Missy Benavidez was recently hired as the new Development Coordinator for La Posada Providencia. Missy will be coordinating fundraising activities, building the donor base, writing grants and enhancing community awareness of the shelter’s existence and needs.

“La Posada is such a positive, vibrant community with a ton of potential,” says Missy. “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to be part of it.”

Missy grew up in Kansas City, Mo., and has a bachelor degree in political science and history and a master degree in Middle Eastern studies. Missy has 15 years of experience as Development Coordinator for Refugee Services of Texas, and as an organizer for a variety of social justice causes, including the peace and union movements. Missy has had several personal experiences that have shaped her life and work ethic.

“When I was 10, my mom came home with a book of drawings and writing by child refugees of Central America. It must have been published by someone involved in the Sanctuary movement,” recalls Missy. “There was a picture drawn in bold crayon strokes of a death squad massacring the whole village, including the boy’s parents and sister, with machetes. The boy was only a little bit younger than me. It is impossible to put words to the feelings you have when you see something like that. But even at my young age, I understood that I was complicit if I stood aside and had no intention of doing so.”

We welcome Missy to La Posada to help us continue our mission to make God’s Providence visible to all those we serve.