Introducing a new staff member!

Join us in welcoming our new Development Coordinator, Jessica Pastrano. In this episode we can get to know her and learn what the DSASTX team has been up to in  the fall as well as what we have planned for 2026. 

Transcript

MAGALY: 0:02

Hello everyone to today's episode of Texas down syndrome chat i am and today we have us develop coordinator episode i would like to go. December. Ten we will Celebrate holiday party at from six to nine registration is still available please make you get your ticket as soon as possible before they out and looking forward to i would like to also invite to our education conference on January thirtieth from eight thirty to three. Conference Jessica thanks for being with us today. Since we're Recording before thanksgiving i did want ice break to be hey side thanksgiving

JESSICA: 1:11

ah, so I'm pretty simple. I'm a broly cheese rice girl love it and then cranberry no thats not everyone's favorite but like out the can cranberry.

MAGALY: 1:21

I like cranberry too but i like it with the real cran i like the can girl don't worry about mí simple that's funny well thank you for being with us today and tell us a little bit about yourself in case you Guys haven't heard.

JESSICA: 1:37

Ya es new development coordinator yes ma'am and you've been here for about four months so just you know i want people to know who you are met you so tell us about yourself how you came here. So first off born and Antonio just wanna give a little bit of background on myself i do have two girls. Pen she's seventeen belisa eight so definitely a handful keep me busy. But i have been working in the nonprofit for over twelve years now The last two years before starting here i started, mi own boutique agency around public relations market and advertising it was just a way for me to have more flexibility be with my kids so forth prior to that years en education i was it such District en San Antonio and en South Texas. Just working on all their marketing communications social media things like that so i was just looking for an additional opportunity something a little bit more full time and this position became available en well i always had a passion for education for family and i just really thought that the Association seemed like a perfect match and so so far so good. That's Awesome that you've been in the in this field for a while i know that you've been here for four months so how do you feel four months into your position excited still motivated definitely still learning the ro. And connecting and meeting with Families like you said Guys hi i am the one taking pictures I'm the one with the phone kind walking around definitely want to get to know everybody a little bit better and i just i also feel really welcome comfort far after four months you know the great so Brian you mc Michelle everyone's just been fantastic and really helping me. You know what all these program are about and really mission and and you know how i that's great i you don have a ion sometimes can be a positive you know a of a of the people that tend to be employed you know because of the connection you know a lot of people here don and that's okay, you don't have to. Yeah no, no. Definitely i have learned so much about down syndrome and it's definitely a cause that i feel very passionate about and so i am going out and about and definitely wanna tell the story a little bit better get more creative share you know all the wonderful things that this organization does and all the wonder Families that we serve so much. Right right there so much so what have we been in the four months i know we kind of threw you into the summer Camps that were going on when you started and you were like jumping in taking photos and trying to learn. So that was actually really busy time not gonna lie a little overwhelming at first i loved it and really just familiar myself you know with the programs and the offerings as a development coordinator I've been diving into the community a little bit more trying to build those relationships. Create awareness the brand you whether that a new Families new programs o you know best of all in that money fundraising you that we continue to provide all the services that we do. That was really cool when we also i radio the p. Brian English spanish i actually never heard myself on the radio but a lot of my family and friends told me that they a couple times and then you know doing the podcast like i think it's em. It's so important that we keep updating like how we do things like it's not just TV it's not just billboard things like podcasting yeah we definitely have to get more creative you know i think one of my biggest to build social media as well. And the website you know utilizing that a little bit more effectively so that you know parents are finding things easily user friendly so again you know if you're listening to us right now and you're not following us you can follow. Org and you know on the website you can access a Facebook Twitter account all of that so we want you Guys encourage to follow where we post upcoming events and programs and where you can connect with us on the newsletters we do un Weekly with all the programs coming up for the follow week and then of course we have our Monthly goes out so wanna make sure that you Guys are definitely stay in connected. I think the thing that be a far and fun events hard and its to see you after the times in the fundraising and working so have that choses hard work. I no. We were all so of the rain the weather not the great eventually showing up so I'm pretty there's been event so i looking to the future