By Kim Mailes
If you want to see the future of the American Red Cross, take a look at Julio Arroyo. Just22-years-old, he already has several disaster deployments under his belt, and he is currentlyassigned to the California wildfire disaster relief operation as a shelter associate at the RedCross emergency center in Cameron Park, CA.
Residents of that shelter have been forced from their homes by the Caldor wildfire inthe Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento. A volunteer, Julio is committed to a two-weekassignment and is working 12-hour days to keep the operation running smoothly.
But it’s not all work and no play. When fellow volunteers went looking for him the otherday, they found him playing soccer with Spanish speaking children who discovered—to theirdelight—that he speaks their language. Julio just has a way of connecting with people.
During his brief but busy Red Cross career, he served in New Orleans after HurricanesLaura and Delta, and in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, after extensive flooding there.
Because he speaks Spanish, Julio also deployed to sheltering operations in Dallas and ElPaso for unaccompanied immigrant minors. Those experiences were especially rewarding,because the children saw him as a safe and comforting presence in the midst of uncertainty.
Julio is also part of the Missouri-Arkansas Region Disaster Action Team. DAT teams arerapid responders to house fires in their local area, providing temporary lodging and emergencyfunding to families driven from their homes in times of emergency.
When interviewed for this story while serving in California, Julio was late for the fallsemester back home at the university. But all of his classes are online except one, and he has aspecial agreement with the instructor about that one.
“When I explained my work with the Red Cross, the professor said I’d learn more aboutemergency management by actually doing the work than I would in the classroom. He said wecan work it all out when I get back.”
Julio’s career goal is to become a professional emergency manager, either with the RedCross or with FEMA. That dream is what motivated him to begin volunteering during hisfreshman year of college.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always wanted to be an emergency manager. When Ifound out about the Red Cross and the training they offer, it seemed like the perfect way to putlessons I learn in the classroom into action.”
Because retirees typically make up a good portion of the Red Cross volunteer workforce,it’s especially satisfying to see such a young man get so involved. He brings a fresh, youthfulpresence that appeals to both his fellow volunteers and to those they serve.
And if Julio Arroyo is any indication of what the future of the Red Cross looks like, theorganization is in good hands.