“Shortly after I arrived in Cleveland from Colombia in 2003, I found myself in unfamiliar territory, new language, new culture, and no clear direction. But that changed when I connected with a local nonprofit organization called El Barrio. This organization was more than just a resource, it was a lifeline. They offered ESL classes that helped me be more confident in my language skills, begin my education at Tri-C and, more importantly, they believed in my potential.

Through their resume workshops and job fairs, I was introduced to real employment pathways, everyone I met at the time was wonderful and open to lend a hand. I considered both healthcare and banking workshops available at the time, but banking felt like a natural fit thanks to my early experience helping run my mom’s small business while growing up in Colombia. El Barrio gave me the tools and confidence to walk into my first job interview with a
national bank. Despite my limited English and lack of U.S. work experience, I was given a chance one that changed everything.

That first role as a part-time teller with the bank was the seed that
grew into a career I never could have imagined at the time. I moved up from teller to supervisor, then into branch leadership, and now serve as a Senior Private Banking Advisor with the Private Bank division of my current employer. El Barrio was the catalyst. They didn’t just help me find a job—they helped me find a future. And that’s the kind of impact community organizations can have when they see potential, not just need.”

 -Diana Gomez Shipman, former El Barrio Client