Twenty six see but the weather definitely didn't stop and so that show a lot of heart as well and what this community is all about. I think people present just the we entertain we had the food all all the showed up ya i mean we were getting some questions in the morning and it was like no this event happens and people made it out so it turned out. Ya that's really cool and i also love that you did get to connect with new sponsor people never they did so you know that's another thing i really hope to be an asset in that sense i do have experience with you know previous. Events and planning and other you know organizations that I've supported and so just taking those relationships too and letting them know where I'm mad and what I'm doing and you know they're always willing to support it just a matter of us getting that word out and talking to them so yeah i jumped right in definitely like you said. I was able the and i the for and so forth. I love that you even the fiesta mexicana which es not something that you know usually the development coordin that event thank you for covering for me and i know that always a super fun event very much Antonio i felt like i was family family and again i mean that's what's so amazing is. You really do become a part of a family like I'm making new friends i feel comfortable here and that day was definitely a representation of what this organization is about and how amazing you know the family feel uncomfortable to come and to Celebrate something so special. Yeah thank you for that and what are you looking forward to en mm so i by really you know its story creative ways at least as a development coordinator in the position that i am helping with the here so again becoming more aware of. You know what goes into those events goals are i do have experience you hope to be asset and as far as the organization i mean just. Building our brand and making people aware of what we do and fundraising fundraising fundraising i mean. Unfortunately it takes money to continue to do what we do and i want to make sure that that doesn't stop and so for us to be able to provide the services that we have minimal zero cost you know i wanna make sure working and you know bringing en whatever i can. Yeah that's Awesome im super excited about the conference in January it usually so professionals join and the last two it important. That we continue to do that Antonio the posting social media Photo like. That working the s. Everyone has opportunity to go to a of dos fans y fans y fan like that conference local and even we provide transla also my passion to make sure speakers. Can also get some education and some topics so I'm looking forward to the conference this is baby my stressful time this is like gonna be like the walk to you where you know I'm running around I'm putting things together and you might see me stress whatever but it's for. So i love to together so I'm looking forward to that like you said the Collect pal i know you haven't putting it together like how look. You know you have nothing to compare to but again sometimes it's good to have the Fresh eyes that you know from an outsider like oh this could be change it and then the yeah i just feel like it's always busy we just planning session for the calendar every month of the year has something going on whether it's SYN day o the East. There something going on the beach I'm actually looking really forward to that so i mean that seems like a really beautiful day as well. Yeah that's what i mean so everything it's just an opportunity to relationship with not just the team like you said all the Families and the people that we so it i did wanna kind of mention looking ahead into Twenty Twenty six. Before we look ahead you know coming to end of Twenty Twenty and we are going be sending ask we definitely want to continue fans the end of the year so look for. Some information on social where you can help and how you can donate and also a post will be out just letting you know some things that you can help with you know maybe a program and services o you know also asking for open the door campaign we definitely need. Accessible easy toe so so many things that we working on to just make the organization better ah, so look to you Guys for that support and you know to family you can share that information with. That i know giving after thanksgiving right so giving Tuesday a lot of maybe a lot of people don't want to be gifted like an object that they're never use so material and maybe some of Families can say instead of a toy why. Yes that's Awesome. Again i even the birthday you Cane it's a great to help people and so I'm just really excited to be on board i am looking for Twenty. Ah de making sure we you know setting everything up to be su yeah we i love healthy way yes healthy family family oriented. Im excited that back we Haven en such a long time i told you many times i like to e. Kind of we don't have to chase kids around in the dark ya i hope that our Families have fun and enjoy the we have such photos of the we have a few a few en and also a few items we might be selling Limited edition. Ah, es. So just keep an eye out on social again just another reason for you to stay connected um, but that day too yes we may be Offering some Limited edition items that you'll definitely wanna get your hands on so if you haven't signed up for the holiday party we do encourage you it helps us you know make sure that we have enough food and activities and everything set for that day you can sign up online follow you know. Pues the newsletter has everything updated with the link so just you signing up for everything and looking forward to