Staff Spotlight: Vicki Wise
“Engaging with people and building community motives me.”
Q: How did you get into homeless services as a field of work?
A: I first started in the field in an AmeriCorps position working with families at a local shelter in 2014. I loved the creative nature of the work and the families that I worked with. After obtaining my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) degree in 2017, I began a job as an outreach worker and my passion for the field continued to grow.
Q: What’s your job at Homeward and has it evolved since you first joined?
A: I am the Community Engagement Coordinator. I started with Homeward as the Youth Programs Coordinator, focusing on working on programs for homeless youth in the region, aged 18-24. In my current position, I am able to use various aspects of my past experiences working in shelter and outreach, which helps me to understand our homeless services network and connect more deeply with a wide variety of community members.
Q: What are some parts of your job that you enjoy?
A: I love to engage with our partners across the region. I enjoy being able to develop and deliver trainings and events to support the work being done by partners in the field.
Q: Is there anything you wish more people knew or understood about homeless services as a field of work?
A: Homeless services is a complex system that can take time to fully understand. Luckily, I work in training, so I am designing additional trainings to break down this complex system and make it easier for more people to understand and engage in a way that is meaningful for them.
Q: What motivates you?
A: Engaging with people and building community motivates me.
