With the growing demand and increased need in our community because of the pandemic, VEAP is pleased to introduce two new staff members to our team. We’re happy to welcome them to our on-site facility and are excited for them to lean into the important work we’re advancing in our local community. Meet them below!
Candy Nava is VEAP’s new Bilingual Participant Services Coordinator (Spanish-English) and started with us in October of 2020. At VEAP, Candy will serve as the consistent staff presence for VEAP program participants and on-site intake volunteers. She will collaborate across departments to build a warm and welcoming environment as people arrive at VEAP’s facility to access our food, housing and social services programs. Prior to VEAP, Candy was in the financial world working for a credit union but always held a passion for human services. She has seen the impact VEAP has made in the community, both personally and professionally, and has wanted to be a part of an organization that makes a difference. Candy currently attends Metropolitan State University and is working toward her degree in human services. She is a creative soul and enjoys arts and crafts, learning how to play the guitar on her own, and caring for her young son and new puppy.
Maggie Madsen is VEAP's new Administrative Clerk and joined us in the summer of 2020. She plays a key role in ensuring VEAP is able to effectively process rental assistance grants, working with our Social Services and Finance team to collect documentation and issue funding to our participants. Maggie recently graduated from the University of Minnesota and holds degrees in Mass Communication and Global Studies with a focus on Human Rights and Social Justice. She has previously worked at the Center for Victims of Torture and the Asociación Rumiñahui, a migrant rights nonprofit based in Spain. Maggie says we have all collectively experienced a life-altering global pandemic, and being in a position where she is able to aid in making someone’s life a little easier is exactly why she wanted to work at VEAP. Maggie's secret talent is plant identification: she can name over 150 different edible plants in the wild and is wilderness first responder trained. She is also a certified rock-climbing instructor!
Welcome aboard new staff!