that day too I just wanted to say that if you haven't gotten your calendar beautiful new calendars release at weve been Families. Picking them up if they were models in the calendar if you just wanna buy them and give them as gifts they're an Awesome like little stocking staffer ten dollars you get to promote the down Association people can learn about it i know i used them as like teacher gifts mi mom everybody like family i just give them a calendar and has. Cut models you can online we will be as yes photographers like said the picture are actually super and i that was one of the first projects so im actually really excited about it too so definitely you need to get your hands on those on that day or even beforehand. Ya the photographers are amazing because they don their time they do yes i mean honestly. Dos photos came out gorges yeah i using for couple of events i school connections whenever out in the community im definitely well they love to see it. Hospital hospital i just had the b and everybody so excited looking through with a little bit babies. Oh god next year i love the calendar. Oh, my music so Families es la Saturday the involve looking great. We they like to come back which is great thats what we want so what has moment so far favorite moment. To so the walk again like i said there was a lot of work put into it not just on my end everyone really comes make sure that day organized that we have exhibit resources and fan things. The you know walk climbing and then all the together work we everybody busy everybody is working with school and so forth so a big shadow the that fundraise and continue de fundraise the end of the year because that's une opportunity a do and when i was able to see one day with that walk all the performances and just you know all the photos food Families that they so it really es an amazing event see it all come was just i mean it was really exciting and um. I really told me I'm in the right place im at the right time I'm excited to be here ya i love that also a family you feel like. Oh my god all of these people. Together because because of arque with down syndrome like just bringing to this community is amazing i can't believe I've been doing the work for thirteen years now with my team and yes the team might get a little bit smaller as you said. Busy you know sometimes people donate and they don actually fine the a and sometimes ive been at the walk and somebody will come up to me and say I'm a teacher, bla bla and ah, it makes me feel like. Oh, my god you. No me i guess. Has a she made an impression girl but. Connected because of another kiddo so she just wanted to say like oh's mom i just wanted to say hi i work at her school you know so amazing how a community we support can that on online Facebook groups un people need something something everybody comes together e it definitely takes the village and that's exactly what we built. Yeah so anything else you wanna share with us that you wanted to. En ah no. Just that I'm really happy to be here. I love the team you know really feel like I'm becoming part of a family. Making new friends and so again. I've only been here four months so you may have met me you may have. Not have but i do encourage you to come up to me if you see me i do want to meet you i want to get to know you i wanna get to know your family ah and if you have any questions you know I'm here I'm available you can give a call and I'd be happy to share a little more about myself if it's just to get to know me o if you have any questions you know. Donations fundraising social media o you have some ideas hey, I'm learning every day still too so anything that you think could definitely help with creating awareness o you know community support i encourage so just excited to be here and hope everybody's excited to have me. Oh, yeah we definitely excited to have you and i like i like your work you just you. You really did just get you know bright on it on the list of the things kind of came in at a really busy time so um, but it all worked out yeah it's all worked out for the best i just love that you are given an assignment and then you get right to it and. Amazing you are getting things done and thank you for that thank you so much for being so great definitely has been one of the most welcoming here at the d show me around a stuff so i am looking forward to working thanks thank you thanks for having me

MAGALY: 23:37

let before we this we do program upcoming events so we don have a lot happening just because of our holidays breaks. I do have a parent education session on december Ninth we will have clip night on december third and then we don't have night because of the holidays ah and then of course we have music and movement only on the first Saturday which is december sixth Frank connection connection also do. Day december thirteenth la posada december thirteenth is a apart of grupo de apoyo pero anyone es welcome to come even if you are not bilin have social on december sixth is also a Saturday and yeah we close for a lot of the holidays like i said because of christmas and the new year and then as we look at January i. Event happening which es the education conference and everything else resume in January with club night as well as parent education session family fund day back in January if you Guys have any questions about. Registr any programs email us i if you have una idea o topic for the podcast please email me org. You have any questions about the conference as well be on the lookout for more information on our upcoming big events again such as the education conference thank you for listening and see you next episode.