EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Joseph Pena
Nominated by Faiza Shah, Assistant Program Director, DVSS
“Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations.” – Paramahansa Yogananda
In just under two years, Joseph “Joe” Pena, has become an integral part of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts. Ask any of his co-workers, and the first word that frequently comes to mind when describing him, is “kind”.
As the YWCA’s very own Renaissance man, Joe, who started in August of 2022, is a member of the Facilities and Maintenance team, and has also worked as a Third Shift Domestic Violence Shelter Services (DVSS) Advocate. “Joe has a great work ethic,” said Faiza Shah, the Assistant Program Director for DVSS. “He’s kind, trustworthy, and reliable. He’ll get the job done.”
Born and raised in New York, Joe moved to Massachusetts with his mom in 2007. A deeply rooted family man, Joe is a devoted father to his eight year old son, as well as a caregiver to his beloved mother. So, it’s no surprise that he brings that same commitment and care to his work at the YWCA. Added Faiza, “Joe worked maintenance for the shelter. He was a kind positive male figure, cleaning and fixing things. Residents felt comfortable around him.”
Joe, who was simply looking for a job at the time, began working at the YWCA by chance. He wasn’t aware of the YWCA’s work or impact in the community. Hired as part of the Facilities and Maintenance team, Joe called working at the YWCA, a “learning experience”. “As I got familiar with the YWCA, I slowly got to know about DVSS,” he said. Added Faiza, “Joe is always open to trying and learning new things. He really cares about learning.”
Although his background was in Facilities and Maintenance, when the third shift advocate position opened, Joe applied, and his history with the residents, and compassion helped him land the job. “He was open minded and aware of how to work with survivors, and naturally trauma informed.” said Faiza, who added with reverence, “Joe is the first person from a completely different department to work in the shelter. He learned from being in the shelter and watching interactions.”
“I developed skills I didn’t even know I had,” said Joe. “I was able to use those skills to help clients with their trauma. As a male staff member in DVSS, I made it safe and easy to talk, help, and translate for clients who needed it.” When asked why she nominated Joe, Faiza concluded, “His honesty is what really stands out to me.”
Although he loved every minute of working in the shelter and being of service to the residents, Joe recently made the transition back to Facilities and Maintenance team. His family being his number one priority, the “overnight shifts had taken a toll,” and were ultimately not conducive to his work-life balance. “I’ve done facilities work all my life,” said Joe. “So, when a position opened up and I was asked if I’d return, I jumped at the opportunity.” Regardless, Joe is still an active presence in the shelter and always willing to offer a helping hand.
“The YWCA has become a home, I love working here; the staff make you feel welcome and it’s a wonderful environment to work in,” said Joe, who was appreciative and honored to be named June’s Employee Spotlight. “I truly appreciate everyone, especially CEO Liz Dineen and my supervisor Branden Stack for giving me the opportunity to work here, and their leadership.”
