Rebecca works as the Service Coordinator at The Village of Sage Grove in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She began this position in October of 2013. Her favorite part of being a Service Coordinator is making sure that the residents get access to the benefits and services they deserve. This means advocating for and with clients. Many residents become scared or anxious when dealing with governmental agencies, so they are unsure how to deal with DHS, Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Helping them to navigate the system successfully ROCKS!
Rebecca earned her bachelor’s degree in Art and Psychology at Barat College and continued on to pursue her MSW at Grand Valley State University. She enjoys combining her degrees by using art as a form of expression with her clients and residents. She finds that art can be very helpful in dealing with multiple situations that arise in her work. Rebecca’s own life experiences led her to use art as a way to cope with stress. These experiences eventually directed her into the field of Social Work.
Rebecca’s experience is vast. She has worked with populations across the life-span in her years of working in the field. She began working with older adults in a long-term care facility coordinating activities and social services in 2003.
Her personal interests include art, reading, and writing. In addition, Rebecca is an active member of her local LGBT organization and serves as the committee chair for the organization’s World AIDS Day Observance on December 1 every year. While it was difficult to choose, Rebecca decided that 1984, by George Orwell is her favorite book. Her favorite movie is Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Rebecca encourages everyone to embrace who they are and shared a favorite motto: “Being weird is wonderful.”
