Monica joined Neighborhood Partnerships in June 2019 as the Office Coordinator + Bookkeeper. Previously, she spent over a decade working her way up in the grocery industry until she landed in bookkeeping and discovered a love for spreadsheets. This led her both back to school where she’s currently working on a BS in Accounting, and here to NP.
Monica is originally from San Jose, California but has called the Portland area home since 1994. In her free time, Monica enjoys creating and enjoying delicious food with her family, reading, running, watching basketball, and trying to learn new languages.
For starters, tell me a little about yourself
I am the child and grandchild of immigrants. I spent my childhood in the Bay Area but since 1994, Portland has been my home. For over a decade, I worked my way up in the grocery industry until I landed in bookkeeping and discovered a love for spreadsheets. This led me both back to school where I’m currently working on a BS in Accounting, and here, to Neighborhood Partnerships as the Office Coordinator + Bookkeeper.
I am a mother to five kids, two dogs, one cat, and a tortoise. I spend my free time creating and enjoying delicious food with my partner, reading, running, watching basketball, trying to learn new languages, and daydreaming of future travels.
What area of expertise and interest do you have?
Spreadsheets are my jam.
What does opportunity mean to you?
To me, opportunity is taking my grandparents’ stories and making that possible for others today. My mother’s parents came from Peru and were able to come to the US where they started a family, bought a home, and opened a restaurant. My father came here as a child from the Philippines where his family was also able to establish a home and stability. In both instances, by having the door open to opportunity, my grandparents were able to become positive members of their communities and to create the foundation for future generations.
What difference can financial security make for individuals and communities?
I firmly believe that financial security is key in establishing and maintaining strong families, communities, schools, and neighborhoods.
What’s your favorite quote?
We’re in this together!
Choose one author, living or dead, that you’d like to have dinner with:
Anthony Bourdain said, “Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food. It’s a plus for everybody.” I love how he exposed the humanity of countless cultures through their meals and made the world a smaller place in the process.
What are you looking forward to most about this position?
I am excited to learn more about the IDA program and the Housing Alliance and to be a part of the support system that furthers these good works.