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Meet Josselyn, SCLT’s newest Advancement Team member

Josselyn Velasquez

Josselyn Velásquez-Florián joined SCLT in April 2021 as our new development coordinator, working on donor relations, events, database management, grants and communications.

Josselyn identifies as a proud DACA recipient. Born in Guatemala and raised in Los Angeles, she has called Rhode Island home since 2011. She brings over 20 years of community-based experience to her job, including family literacy, ESOL, and women’s leadership development. Most notably, Josselyn developed the Domestic Violence Prevention program at Homeboy Industries, an LA-based organization dedicated to re-entry services for formerly incarcerated adults and youth.

Prior to SCLT, she served as a workforce and education specialist at the Providence Housing Authority’s Financial Opportunity Center. Josselyn coached residents on their skills and education to secure employment at a living wage. She coordinated job fairs, built relationships with local employers to create employment pipelines, and spearheaded the Success Closet to assist participants in accessing free interview-ready clothing.

Josselyn also developed the Internal Career Advancement Program (iCAP), working with PHA members to improve their English language and computers skills, and established an internship program with Urban Greens. This background positions Josselyn well to support SCLT’s Real Skills For Youth grant (funded by the Governors Workforce Board) to provide work-based learning activities to high school age youth.

Josselyn hit the ground running when she joined SCLT two weeks before the Plant Sale.

“It was an incredible experience to engage with the SCLT member community through such an awesome event,” she says.

Josselyn discovered gardening through the pandemic and it has become a passion. While she is actively pursuing a degree in Public Administration, she hopes to continue to promote good health and nutritious food for all communities.

Outside of SCLT, you’ll find Josselyn enjoying time in her garden and in the company of her partner, their child, two rambunctious dogs and a growing flock of chickens.

– Agnieszka Rosner, SCLT Administrative Coordinator