Meet Misel Soto, our 2022 Special Events Intern

Back in April, Misel Soto took a leap of faith and arrived at the Beaches Habitat for Humanity office with her resume. In need of an internship to complete her Bachelor’s degree, Misel hoped that Beaches Habitat would have an opportunity available. Our Development Director, Mary Anne, happened to be on the search for a Special Events intern, and, lucky for us, Misel was on board!

Misel is currently a senior at Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) working towards a B.A. in Human Services. Originally from Orlando, Misel and her dogs and cats, who she lovingly calls her “fur babies,” now call Jacksonville home. When she’s not studying or taking care of her fur babies, Misel loves to get out and soak in Vitamin D by hiking, going to the beach, and finding new trails.

When Misel was a child, her mother was a consistent volunteer for Habitat for Humanity. That influence helped Misel to understand the importance of volunteering and making a difference within her community from a young age. “If you have something to give, you should give it,” she says.

Misel has clearly taken that message to heart in her pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services. As part of the program, Misel needs 150 hours of field experience with a local agency. Considering her family history with Habitat for Humanity, an internship at Beaches Habitat seemed like a good fit. That’s how Misel found herself in our lobby in April, and we’ve been delighted to have her on the team as Special Events intern since.

As an intern, Misel’s primary responsibilities involve organizing, marketing, and promoting our annual fundraising event, Beach Bash. As one of our largest fundraisers, her efforts will help ensure that Beaches Habitat can continue to build affordable housing at the beach. In addition to the impact she’s making on our upcoming event, Misel also hopes to use her time with Beaches Habitat to establish connections and get involved locally. Most importantly, she wants to learn how to best connect individuals with the resources they need.

Misel’s personal motto is “keep going.” It speaks to her strength, resilience, and passion for enacting change. After her internship, she will take her own advice and keep going on the path of helping her community. With her Bachelor’s degree in hand, Misel hopes to continue making a difference in the non-profit industry.

We’re excited to have Misel as part of our Beaches Habitat family. We look forward to seeing her work come to life at Beach Bash on October 24th and beyond as she steps out into the broader world of non-profit work. Best wishes for your continued success, Misel!