Emily Martinez: Working, Helping Others, Praying
Emily Martinez, community services director for the Mahoning County Board of Developmental Disabilities, and her two sons are hanging tough. You can learn more about MCBDD at its website.
What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has changed your work life?
COVID-19 has drastically changed the way I do my daily work. First, MCBDD service coordinators are working from home. We have learned to use new virtual tools to stay connected. My work life has also been filled with lots of unexpected emergencies. My department has been amazing and I am so proud of each and every one of my staff. They are handling crises, helping people get food, helping providers find staff to fill shifts and checking on everyone we serve. It is a monumental task, but we are up to the challenge and are blessed we can help so many people in our community.
How about your personal life?
Great question! My personal life has drastically changed. I have two young boys that attend Austintown Local Schools. They are home schooling now. I work 10- to 12-hour days, so ensuring they get all their school work done has been a huge task. However, my husband and I are working together as a team to get it all done. A lot of days my boys are doing school work in the evening after my work is over. One thing my whole family misses is our soccer routine. My older son is used to soccer every day. We have went from a routine where we are running non-stop to a more slow pace. We also miss going to church weekly. We have used this time to focus on helping others. We have a new routine where we check on others that may be alone every day. We are calling people every day. Those we call really appreciate it and love talking to my boys who tell silly knock knock jokes and do a lot of giggling!
What steps are you taking to hang tough?
Another great question! I am staying tough through a lot of prayer. I also try to find time every day to walk my dog for a few minutes by myself. I find my evenings watching the news becoming so emotional. It reminds me to be thankful for what I have and to help others around me who need help. I am also inspired by the great stories we see every day of people helping others. Recently, we had a crisis situation in a family home and I saw my staff jump into action and go to someone’s house at midnight to make sure they were okay. These kinds of stories give me strength.
What advice are you sharing with the people you love?
I tell my kids every day to be thankful for what we have. We also take time every day to call and check on people and that has really helped us. We will all get through this, if we do it together.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would also like to add that I am so impressed with our local schools (ours is Austintown), they are doing an amazing job of making sure our students keep learning!