May We Introduce You?
Daniel Garcia joined Dorothy Day House in 2021 as a monitor at our Horizon Transitional Village during its’ first six months of operation. He now serves as our Berkeley Emergency Storm Shelter Program Coordinator. Prior to joining Dorothy Day House, he worked as a bartender.
Garcia, a Bay Area native who currently holds a certification from Berkeley City College for Public and Human services, credits his interest in working in the Human Services field to his upbringing.
“At a young age, my parents taught me compassion, empathy, respect, patience and understanding. It was clear growing up in the Bay that there was a homelessness crisis. I remember as a kid my mom used to bring my sister and I around San Francisco to hand out lunches to our unhoused neighbors,” said Daniel, “Experiences like that made me much more aware of the need that is out there, which turned into a genuine want and need to help others.”
As BESS Coordinator, Daniel interacts with all residents on a regular basis, and has been able to see their progress firsthand.
“My proudest moments as a coordinator are the nonverbal cues from the people we help. You can tell by the smiles on their faces that our guests feel safe and genuinely cared for - I am honored to be a part of that.”
When Daniel is not managing our BESS location, he can be found outdoors hiking with his dog Rolo, playing guitar, and making music with friends.