April 27, 2018

Our volunteer Advocates do a whole lot, and we are thankful for each and every one of them. In honor of Volunteer Appreciation Week, which happened recently, we would like to shine a spotlight on two truly exceptional MCRCC Advocates.

Meet Stephanie Wisler (pictured left) - Advocate since November 2016

(MCRCC) Tell us about yourself:

(Stephanie) I grew up in Corralitos, near Watsonville, and graduated from Aptos High. I graduated from CSU, Chico with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice. I worked with the Monterey County Probation Department for 6 years as a Deputy Probation Officer in the Juvenile Division. During that time, I had many influential experiences that formed my response to trauma that everyone, and specifically children endure, while being in the criminal justice system. Ultimately, I left that position as I knew it was not the right long-term position for me. I’ve also obtained a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University at the Monterey Campus. For the last 4 years, I’ve been a Staff Accountant at a firm in Carmel and continue my education in accounting, fraud, taxation, and forensic analysis. I’ve been an advocate with MCRCC since November 2016, and I continue to be proud of that while trying to educate the public on sexual assault, its impact and resources available through MCRCC.

I became an advocate because I wanted to help people going through, possibly, the worst day of their life, and for them to know that there is help and resources out there for them. But mostly, because I believe them and that is the most important thing sometimes.

(MCRCC) From all the activities you have done as an Advocate, which are you most enthusiastic about and why?

(Stephanie) I’m really enthusiastic about being included on the advocate panel during training. We all have different experiences and I still continue to learn new techniques and have my view broadened by other advocates’ experiences. I also hope the incoming advocates learn and appreciate our experiences that hopefully help them. I also really enjoy the monthly advocate meetings. I get to connect to new and old advocates, meet staff, and just be with like-minded people.

(MCRCC) How have you changed as a person as a result of volunteering?

(Stephanie) I really feel that I have changed as a person since I’ve become an advocate. I’ve always prided myself on being informed, intelligent, and non-prejudiced. Being an advocate allows me to check all my prior life experiences at the door and literally be in the moment with the survivor (or their significant others) when they’ve called the crisis line or I’ve responded to a SART. At face value, I’m much more likely to believe someone when they tell me something. It’s not my job to judge them but it’s my role to believe them and advocate for their needs.
 

Meet Janet Milan (pictured right) - Advocate since April 2016

(MCRCC) Tell us about yourself:

(Janet) I originally come from Arizona and moved to Salinas during my high school years.  I graduated from Heald College with a degree in Business Administration and worked in the insurance industry a long period of time before working in the ag industry for Pacific Ag Rentals managing work related injuries and administration of benefit insurance coverage.  I love self-help anything (books, audio, etc.), enjoy working out on a regular basis, huge fan of scary movies, and actively pursuing a career in law enforcement to serve the community at the highest level possible. I strongly believe the community can overcome many obstacles by working together and I want to take a bigger part in making that happen.

(MCRCC) From all the activities you have done as an Advocate, which are you most enthusiastic about and why?

(Janet) I am most enthusiastic about the ability to participate with the SART accompaniments because it allows me an opportunity to personally encourage and support a survivor during a very difficult time in their life while also providing them with information on valuable resources accessible to them.  The SART call-out team consisting of a forensic medical examiner, police officer, and volunteer is a great depiction of a community working together towards one common goal and I am very proud to be a part of it.

(MCRCC) How have you changed as a person as a result of volunteering?

(Janet) As a result of volunteering, I am now known by friends and family as the “go-to” person for sexual assault programs and resources.  It has taught me to be a silent listener even when I thought it’d be impossible...this was the one thing that made me say “oh, oh” during training.  When you see the survivor smile at that moment of darkness after telling them you are volunteering for them, it gives you such a wonderful feeling. Our county is very fortunate to have an incredible program that is run by an amazing group of people.     

For more information on becoming a volunteer Advocate with MCRCC, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page.