Blog

Faces of IBA

Thanks to our supporters and dedicated staff, IBA has come a long way since its founding in 1968. While the people and needs of our community have changed over time, the dedication of IBA’s to its mission has never wavered. Today, as over 50 years ago, our team strives daily to empower and engage individuals and families improve their lives through high-quality affordable housing, education, and arts programs.

In recognition of that continued commitment we take a moment to recognize three members of our wonderful team every quarter. We are grateful for their dedication and the time and energy they put into ensuring IBA’s plans to improve our community are put into action in ways large and small.

ADEL VÉLEZ

What is your role and when did you start working for IBA?

I started working at IBA on October 25th 2021 as a Youth Coordinator in the Youth Development Program.

What do you do as a Youth Development Coordinator on a daily basis and what are the goals of your position?

In my role as Youth Coordinator at IBA, aside from running programming alongside my colleagues, is to research potential workshops that could benefit our youth in the program and have one-on-one meetings with the youth to provide wellness checks and also provide academic support among other things. I am also in charge of spearheading our partnership with DYEE (Department of Youth Engagement and Employment).In the near future, I hope to work with IBA t to help develop a mental health program that runs alongside our current programs to deepen our support for the young people in our community .

Why did you decide to join IBA?

IBA is an amazing community to be a part of and to be able to join a program that is so involved into helping them in every aspect of its growth is an amazing opportunity.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

There are many things I enjoy doing outside of work, mostly I enjoy spending time with my kids and watching movies as a family or going out to have some fun. I also enjoy serving in my church as a worship leader and I serve as a leader of a ministry called Grateful Praise which is a concert we do once a year. I also enjoy arts very much, from singing to drawing and painting. I enjoy celebrating the expressions of others through art.

SANDRA SOTO

What is your role and when did you start working for IBA?

I am a Program Coordinator for IBA's Youth Development Program, focusing on academic support. I started working for IBA in August 2021.

What do you do as a Youth Development Program Coordinator on a daily basis and what are the goals of your position?

As a member of the Youth Development Program, I have assisted with recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding youth as well as planning the calendar, developing curriculum, and facilitating workshops for the 2021-2022 academic cycle. I also regularly meet with youth one-on-one to provide social, emotional, and academic support. One of the new initiatives I'm excited to be focusing on is developing relationships with teachers and creating systems to track students' academic progress. The Youth Development Program team is highly collaborative; we work together to design workshops that promote civic engagement, encourage expression through the arts, prepare youth for future education and employment, and support their academic achievement.

Why did you decide to join IBA?

I had the opportunity to join IBA through a partnership with Life Together, an Episcopal Service Corps program. Prior to my work at IBA, I taught in a variety of public schools and was drawn to the greater creative freedom that IBA's youth development program offers. We have the capacity and autonomy to be truly responsive to our youth's needs, which I think is an important part of what makes the program so successful. My decision to join IBA was also heavily influenced by its commitment to holistic community development. I really appreciate how dedicated IBA is to offering comprehensive programming - from financial empowerment to the arts - that strive to meet the needs of the whole person, and the whole community.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I love to read and I'm particularly passionate about learning how movements for justice can be supported and sustained. In the summer of 2020, I co-founded a non-profit called Libraries for Liberation with a few friends. Libraries for Liberation purchases books that raise awareness of systemic racism from BIPOC-owned bookstores and distributes them to neighborhoods across the United States through a network of volunteers. We hope that by providing resources for consciousness-raising through the books we distribute and support for critical reflection through the programs we offer, we will catalyze community action and contribute to social change.

RAY MORALES

What is your role and when did you start working for IBA/Maloney Properties?

I am the Senior Property Manager for Villa Victoria and began working for Maloney Properties Inc, a partner of IBA, on June 15, 2021.

What do you do on a daily basis and what are the goals of your position?

At any given time, my daily objectives can shift from assisting Residents with their needs to supervising, and communicating with my Management Team which consists of 22 employees. Included in our team are four Property Managers, a Maintenance Director and four Superintendents, communicating with IBA representatives and any other Government agency pertinent to the property. The number one goal of my position is to provide superior customer service to IBA and every resident within IBA’s portfolio. To achieve this goal, I am tasked with monitoring the financial health of IBA’s assets, ensuring that we are adhering to our administrative responsibilities and that our Maintenance department is providing quality living standards for Villa Victoria’s residents, both inside of their apartments as well as the community’s grounds.

Why did you decide to join IBA/Maloney Properties?

I decided to join IBA/Maloney Properties because I saw an opportunity to be part of a unique and effective Owner/Property Management dynamic. After 12 years I parted ways with my previous employer, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity that they gave me and the preparation that they provided me with to take on this Senior Management role. I knew that in joining the IBA/Maloney Team, I would be supported and challenged while working to meet IBA’s expectations. Maloney and IBA have been collaborating for 15+ years and I look forward to continuing that partnership.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

When I am not working, I am spending as much time as possible with my Wife (Yaritza) & 2 little girls (Sophia / Gabriella). Together, we try to get outside and explore as much of the world as possible while spending quality time with our families. I also serve at the Spanish Church of God in Dorchester, MA. There I serve as a mentor/teacher for young adults. I also love to exercise and play basketball in my remaining free time.

LINA RUA

What is your role and when did you start working for IBA/Maloney Properties?

I am a Property manager for two different properties at Villa Victoria (Victoria Apartments and Casas Borinquen). I started with Maloney Properties in July 2018.

What do you do on a daily basis and what are the goals of your position?

I communicate with residents daily, addressing concerns, answering questions. I inspect the property at least twice a week, work on move-in, transfer or recertification files. Our day is never the same, anything can come up at any minute. Inspecting units, doing pertaining reports for different areas, getting ready for different file audits and property inspections throughout the year ,among many other duties. My goal is to provide our community a safe home, great customer service and help them maintain their housing.

Why did you decide to join IBA/Maloney Properties?

Because of the level of professionalism and respect I knew Maloney provides to their employees and residents.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I love to spend time with my loved ones, work out and have life "debates" with my daughter.

Our team and the programs they help are directly funded by your donations. Please visit ibaboston.org/donate and contribute so we can keep helping our community

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