Cynthia Velasquez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She received her master’s in Social Work from Loyola University in 2017. She received her B.A. in Pastoral Ministry from Dominican University. She is a first-generation Latina, who is the first in her family to receive a post-graduate degree. She began working at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls in 2014 after completing two-years of service. She worked as a Youth Care Worker on the West Loop campus for three years. Then transitioned to AfterCare, now called Community Care, where she helps connect members to the program and obtain therapeutic supports. She uses strength-base and trauma-informed approach in her work. She is trained in the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT). Cynthia is passionate about supporting and empowering the members through creative ideas.