Name: Keisha Maldonado
Title: Bilingual Advocacy Supervisor
CASA Employee Since: September 2017
1) What did you do before you worked at CASA?
I was attending college and interning at CASA before joining staff in 2018. Before that, I was a NYC nanny for a year, and then an Infant/Toddler Teacher at a daycare.
2) Describe your job in five words.
Advocating for children in Spanish.
3) Can you describe what a typical day looks like for you?
Oh boy...it's different every day. My days usually involve a lot of phone calls, speaking with volunteers, attending Court hearings, and writing and editing court reports.
4) What is the best part about working for CASA?
Working with children and families. The staff is pretty great, too!
5) What is the craziest/most unusual thing you’ve done in the name of serving children in foster care?
About a year ago, Pam and I were picking up boxes at our offsite storage unit, aka "the Dungeon." While climbing over boxes, I stumbled upon a rat-shaped blob...It was too dark for me to identify what it was. Once Pam confirmed that it was indeed a dead rat, we ran out screaming! I'm pretty sure we cried a little bit.
6) When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to work in a lab and develop cosmetics and lotions. Then, when I was in high school, I wanted to be a geneticist. Somehow I ended up working with children and families!
7) What is your go-to comfort food?
My mama's cooking. I never say no to ceviche, guatita, llapingachos (with the peanut sauce, chorizo, pickled onions, and avocado slices of course), or a bowl of fanesca!
8) What personality trait has gotten you in the most trouble?
I don’t know how to say “NO”!
9) What celebrity have people said you resemble or remind them of?
I was once told I looked like Princess Jasmine because of my eyebrows. Does that count?
10) If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three items would you bring?
A hammock, sunscreen, and a blanket.