What’s New with the Los Angeles Office?

October 19, 2016

Two more team members have joined The Mission Continues family in Los Angeles! We are pleased to welcome Emily Hummel and Nestor Ramirez, who will be greatly increasing the capacity for our Communications and Research and Evaluation teams, respectively. Both Emily and Nestor will help our organization on a national level — you’ll be able to see their hard work reflected in our social media, impact reporting, and improvements in our programs.

Where do you come from and what brings you to the Mission Continues?

 Emily: I was born in Los Angeles—technically in the San Fernando Valley, so I’m officially a Valley Girl! I’ve actually just come back to L.A. from the Washington D.C. area, where I’ve been for the last few years. I went to school in Pennsylvania, worked as a historical interpreter (and learned what a heat index was in Virginia!), got a Master’s in history, and most recently worked at KaBOOM!, a non-profit dedicated to bringing play back into the lives of kids. I’m thrilled to be back in Los Angeles and finding out what’s changed in my “hometown” since I’ve been away.

Nestor: I was born in Guadalajara, Mexico. I came to the US when I was three years old. I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles and have lived there ever since. My immigrant status motivates much of what I do, including joining the Army National Guard. I joined the Army National Guard in 2012 as an Army Cook and earned my Citizenship. In graduate school, I developed research skills around military and veteran issues. I feel my background gives me a unique perspective to work on veteran and military research.

What do you do at The Mission Continues?

Nestor: I work on the research team, evaluating the programs that The Mission Continues works with. Our team uses survey research to look at  the impact the programs have had on: veterans, partner organizations, and the community as a whole. We also provide support roles where we analyze participant engagement and provide recommendations for improving The Mission Continues programs based on statistical evidence.

Emily: I run our social media strategy, which means developing plans how to build a community around The Mission Continues. I’m lucky in that we already have a passionate fan base (if you will) so it’s been a pleasure getting to know people, and seeing what resonates with them! In a larger sense, though, my job is to help tell the story of the organization, from sharing best practices to opportunities to shining a light on our many amazing partners and the work that they do!

What’s your favorite part about working at TMC?

Emily & Nestor: We both started on the same day, so we have a pretty similar experience! We’ve been overwhelmed at how genuine and supportive everyone that we’ve worked with has been—we’re very spoiled! Working out of the L.A. office has been great as well—not only are we now the third-biggest office, but we have the most amazing Oaxacan place across the street, and they have a dish called taco de la tía, and it’s the stuff dreams are made of.

Report for duty in your community with The Mission Continues. Serve with a Service Platoon at an upcoming service event near you or apply for a fellowship. You can learn more about our programs on our website and stay updated on the latest news and announcements on Facebook and twitter.