EDCOE Team Member Spotlight - Marley Ribeiro

09:00 AM - June 05, 2020

Interview with Marley:

Briefly describe your background (where you grew up, family, why you came to work for EDCOE).

I grew up as a middle child, in the suburban area of Sao Paulo, the southern part of Brazil; my father worked long hours to give his three children an education. I graduated and became a social worker, and after my graduation I was hired to work in a major hospital (Hospital de Base, Sao Paulo) where I did my internship as a student. Participating there as part of the social worker team gave me inspiration to develop other interests, so I moved to another area to work with children and families impacted by domestic violence. After a couple of years as a social worker, I decided to move to New Jersey where I lived for 15 years, got married, and had my daughter. About four years ago, my husband received a job opportunity on the West Coast, and we decided to take it. After moving to El Dorado County, I decided to take ECE classes at Folsom Lake College with the hopes to find a job within a school system. Through a friend that worked for EDCOE I became aware of this amazing organization and many employment opportunities.

What is your department, title, and how long have you worked for EDCOE?

I have been working for EDCOE since November 2017 in the Child Development Department as a Family Service Specialist.

Describe how your role helps support programs/schools/students directly or indirectly.

As Family Service Specialist I work at three school sites providing resources through the Head Start program in  building parent engagement and trust while encouraging parents to participate in their children’s educational life and all facets of the program. I assist families to become a powerful piece in their child’s early development towards a common goal. I also help teachers and co-workers with translation during parent-teacher meetings.

What are you and your team doing to support education in El Dorado County during the COVID-19 facility closures?

During the school closures our team, together with the support of coordinators and teachers, have been working constantly with families helping them with their immediate needs such as food, referrals to other agencies, and supporting them with the transition to distance learning. My co-workers and I have been working non-stop reaching out to families and determining their needs in order to provide the assistance needed.

What do you most appreciate about your department/team?

I am fortunate to work with an amazing group of people, Jan, Daniel, Jillian, Cortney, Michelle, Natalie and Citlalic; they are all part of our resilient family services team, and all share the same ideas of teamwork towards a mutual goal. Also, our supportive coordinator Patricia Gordon empowers us, so every employee feels that they are valued as an individual.

What is your proudest moment at EDCOE? Why?

I really enjoy being part of the community gift tree where our EDCOE team and other agencies provide support to families during the holiday season. This is the most rewarding time of the year. We give hope to those who have very little, and it also makes us realize how fortunate and blessed we are.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I love to spend time with my husband, daughter, and my dog Ginger. I also enjoy hiking, and as a good Brazilian I like to watch soccer games.

What is something many people may not know about you?

Last spring, we took a trip to Italy and I had the opportunity to visit the Vatican and to shake hands with Pope Francis; I really admire him for his cultural and spiritual influence and also for his efforts to unite people. I recently received my site supervisor permit which will allow me more career opportunities.

If you could meet anyone in the world, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

I would love to meet Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  His remarkable speech, “I Have a Dream,” his efforts towards equal civil rights for all and having a nation without segregation and chains of discrimination really inspires me to be a better human being.

From supervisor, Patricia Gordon, Family Community Engagement Coordinator:

Marley is a crucial asset to Child Development’s Family Services. She works with families in our program to ensure they are equipped with the tools and resources needed to help their child be ready for school. Marley is not only a asset for our families but her fellow Child Development team members as well. She is there to support her team with locating resources and referrals for families, engaging with children in the classrooms, and attending community events. We appreciate all Marley does for our team and families.

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