Ms. Claudia and Ms. Emely

Claudia Velasquez, a long-standing JCC Early Childhood Education (ECE) teacher, first heard about the JCC through a previous coworker who had nothing but positive remarks about the center. She followed this colleague and was eager to enter this new chapter of her life. Claudia could never have predicted that her life would change for the better. Fifteen years later, she remains a highly valued member of the JCC staff and community.

Claudia’s reason for teaching is simple: “I love kids. I love what I do.” Claudia has remained at the JCC because of the community’s supportive and comforting nature, and has loved it so much that her four children attended JCC programs when they were younger, “Not only did [the JCC] support me with my job, but all my life as well. I’m so grateful that I found them in my hard times. For me, the J isn’t just a job, it’s my home,” Claudia recalled. Claudia is especially grateful that now she gets to work with one of her four children, Emely, as well as her grandson, Erick.

Emely Chacon, Claudia’s daughter, was inspired by her mother’s career path, which ultimately led to her employment at the JCC. Emely came to teach at the JCC because she yearned for their welcoming environment. “I came into teaching because of my mom. I went into an art major, and then I always fell back into teaching because I just like the feeling of it.” Working at the JCC is a dream come true for Emely because the center is her happy place. She adores the ECE children and is appreciative of being closer to her two-year-old son, Erick, “Having Erick here makes it ten times better. Just having him around and knowing that I can check on him or check Remini [the ECE parent app] and see, oh, he did this today, or he ate this today, gives me peace of mind.”

Claudia and Emely both appreciate the JCC’s big campus. While transitioning to different activities, they love watching the staff members interact with the children, which always puts smiles on their faces. “My favorite thing is taking the kids on a walk, in the summer or whatever weather, and we say hi to people and they wave back. I think that’s so cute,” Emely said. Claudia feels the JCC provides a space for children that “lets their imagination go up and above. Not just sitting down and dictating but actually playing and learning at the same time. You’ve got a lot of freedom with that.”

If Claudia could sum up the JCC in one phrase, it would be “a very loving atmosphere.” And Emely loves that she’s been at the JCC for virtually every milestone in her life, from a summer as a CampJCC counselor-in-training to parenting, and is able to work closely with family and friends. “It’s so good that we can all support each other,” she said.