Meet Miriam Pacheco (she/her), Referral Specialist and Counselor at The Rowan Center!
Describe your role at The Rowan Center
My role is to assist clients by connecting them to services that they would like to participate in, such as ongoing therapy or programs that have to do with basic needs: insurance, food stamps, etc. I handle any referrals, including ones around lunch programs and camps for children. My job is to connect them. And once they’re connected, I hope it’s a warm handoff and they’ll continue with the services.
The thing that most people are looking for is counseling. Beyond that, housing is also drastically needed. People need a safe person to talk to, and they need a safe place between what they’ve lost and where they will land. They need a place to work on their income so they can move forward.
What initially drew you to The Rowan Center?
I started July 1! I learned about the position and was already interested in working with survivors of sexual assault. Previously, I spent over 30 years working at our local men’s shelter, so I’ve always worked with clients in various situations. I made the switch because I wanted to focus on working with survivors of sexual violence.
At the men’s shelter, I had various roles. I was a tenant advocate, and I was the housing coordinator. Prior to that, I worked as the mental health coordinator. And before then a comprehensive case manager.
Can you share something people might not know about The Rowan Center?
Something I’ve learned in just a few weeks is the strength and tenacity of those that are calling in. Coming from a nonprofit, I understand agencies and know that there are systems in place to help. But when you have the opportunity to work with a survivor, you realize they have a lot of strength—they already have the answers within themselves. You’re helping them to uncover things instead of handing them the answers.
What do you wish the community knew about The Rowan Center?
I wish people knew The Rowan Center exists—and that it does so many wonderful things in the community. I didn’t even know before I came here. Then I started reading pamphlets and looking at the website, and that’s when I learned about all the services we offer.
Other things I wish people knew: help is available. You can begin the work. And of course, how kind everyone is—not just to clients, but to each other. The Rowan Center is a safe place.
What makes The Rowan Center special?
I’ve never met people who were so genuinely kind. So many workplaces act like you’re just building a table: You build it and move on. After a while, even great services seem like pushing out a product.
But at The Rowan Center, we have an atmosphere of camaraderie in a gentler and kinder way. Everyone is on the same page. When you have that atmosphere, when the clients come, they can’t help but be on the same page, too. The Rowan Center has built a safe haven for them. That’s a huge difference. We all come together for the same purpose, and that’s the people coming through those doors.
Lightning round questions
Do you have any hobbies?
My biggest love is sitting on the Equity Task Force. I am a huge promoter of equity. In my last position, I was able to create an equity committee with staff. I do projects like that, collaborations in my neighborhood. I want to leave a legacy and make things better.
I’m also part of the John Maxwell Life Coaching team. I pour into people and help them see their significance. Letting them know that their significance is an important part of our world is like a butterfly. The wings flap and air moves around them. As we move through, we add significance to someone else, and that person adds significance, too. In coaching, people get to the “aha!” moment. It primes the pump and they start moving forward.
Where should people eat, what should people do, or where should people go if they visit your community?
They should go to Little Summer Street—that’s what we call it—where all the eateries and the movie theater are. You should definitely go down there. There is a diner that looks like a train called Curly’s; their food is fantastic, the atmosphere is great, and you get a really good sense of Stamford. It’s a staple, it’s been here forever. I would suggest also hanging out on Bedford Street. It’s a great place to shop and another great place to eat. Get there around 3:00, because by 5:00 all the parking is taken. It’s packed out and it’s great. Just hang out down there, enjoy sitting outside, and get ice cream and cookies.
What is something that you are learning or very curious about?
I really want to work with residents to bring equity into Stamford. The residents are stakeholders and they don’t have enough voice. I want to create an equity day—kind of like the farmer’s market. Stamford’s Equity Day, would bring in speakers and dancers and be like an old-fashioned fair. We would shut down Bedford or Summer Street and have a good time. Everybody shows up and just hangs out. That would take some doing but would be so fun.