校友工作，以协助拿骚县的贫困

Ms. Manjrekar, Deputy Commissioner for Public Assistance and Employment Services at the 拿骚县(纽约州)社会服务部 也是…的校友 教育学院 在圣. 约翰的大学, is working to elevate the lives of the underprivileged while simultaneously reshaping perceptions of welfare recipients in Nassau County.  

A 30-year career in social services coupled with a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from St. 约翰的老师教过约翰女士. Manjrekar the best way to ensure success and to help those living on the margins of society is to extend yourself.

“Nobody comes to the Department of Social Services willingly,” she said. “They come here when they are at the end of their rope—when they don’t have money in the bank to feed themselves or their families, 或者他们买不起房子.”

“St. 约翰的 gave me the foundation of my career in this country by giving me an education,” she continued. “But I also learned about the responsibility of giving back and the principle of helping others.” 

Her office develops initiatives to help the public-assistance population achieve economic independence through work opportunities, 面试准备, 以及持续的康复服务. It also assists low-income Long Islanders struggling with heating and day-care bills, 支持县里的寄养项目, 并管理 补充营养援助计划该计划曾被称为食品券计划.   

Ms. Manjrekar是希克斯维尔公立学校的一员 教育委员会 in Hicksville, NY, where she lives with her husband and two children. 

Ms. Manjrekar is also a partner in the Long Island-based nonprofit 印度儿童希望 and was instrumental in securing a partnership with the Hicksville School District. 自2014年以来, the district has sent dozens of community children to an all-expenses-paid summer camp; most of them would not have been able to attend otherwise. The eight-week camp enabled some parents to obtain summer work free 从 cost of child care.   

The organization also sponsors a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, donates backpacks and school supplies to area children, 在…的帮助下 文森特社会行动研究所(VISA) 在圣. 约翰的, organizes a holiday toy drive for children in need. VISA与 天主教慈善机构 把玩具分发到整个 布鲁克林教区去年，纽约.     

“VISA was delighted to take part and help make the holiday season memorable for those served by Children’s Hope,安吉拉·西格尔说, Ed.D.， VISA执行董事. “We were grateful for the opportunity to connect valuable community partners at the University. ”

她出生于印度孟买. Manjrekar came to the United States more than two decades ago and immediately sought out schools for a second master’s degree. St. 约翰家离她在邱园的家很方便, NY, 她的全职工作, 但也提供了一个根植于服务的课程, 这对她很有吸引力.

在一位圣徒的帮助下. 约翰的研究生，悄悄传话给她 的简历, Ms. Manjrekar completed the final piece of her graduate requirements, 一个实习, 在人类服务机构 撒玛利亚Daytop村 in 曼哈顿, NY, which quickly hired her to a full-time position. 

“我不能不工作. But I also did not know how I was going to get the required hours while working full time,她回忆道。. “如果她没有伸出援助之手，把我的。 的简历，我不知道我怎么毕业.”     

其他职位 奥德赛的房子 药物滥用康复中心和 残疾倡导项目 纽约州的奥巴马紧随其后. Manjrekar moved to Nassau’s social services office in 2010. Initially hired as the county’s Director of Employment and Day Care 项目, 她于2020年晋升到现在的职位. 

“我们的目标是帮助那些暂时需要帮助的人, to get them work-ready and off of the public assistance rolls,” Ms. Manjrekar说. “传统上, 我的工作是帮助有就业障碍的人, 包括滥用药物和犯罪记录, 克服它们.” 

多于1.3 million people live in Nassau County, and while the county’s current unemployment rate of 2.7%低于3%的全国平均水平.7%，女士。. Manjrekar remains a powerful advocate for those out of work. Her office conducts job fairs, vocational training, and education. 与纽约州的 儿童和家庭服务办公室, her office supported a recent change in income eligibility requirements that made thousands more families eligible for 日托补贴. 

Another source of pride is a career-readiness program she designed for 16–20-year-olds. More than traditional manual labor positions, students in Ms. Manjrekar’s program take hands-on roles in information technology, county services, the 卫生署, 少数民族事务办公室，甚至直接与立法者合作. Students are placed in positions that align with their future career goals and gain experience in crisis management and problem solving that accelerates their professional development and cultivates the discipline required to excel in college.

“The Vincentian charism is the basis for everything I do in the office, 作为学校董事会的一员, 以及印度儿童希望组织,” Ms. Manjrekar说. “When I see  families in need of public assistance, my heart breaks, I want them to have a leg up.”