Volunteer with Cheli Team Member: Lizzie Rodriguez 

By JP Emerson

Please introduce yourself (tell us a little about you)?

I specialize in bringing diverse communities together through experienced advocacy, bridge-building, transparent communication, focused intent, and group negotiation development skills. My passion and goals are to increase inclusion, equity, diversity, and accessibility for all people in new and innovative ways. I use my positive attitude and tireless energy to help others succeed and recognize the potential in traditionally underrepresented perspectives. As a community activist, I advocate for progress and stronger community relationships through nonprofit and for-profit organizations including my past role as a Board Member for Habitat for Humanity, my current position as a Board Member for Volunteer With Cheli, and my role as a community ambassador for the Humane Society of San Diego. I am motivated and inspired by my deep love of animals, my commitment to connecting residents with the services they need to improve their quality of life, and my dedication to environmental justice.

How did you become involved with Volunteer with Cheli?

In my former role as Director of Community and Corporate Engagement for the City of San Diego, Councilmember Vivian Moreno, I partnered with various organizations to provide education, resources, and funding to serve over 150,000 residents, nonprofits, business owners, and families. Through this role, I met Cheli Mohammed, Executive Director of Volunteer With Cheli. I was incredibly inspired by her story, her work, and her dedication to serving all groups of people. Her experience of being part of groups that have, at best, been disenfranchised and ignored and, at worst, been denied access or rights and had their very safety compromised, motivated me to support the important work to which she is dedicated.

What inspires you to Volunteer?

There are several reasons that inspire me to volunteer with Volunteer With Cheli.

The major influence for me to volunteer is that I’ve benefited from others’ help in the past and want to give back. The act of reciprocity, or “paying it forward,” is deeply satisfying and important to me as a way to reflect my gratitude. My volunteerism is also influenced by family traditions of giving back and helping those in need. Culturally, as a Latina, I grew up understanding that it is important to support everyone in the family and the community as a whole. Their successes, in turn, contribute to the success of all of us. Lastly, I feel a sense of obligation or responsibility to help others, especially when I see inequalities or social issues negatively affecting them. Volunteering provides me with an outlet to take action on my values. With the recent local and national elections, I am even more motivated to develop innovative solutions to support Volunteer With Cheli and other organizations in San Diego.