Veterans Affairs - early farewell

I just want to write, just in case. This is my last week here in the VA and it has been an enourmosly (hope I spelled that correctly) great. I have met you by e-mail on in person and I can't go without saying coming here has changed my life and I feel my purpose of helping and my interest (psychology and communications) has been definetly adressed. Just in case, you haven't seen me, don't know me personally or anything, I'll send my other e-mail just in case you want to keep in contact. It has been my pleasure to know you. And will like to add a few things I wish you consider:

1) VA is super big, and I really think the purpose of helping the Veterans is amazing, but honestly I learned about the VA and felt empowered and inspired to work more, visiting the Medical Center. AS I always say, "don't let anyone tell you". You will never know the magnitude of the work you do if you don't hear all the stories, the walking books of memories if you don't ask them. Consider the fact that this people served and do not forget Women Veterans, Hispanics and their families (this includes thinking of distribution in both languages), families in general (even though I know and have heard about the amazing job the Vet Center do… it's not bad to think about that). Even if you believe I haven't been hanging around so much, I just know for a fact, that this can definetly go according to the promise that the country has done "remember "keeping the promise " and that Abraham Linconln saying that is VA's motto.

2) Consider bringing people that are in the communication field to help on the outreach. Consider those and writers to distribute information to patients and the newsletters. Consider different outreach, especially in pyshological aspects and mental health approaches.

3) Know that you are in the priviledge positions to help others. That you are definetly have the power to do something. That is not about how much we win in a job money wise, but how much you can help, being in the "public service", in a government agency and not any one, but the Second largest most important with soooooooo much patients (in the VHA) but also everything on Benefits and Burial Services too. Still I wish that everyday you go with a rested mind that you are doing something for the benefit of the people, and not any people but human beings that help this country at some point that has been risking (or risked) their lifes for others as well and made it back home.

Well I cannot go without thanking HACU (Hispanic Associations of Colleges and Universities), Steve Sloane (who interviewed me and gave me a chance to develop ideas and give to the VA what I knew about (just asking is super imp) cool supervisor!!!, Mark Brown, that let it happened and Al Batres that listened to for what I had to offer and reminded me (not that I've had any doubt) that Hispanics can do it!!! (and sorry if I sound to.. Hectic about it, but I'm very proud of my heritage, Cuban-Puerto Rican!) Bye See you later :-)

For any contact: alvarez.ada@gmail.com

My website for domestic violence prevention www.loquenodije.com on the end on the right in categories says English works

Personal one: for poems and stuff www.espacioblog.com/ada but the direct link to English works http://www.espacioblog.com/ada/categoria/poemas-ingles

And if by any chance you do not know who am I… :-) here's a brief info:

Hello everyone. You may have seen new faces around the Office and I would like you to know about the interns you’ve seen that we are having this Summer. One of them is Ada M. Alvarez; a 20 year old Puerto Rican. She’s finished her BA in Journalism but is staying in college to complete a minor in Gender Studies and a Thesis for her Honor Program. She wrote a book at 16 and published it last year becoming Puerto Rico’s youngest novelist. The book name is Lo que no dije (or “What I didn’t say” which she is translating). She has a website for it too (www.loquenodije.com) dedicated to the theme of the novel domestic violence, especially dating violence. She has given 38 conferences around Puerto Rico and in the last International Book Fest of Dominican Republic held in March. With the website she has impacted Spanish speakers and has made it a source of information, archive and counseling tool. Last fall Ms. Alvarez came to DC as an intern of The Washington Center and she worked in the Hispanic Press Office of now Speaker Nancy Pelosi. There she campaigned, translated, did news reports and articles and served as photo journalist. Her interest are global communications (she also studies Arabic and French), literature, arts and helping people. She plans to apply to the MA/PhD program at American University on International Communications to become a Professor and work in Public Service. She has started a non-profit called MVTPR-Muévete Puerto Rico (Move Puerto Rico) and in the Fall she’ll know hopefully for the VA in San Juan thanks to Mr. Eguino from PR to help in outreach. She has translated different educational materials, was anchor of the VA News last week, is finishing 3 articles a)domestic violence b)women veterans and c)an "intern experience" new VA. She made the Back Home brochure (both languages) that will go Nationally and just finished making a radio adress in Spanish on how to apply for disability compensation from VA. Also she managed to go to different conferences and trainings and is enthusiastic about going back to school to work on her thesis "The psycho-social aspects of communications and journalism" and hopes this helps the VA as well.

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