AUGUST & SEPTEMBER  2025

Join Us in Celebrating Recovery: Inspiring Stories from the Santa Maria Community

September is National Recovery Month, a special time to honor the strength, courage, and transformation of those who have embraced recovery. At Santa Maria, we are celebrating by sharing powerful stories of hope from our staff and alumni throughout the month on our social media channels. These stories highlight the incredible journeys of individuals who have rebuilt their lives and are now inspiring others through their example.

We invite you to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and to like, share, and comment,  as we celebrate and honor everyone who bravely chose to share their story. Your support helps shine a light on recovery and spreads hope to our entire community.

Celebrating Our Transition from Jacquelyn: Built by Community, Remembered for Impact

On August 8, we gathered at our Jacquelyn campus to honor a special chapter in Santa Maria’s history with the Built by Community, Remembered for Impact event. This celebration recognized the incredible legacy of service at Jacquelyn and the many lives transformed within its walls. It was a meaningful moment to reflect on our journey, express gratitude to those who have supported us, and look ahead to an exciting new chapter.

Just a few weeks later, on August 26, our team successfully completed the move into our main campus, Bonita House. This transition was a major undertaking, and thanks to the dedication and hard work of our operations team and every member of our Jacquelyn staff, this  was an energizing and hopeful transition, setting the stage for even greater impact.

We are deeply grateful to our supporters Kodiak Gas and Spitzer, who generously provided a hot meal for everyone on moving day. Their kindness brought comfort and energy to our team during this important moment of change.

Thanks to the collective effort and spirit of our staff, supporters, and community, this transition was not just a move , it was a powerful step forward, positioning Santa Maria to continue offering exceptional care and services to the women and families we serve.

Thank you to everyone who played a role in making this milestone a success. This move truly reflects the heart of our mission: stronger together, building a brighter future for our community.

 

Nominate a Colleague!

This month, we’re recognizing team members who exemplify our core values of integrity, compassion, respect, and excellence.

📝 Submit your nominations by September 25 to:
📧 socialcommittee25@santamariahostel.org

Let’s celebrate those who go above and beyond!

AUGUST

Kathryn Johnson - 4-August

Earnestine Smith - 5-August

Kendra Llorentz - 8-August

Tawana Haley Brown - 12-August

Laportia Dean - 14-August

Mayda Salgado - 14-August

Onesta Calhoun - 15-August

Tiffanye Grisby - 15-August

Lossie F Harris - 20-August

Beth Wilson - 26-August

Elizabeth Evatt - 27-August

Vaughan Gilmore - 27-August

Jordaniee Wilson - 29-August

SEPTEMBER

Markenna Pharr - 1-September

Denise Lawson - 3-September

Lora Scott - 5-September

Maritza Mata - 5-September

Mayda Diaz - 6-September

Kathy Swanson - 7-September

Rhonda Wade - 9-September

Terita Williamson - 13-September

Milla Rios - 28-September

Reimberto Fuentes - 30-September

AUGUST

Gail Purvis Roberson - 11 years

Rejetter Primes - 11 years

Jessica Williams - 6 years

Carolyn Schneider - 4 years

Maritza Mata - 4 years

Daniella Canseco - 3 years

Kelly Biddle - 3 years

Mimsy Gathright - 3 years

Amber Lotsi - 2 years

Andrea Perez - 2 years

Najla Crawford - 2 years

Barasha Bennett - 1 years

Brittany Sherley - 1 years

Nicole Trevino - 1 years

Troynika Bickham - 1 years

SEPTEMBER

Karen Gaddis - 25 years

Donna L White - 23 years

Barbara Page - 19 years

Valencia Jack - 14 years

Adriana Tusell - 12 years

Claudia Alvarado Herrera - 12 years

Lanisha Jiles - 12 years

Maria Morales - 12 years

Deaudra Whiting - 8 years

Nestora Velazquez - 8 years

Anna Bailey - 6 years

Jordaniee Wilson - 6 years

Luz Mosquera - 6 years

Autumn Valero - 5 years

Mayda Diaz - 5 years

Heather Carrier - 2 years

Denise Lopez - 1 years

Kathy Swanson - 1 years

Shatavia Davis - 1 years

YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION

TO SANTA MARIA IS APPRECIATED. 

STAFF 

Beth most recently served as Chief Advancement Officer for SERJobs, where she successfully led and implemented resource development strategies to increase the organization’s visibility, impact, and financial growth. With over 20 years of philanthropic experience, she has held leadership roles with healthcare organizations, including Senior Director of Development at UTHealth Houston and Executive Director of a local nonprofit. Beth began her career with the American Heart Association, ultimately serving as Regional Director overseeing seven boards across the Houston Gulf Coast area.

A graduate of the University of Phoenix, Beth holds a Master of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Business Marketing. She has been deeply involved with the Association of Fundraising Professionals Houston Chapter, serving on the board in multiple leadership roles, including Interim President. Passionate about community, Beth also volunteers with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and enjoys gardening, traveling with her husband, and spending time with her six grandchildren and four pets.

Please talk to your supervisors to make sure you attend the necessary trainings. 

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025

PIAB  -  Conference room

9:00 A.M 

 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

ANE - Conference room

9:00 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.   

S E P T E M B E R

Sept 15 – Hispanic Heritage Month

Sept 19 – Recovery Month Staff Celebration at  11:30am

Sept 22 – Start of Fall

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR UPCOMING TOWN HALL MEETINGS

📅 Upcoming Town Hall Dates:

Wednesday September 24th

Wednesday December 3rd

We look forward to seeing you there!

When is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. It began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later in 1988. The month-long celebration provides more time to properly recognize the significant contributions Hispanic/Latino Americans have made in the United States.

Hispanic Heritage Month does not cover one single month but instead begins in the middle of September and ends in the middle of October. The timeframe of this month is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates, beginning on September 15 with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. By aligning with these independence dates, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the resilience and determination of the Hispanic community. Key Independence Days celebrated within Hispanic Heritage Month include:

September 15 - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua

September 16 – Mexico

September 18 – Chile

September 21 - Belize

Santa Maria is proud to have collaborated with Recovery People on the production of “Humanly Possible,” a powerful docuseries highlighting Texans shaping the recovery movement. 

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

The Council on Recovery in Houston

$10 Tickets🎟️ available now on recoverypeople.org

This inspiring series features special appearances by former Santa Maria leaders Nadine Scamp and Amelia Murphy, whose voices and vision have helped shape the path of recovery for women and families.

 

We are excited to announce new career opportunities at Santa Maria! Consider taking the next step in your journey right here with us:

Administrative Assistant

House Manager

Clinic LVN

Residential Case Manager

LVN Medication Technician Supervisor

Residential Counselor

Residential Program Director

 

Eligibility Requirements:
To apply, you must:

Be a current, regular full-time or part-time employee.

Have held your current position for at least one year.

Meet or exceed performance expectations.

Have no counseling or corrective action in the last six months.

Not be on a performance improvement plan (PIP).

 

How to Apply:

Complete an Internal Job Application (available at the front desk).

Submit the application along with your resume to Human Resources.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Available 24/7 for counseling, financial advice, and more.

To learn more about the Lincoln Financial Employee Connect program, visit www.Lincoln4Benefits.com

or www.GuidanceResources.com (user name = LFGsupport; password = LFGsupport1), or talk with a specialist at 888-628-4824.

 

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