Maria Bustamante
Scotts Valley
Summary
Recreation leader at the London Nelson Community Center Santa Cruz Teen Center, with strong problem-solving and communication skills. Serving and advocating for at-risk youth while fostering a safe environment, as well as enhancing community outreach. Experience in activity planning and behavior management, ensuring tailored support for diverse needs and backgrounds while also building meaningful connections.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Recreation Leader
Santa Cruz Teen Center
09.2024 - Current
- Peer/conflict mediator for and with at-risk youth. It is important to intervene and de-escalate when emotions and feelings run high.
- Planning events with/for the teens and providing them with a daily meal or snack
- Communicating with the teens and other staff about ongoing issues, or simply starting a conversation. Building connections with the teens is important in understanding how to help them with their specific needs, as well as learning how to create an environment where they don’t feel singled out. Tailoring to specific needs also gives room to ensure a middle ground in/for the entire space, not just one person specifically.
- Advocating for our youth and providing them with a safe environment to enjoy away from their situations. It is important to be a helpful resource and supportive of their concerns, stepping in when even they feel there is no need for intervention.
- Attend monthly staff meetings and other tasks as required
Resident Advisor
Cowell and Stevenson Housing Office, UCSC
09.2022 - 06.2024
- A primary peer mediator that conducted conflict resolution. This would have been through 1:1 meetings and/or whole dorm and apartments. It also meant being a main point of communication between the residents and supervisor.
- Administrative work, such as online and physical filing, checking records, confidentiality, conducting lockouts, up to date with university records and web services
- Writing incident reports through our university wide reporting network. Many of the situations required documentation to ensure follow-ups and support for future success and wellbeing.
- Provided non-medical care to residents in need. This could have ranged from holding office hours to light mental and emotional support.
- Attended weekly staff meetings and other necessary trainings, other tasks as required
- Planned events for the college/dorms and apartments, as well as building wide meetings for residents to provide updates (as needed)
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Maj. Legal Studies, Min. LALS
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California, CA 05.2001 -
Skills
Problem-solving
Communication skills
Active listening
Note-taking
Experience working with diverse communities
Teamwork
Community outreach
Behavior management
Adaptability
Activity planning
Behavior management
Microsoft and Google Workspace
Timeline
Recreation Leader
Santa Cruz Teen Center
09.2024 - Current
Resident Advisor
Cowell and Stevenson Housing Office, UCSC
09.2022 - 06.2024
Bachelor of Arts - Maj. Legal Studies, Min. LALS
University of California, Santa Cruz
05.2001 -