Alejandra Espejo, LOV Inc.’s Bilingual Resource Specialist, was recently awarded the Shaw Brothers Outstanding Professional Award in honor of her work of going above and beyond to support individuals with disabilities.
Presented at the Circles of Life Conference, the award honors professionals who work in the disability community and have gone beyond the call of duty in their role.
Alejandra was selected for her work in serving Spanish-speaking families in Dane County by providing culturally responsive, one-on-one consultations to address pressing needs and connecting families to services and supports.
“We are so lucky to have Alejandra and her talent on our team, and this award is a testament to that,” said Stefanie Primm, executive director of LOV Inc. “The families can tell that she genuinely cares and understands what they are going through, and her boundless energy and creativity shine when it comes to supporting their needs.”
Through individualized consultations, Alejandra supports families in addressing their most pressing needs through connections to resources and services. This looks different for every family. For example, Alejandra has supported families to advocate for their child’s educational needs and ensure they know their rights within the school system. She has worked alongside families at various stages of receiving or seeking a diagnosis, connecting them to resources, and providing a listening ear and guidance. Alejandra has helped families improve accessibility within their homes by identifying home modification resources. She has also connected families with housing and food security resources.
At the award ceremony, Alejandra reflected on the joys of working with families and the strength she finds in partnering with other advocates in the community.
During her comments, she remarked, “Thank you for opening the door for me, families. But I am not alone in this work. Thank you for the support of LOV Inc., Catholic Multicultural Center, Dulce Respite Center, and many other community partners and organizations who share our mission. Together we are stronger.”
Learn more about the Latino Family Navigator Project and the Colectivo de Familias Latinas.