When Nancy was preparing to retire after 40+ years in the healthcare industry, she knew she wanted to continue making a difference in people’s lives. She sought out consistent, meaningful volunteer opportunities and found Chrysalis. Over a year later, her experience has been more transformative than she imagined—for both herself and the individuals she works with every week.
Nancy first learned about Chrysalis through OneOC’s Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). She was intrigued by the organization’s volunteer listing: teaching job preparation classes to individuals navigating barriers to the workforce. Although nonprofit board service was a path she considered, she ultimately knew she wanted to participate more on “ground level” with an organization. This opportunity—getting to interact with and support clients directly—was exactly the type of work that excited her.
Soon enough, Nancy was teaching five to six classes a month at Chrysalis’ Orange County center. During Chrysalis’ four-part Job Preparation series, clients reflect on their existing skills and learn job readiness strategies. Nancy teaches three classes in the series focused on 1) the job search, 2) the interview, and 3) job retention, as well as one comprehensive class designed for young adults.
Nancy brings a wealth of professional knowledge and experience to her volunteer role, having last served as Chief Operations Officer at SCAN Health Plan. There, she supported older adults in accessing dignified healthcare and solutions for aging well. Her career and academic focus emphasized public health, giving her an awareness and appreciation for the unique health disparities and life circumstances that different populations face. At Chrysalis, we see that expertise show up in her deep empathy for the communities that our organization serves.
“I have professional experience that I can share through the classes… What I don’t have is a lot of the lived experience that many of the clients have: having had to wrestle with substance use disorders, having a justice system interaction, being homeless, being from a broken home. The way they approach the class—those experiences are part of them, they’re part of the fabric of their lives,” Nancy shared. “What I try to do is make my experience available in a way that makes sense, but also to really learn from the clients in the classroom, from their perspectives.”
Because Nancy approaches her role with such humility, clients can feel more confident in not only the program curriculum but also their own skills and expertise. One example that illustrates this is when Nancy’s classroom became a space where clients with lived expertise were able to take the lead. A client who shared that they were diagnosed with ADHD expressed that they occasionally have trouble with continuous listening at work and asked Nancy for advice. Nancy acknowledged that she didn’t have personal experience with ADHD, but still offered her perspective in a respectful and helpful way. Two other clients chimed in, sharing that they also have ADHD, and Nancy opened the floor to their expertise. She recalls, “They started supporting each other, and then we had a conversation about tactical approaches to manage that on the job. That was a great discussion that they all benefited from, but I certainly benefited from it, too.”
Part of what makes Nancy’s classes so engaging to clients is her willingness to put herself out there. She has expressed that she admires the bravery of Chrysalis clients re-entering the workforce, and they challenge her to be brave, too. One of her favorite Chrysalis moments is during a practice interview, where clients chose an interview question for her to answer on the spot: “I’m so glad I didn’t practice the answer. It was such a better conversation for everyone to give that feedback and also to see what it looks like to receive it.”
Nancy’s warm demeanor, collaborative approach, and skillful facilitation add color to the curriculum and clients’ experience. Completing the class series is the very first step in Chrysalis’ job-readiness program. When they are engaged and their lived experience is honored in the class series, they have a more positive outlook on the path ahead. The Chrysalis team is grateful for Nancy and the critical role she plays in changing lives through jobs.