Clara McCurdy-Kirlis: Finding the Why

When I think of great teachers, I think of Lourdes Vázquez. 

Lourdes is passionate about substance abuse prevention. When I joined EDC, her passion and care for the communities she serves drew me in, and I soon became interested in a field that I had previously known little about. Lourdes sought connectedness in her interactions. She saw the humanity in every person, no matter what they were struggling with. She asked why with authenticity and curiosity. Watching Lourdes, I became inspired to commit myself to substance misuse prevention and suicide prevention, and I continue to work in public health today. 

Lourdes has also been a personal mentor. She taught me to always think about the why of what I was doing. At times, this has been a struggle. Life offers many distractions, and it’s easy to overlook the why. But it was because of her support that I was able to find balance between work and life after the birth of my first child. She helped me figure out how I could apply my skills while working remotely. This allowed me to continue to work in a field I cared about while moving closer to my family. 

A great mentor can have an impact on your life and career. Thank you, Lourdes for doing both.