Mariel grew up in South Snohomish County and moved to Flagstaff, Arizona to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree at Northern Arizona University (NAU).  She was enjoying being in a new place, exploring Arizona.  Things were going well, and then COVID hit.  Mariel, like college students around the world, came home to continue her studies online.  When it came time to look for the required internship, many of the usual pathways were blocked by the pandemic.  And so the Holy Spirit made a new path.  

Mariel is acquainted with Shannon Walk, another (now-graduated) NAU Social Work student who previously interned with LINC NW (the youth mentoring program operating out of Faith in North Lakewood).  The Internship Coordinator at NAU and Shannon made sure that Mariel connected with LINC NW Executive Director Ryan Brown, and the internship became a reality.    

It quickly became apparent to everyone working with Mariel that she would be an important asset to the newly-forming Family Resource Center (FRC).  Once the internship requirement was completed and Mariel graduated, she was hired as the first Administrative Social Worker for the Center.  Her organizing skills, understanding of the world of Social Work, experience with youth and children all combine to make her an obvious choice for this much-needed professional position.  She will organize programs, manage the facility’s calendar, track grant submissions and follow-up reporting to funders and connect with community members in need of social services.

But, how did Mariel Gonzalez decide to become a Social Worker anyway?   

Mariel’s family modeled a commitment to caring.  Her family includes her parents, a younger brother, her paternal grandfather and her father’s brother who lives independently in an apartment nearby, but sometimes needs their help.  Mariel’s mother works as a paraeducator; her father drives bus for King County Metro.  If you’ve ever done either of these jobs, you know that caring for people is their main focus.

Mariel worked as a nanny for eight years. Becoming close to the family, she learned a great deal about caring for children; she still spends time with the family, helping out when possible.  What else has impacted her life?  Volleyball!  Mariel played from a young age--in high school (on a select volleyball club), at the Washington Volleyball Academy.  She coached volleyball and ran volleyball camps.

Before NAU, Mariel says she had a stereotypical idea of social workers; she imagined them as caring people who worked for Child Protective Services and that was their only option.  She started college thinking she would major in Psychology, not Social Work.  A class with an inspiring professor opened her eyes to the wide range of possibilities in people-oriented/helping professions with a BS in Social Work:  in criminal justice (victim-witness advocates); with the elderly (in a variety of support systems designed to protect and empower aging adults); in schools (aiding students and their families dealing with the impacts of poverty and mental illness); and in hospitals (providing crisis intervention for patients and their families). 

Mariel eventually plans to earn a Master’s in Social Work in order to provide counseling.  For now, her position here with the FRC gives her time to gain practical experience, to get to know North Snohomish County and the people we will serve in the months and years to come. 

The impact of COVID-19 in Mariel’s life?  She understands more deeply now the importance of connection, of being with people.  She enjoys hiking, being outdoors and has, along with friends, taken up charcoal sketching for fun.  And of course, she still plays volleyball.