families feel safe gathering with their children at the playground, and the library has become a popular spot for reading. The Sports Program has also made a big impact, with parents showing up to support their children during games.
The Bake-Off Competition had a significant impact, especially for Roatan Entrepreneurs, particularly the women, who were interested in building a relationship with the tourism industry. This project made it possible, and as a result, ALF has established a connection with these entrepreneurs. As vendors for the Infinity Bay Hotel, they supply their local pastries every week. This has enabled tourists to experience a taste of Roatan culture and cuisine through these delicious pastries.
What is your favorite part of working with ALF?
As a team, we value cooperation and show our commitment to education and community by working together. We strive to align our actions with the vision and mission of ALF and incorporate them into everything we do within the community.
What are you looking forward to in the future with ALF?
Expanding the Bilingual Literacy Program in more communities, with a special focus on those that need it the most. We also hope to expand the Supporting Schools and Learners program to include more public schools and offer more scholarship opportunities.