Viviana is recognized by the Lift Every Voice Project celebrating outstanding women in the Hudson Valley area. This award from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, OC Progress, and the Port Jervis Area Community Action Project honors Viviana as an immigrant woman who is thriving and giving back to her community in Orange County, NY.

Viviana is the Program & Volunteer Coordinator for the Office for New Americans Opportunity Center of Orange County, located in Newburgh, NY. The New Americans Opportunity Center provides ESOL and citizenship classes, legal assistance, and other services to the local immigrant community.

Viviana is honored to be recognized in this way and says that “it is a pleasure for me to be able to help others in the way that I was helped as a new immigrant in this country. I have been able to pay forward the help I received through my work with Catholic Charities.” When Viviana immigrated from Argentina to the U.S. with her son and husband, she tried to emulate the strength of her mother and grandmother, who emigrated with the rest of her family after the Spanish Civil War and settled in Argentina. She is continually inspired by their stories and is honored to work with others who are fleeing violence and persecution abroad.

“I am able to do my job because I learned and modeled the compassion I witnessed from the leaders of the organization that I am a part of,” Viviana says. She is a proud member of the Catholic Charities team and appreciates her team’s efforts in helping her make a difference in the lives of others.