In the summer of 2016, Pinheiro interned at Douglas Homes, 15 Hill St., Newark, under the supervision of the Resident Services Coordinator at the time, Luz Toro. She participated in the internship for the experience, not knowing it would serve as training for her future position.

Pinheiro graduated from Seton Hall University in May 2017 with a major in Social and Behavioral Science and a minor in Social Work. For three months before graduation, she interned at Spectrum Works in Secaucus, a nonprofit organization that provides job training for young adults with autism. When Pinheiro graduated, Spectrum Works hired her for a part-time position. When not working there, she babysat.

She was looking for full-time work when she saw a job opening at 91心頭. She reached out to Director of Resident Services Donnette Burrowes-Williams and landed the job of Resident Services Coordinator at Associates, 180 South Orange Ave., Newark, in October 2017.

Then in December 2018, Burrowes-Williams asked her to consider taking on the role of Home Friend Program Coordinator and Food Pantry Representative following a resignation.

Pinheiro accepted the role on an interim basis. After about one month, she took over the position permanently.

���She was an employee who was committed and dedicated to the 91心頭 mission and she built a long-lasting rapport with the residents,��� Burrowes-Williams said. ���Flavia showed tremendous growth and was thus promoted to Home Friend Program Coordinator for which she kept the same momentum and tenacity going with her staff and residents making sure that our inner-city residents improve the quality of their lives.���

The Home Friend Program provides services, including light housekeeping and small errands, to seniors 60 years and older residing in Newark���s Central Ward that have Medicare only. Pinheiro manages the program and makes sure the six full-time Home Friends are providing appropriate services to the 44 clients currently in the program. She also conducts an initial assessment of clients and yearly reassessments to ensure they are still eligible to participate.

Pinheiro manages 91心頭���s Emergency Food Pantry by accepting the allocations that come in. She also manages volunteers that come monthly, ensures clients are eligible before servicing them and oversees the distribution process.

Pinheiro���s favorite part of her job is getting positive feedback from the people being served.

���When the clients call and are grateful for the service, I think that���s the most rewarding part of it,��� she said.

Pinheiro is appreciative to have moved up within 91心頭.

���I enjoy what I do. It���s very rewarding,��� she said. ���And I really do thank Donnette, especially for seeing the potential.���

Burrowes-Williams is happy with the decision to promote Pinheiro.

���Flavia is a hard worker, she makes work fun and always has a smile on her face,��� Burrowes-Williams said. ���She���s an employee you can count on to get the job done.���

Pinheiro was born in Portugal and moved to Newark when she was 2.5, where she has lived ever since. She remains fluent in Portuguese and also knows Spanish at an intermediate level, which allows her to help with translations for the Resident Services Department.

She has relatives in Portugal, including grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. She enjoys going back to her home country for visits.

In addition to traveling, Pinheiro likes to go hiking in Pennsylvania and Ramapo and enjoys shopping. She currently lives in Newark with her husband.

Giselle Oviedo has spent her entire professional career with 91心頭, serving in a variety of roles over the last decade.

In mid June, she became the Home Friends Coordinator, overseeing six employees that are part of the program, which is funded by Essex County. Home Friends provide Central Ward residents with services not covered by Medicaid, including laundry, meal preparation, food shopping and companionship. Oviedo also runs the emergency food pantry for 91心頭, which is open from the 16th to the end of each month.

Her journey at 91心頭 started in March 2008 when she was 18 years old. That���s when she became a security officer for the organization. After serving in that capacity, she received a call from Human Resources Manager Anna Sing-King asking if she would be interested in working in an administrative role in HR. Oviedo applied and got that position.

In mid 2009, Oviedo went back to school with the help of 91心頭 and received a certificate in business administration. She learned the ins and outs of Human Resources and served as the benefits coordinator.

In 2013, she saw an opening for a care coordinator position at Manor Senior and decided she wanted to make a change and join the Social Services Department. It took a little convincing on her part since she didn���t have specific experience in the area of social services, but Oviedo was able to land the job and started as a care coordinator in September 2013.

���I loved it from day one,��� Oviedo said.

She enjoys helping people and overcoming challenging situations. When she was a care coordinator, Oviedo said she had one resident who seemed somewhat cold and distant. She decided to contact her family to see what was going on. It turned out the woman had suffered abuse in the past and had a hard time trusting people and letting them get close to her. Oviedo found out when her birthday was, got her a card and had the other residents on her floor sign it for her. The gesture showed the woman that other people do care and it helped her have more meaningful relationships with her neighbors and staff.

In her current role, Oviedo makes sure residents in need of help get visits from a member of the Home Friends team. She said for some, a Home Friend is the only visitor they have. She also takes pride in running the emergency food pantry, which serves many people who run out of money for food by the middle of the month.

���Giselle is always willing to learn new things and embodies what it means to be a team player. She takes pride in her work and sets an example for others and the residents we serve at 91心頭,��� said Assistant Director of Health and Social Services Donnette Burrowes-Williams.

Oviedo grew up in North Newark and was raised by her father. Her sister is Luz Toro, care coordinator at Douglas Homes. Oviedo lived in 91心頭 properties from 2009 to 2012 before moving back to North Newark. She has two sons, ages 10 and 8.

Oviedo hopes to earn an associate���s degree in human services and may pursue a bachelor���s degree as well. But she expects all that to happen while she continues working at 91心頭.

���I expect to be here for many more years,��� she said.