Employee Spotlight Celinda Joe
My name is Celinda Joe. I’m originally from New Mexico near the Four Corners area. I was born in Shiprock and grew up on the Navajo reservation. I am from a mixed background but mostly identify with my Native culture. My mother is Navajo, Hopi and Tewa and my father is Scott-Irish and Jewish. My parents were school teachers and are both fluent Navajo speakers. My mother was not only a teacher but a potter. She taught my two sisters and myself to make traditional Navajo pottery. I paid my way through college by making/selling pottery and receiving tribal scholarships. I graduated from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s and returned to New Mexico. There, I married and had three fabulous children. 10 years ago I became a single mother and entered the workforce as a social worker. I worked with Child Protective Services worker in the Yavapai-Apache Nation in Camp Verde. Later, I moved to the Valley and began working in the Gila River Indian Community as a child and family social worker. I transferred to Gila River Health Care and served five years at The Caring House, a skilled nursing facility assisting residents and
families with chronic, acute or terminal illnesses. I have a passion to work with Native seniors and was excited to learn of this position with Senior Services. In late October, I started as the Health & Wellness Program Manager, a new program that I am excited about. I want to promote health and wellness by targeting health-related issues such as preventing COVID-19 and diabetes and making healthier choices. I have been enjoying getting to know many of you and getting ideas that will make this program the most beneficial for you. When I am not at work or with my kids, my hobbies include hiking, swimming, gardening, exercising, cooking and interior decorating. I attempt to complete my daily Cross Fit workouts at 5:30 a.m. I have become versed in meditation and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Tapping which is a form of body-centered therapy. I enjoy meditation, tapping and prayer after my workouts.
SRPMIC SENIOR SERVICES
5
