Today we’d like to introduce you to Vennisa Gerberg.
Hi Vennisa , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a former foster child adopted at the age of 6. I later became a relative foster parent to 2 of my sisters 4 children. While fostering, I volunteered a lot at my local church, running food pantries, youth ministry, carnivals, and at my children’s schools. I learned a lot of skills through my volunteerism. I was not working because the cost of putting our children into daycare was not worth it, which is why I volunteered so much.
I was invited to apply to an Asst. Director position at a local nonprofit focused on recruiting people to consider becoming foster parents while also finding volunteer opportunities for those who were not ready to make that leap just yet. I felt like the most unqualified person for that role, but a friend recommended me, and they took a chance on me. After 5 years, I was ready to explore leadership at the next level and found myself being invited to apply for the Executive Director role at With Love Oregon. Again, it felt like a big leap; however, I am not one to run away from an opportunity to grow my skills and challenge myself.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Most definitely, it has not been a smooth road. At the age of 13, my sister and I told our adoptive parents (after visiting my family for my biological father’s funeral) that we wanted to live with our “real family”…they said yes. Within a few short weeks, we were packing up our belongings and moved from Portland, Oregon, to San Jose, California, to live with an aunt, uncle, and cousins.
We moved from a fairly stable environment with rules, expectations, friends we’d been with since kindergarten, sports, and activities to a completely different environment. While we were somewhat happy to now be with cousins, grandparents, near siblings, and our biological mother, it was a very chaotic environment, and we soon found ourselves really falling behind in school. I moved out at 16, soon found myself in a relationship that turned physically abusive, and spent nearly 5 years (and 2 kids later) trying to get out of it.
I was able to finally leave my abuser and moved back to Oregon with my adoptive parents to restart my life.
When I became a foster parent to my sister’s children, it changed the relationship I had with my niece and nephew. While they were only 2 and 3 years old, I no longer got to be fun auntie and had to parent them. We had them for a year before returning them to my siters. That’s when we began fostering other children and years later, my niece nand nephew came back into foster care. After a few short years, we obtained guardianship of them.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am now the Executive Director of With Love Oregon. My focus is on leading an incredible team that ensures children entering foster care, who often come with nothing but the clothes on their backs, have the tangible support they need (i.e., clothing, hygiene, baby gear, toys, shoes, etc.). Through my personal lived experience, I can connect with our donors and invite them to join our mission and directly impact children between the ages of 0-6 through With Love Oregon.
I am proud to be in a career furthering a mission so meaningful to me and my family. As a Hispanic woman who has been directly touched by the foster care system, whose welcomed many children over 14 years, I believe I come with a unique sense of commitment and understanding of what our families and children are navigating. I try to bring this to my team as they show up.
Additionally, because domestic violence is one of the top reasons children come into care, I have an understanding and compassion towards biological parents navigating such difficult situations. I would not be where I am today if not for some people very dear to me, willing to walk with me through the hard times. I believe people deserve the chance to parent their children if they are willing to put in the hard work of healing and prioritizing their children. That doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s extremely hard to do on your own.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.withloveoregon.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/withloveoregon/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WithLoveOregon/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@withloveoregon8024
