Conversations with Josie Casarrubias

Today we’d like to introduce you to Josie Casarrubias.

Hi Josie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey has been shaped by perseverance, resilience, and a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of others. I came from a broken home and experienced many challenges early in life. I was also a victim of domestic violence—an experience that deeply impacted my life but ultimately strengthened my determination to create a different future for myself and my family.

Those experiences taught me compassion, resilience, and the importance of never giving up. They also gave me a greater understanding of the challenges many individuals and families face when they are navigating difficult circumstances and searching for a new beginning.

Personally, I am proud to be a wife, mother of five, and grandmother. My family is one of my greatest sources of joy and motivation. My faith has also played an important role in my journey, providing me with strength and grounding through both difficult and rewarding seasons of life.

Professionally, my career began with a passion for helping and caring for others. I spent many years working in healthcare and health education before transitioning into the nonprofit sector. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of serving families experiencing homelessness, survivors of domestic violence, and individuals facing some of life’s most difficult challenges.

Today, I am honored to serve as the Director of Rescue Mission Alliance San Fernando Valley. I am especially proud to be the first female Director in the history of the Rescue Mission Alliance in the San Fernando Valley. This role allows me to bring together my professional experience, personal journey, and passion for serving others to create meaningful change in the community.

As a leader, I understand that behind every circumstance is a person with a story, and sometimes all someone needs is an opportunity, support, and hope to begin again.

When I look back at where I started and where I am today, I am reminded that our beginnings do not have to determine our future. My journey has taught me that even through adversity, it is possible to heal, grow, and build a life filled with purpose. Through determination, hard work, faith, and the support of others, I have learned that some of our greatest challenges can eventually become part of the strength we use to help others.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey has not been smooth. and the struggles have been many:
Growing up in a broken home, which created challenges and instability during my early years.
Experiencing domestic violence and finding the strength to heal and build a different life for myself and my family.
Breaking cycles and creating a different future, despite the circumstances and challenges I experienced.
Balancing family and professional responsibilities as a wife, mother of five, and now a grandmother while building my career.
Navigating different career paths, from healthcare and health education into nonprofit leadership.
Stepping into leadership in a demanding field, serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness, trauma, and crisis.
Being a woman in leadership, ultimately becoming the first female Director of Rescue Mission Alliance San Fernando Valley.
Carrying the weight of responsibility for an entire mission, including staff, families, fundraising, community relationships, and the ongoing needs of the organization.
Overcoming self-doubt and personal challenges that can naturally come when stepping into increasingly significant leadership roles.
Learning to transform my pain into purpose, allowing my life experiences to give me greater compassion and understanding for those I now serve.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a nonprofit leader and community advocate with a passion for helping individuals and families overcome difficult circumstances and rebuild their lives. My professional background includes more than 25 years of experience spanning healthcare, health education, nonprofit services, and community leadership.

Today, I serve as the Director of Rescue Mission Alliance San Fernando Valley, where I oversee programs and services that support families experiencing homelessness and individuals working toward life recovery and stability. I specialize in compassionate leadership, program development, community engagement, relationship building, and connecting people and resources to meet critical needs.

What makes my work especially meaningful is that my passion for serving others is deeply connected to my own life experiences. I came from a broken home and was a victim of domestic violence. Those experiences gave me a personal understanding of adversity, but they also taught me resilience and the importance of having someone believe in you when life becomes difficult. My faith has also been an important part of my journey, providing strength and perspective along the way.

I am proud to be the first female Director of Rescue Mission Alliance San Fernando Valley. I do not take that responsibility lightly. I am especially proud of the opportunity to lead an organization that provides hope, safety, and new opportunities to individuals and families during some of the most challenging seasons of their lives.

My work and commitment to the community have also been recognized through several honors, including the SIBBIES Award, being named a Pioneer Woman of Homeless Services in the San Fernando Valley by my City Councilmember, and most recently being honored as the 2026 Inspirational Woman of the Year. While I am grateful for these recognitions, I see them less as personal accomplishments and more as a reflection of the incredible people, families, staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners I have had the privilege of working alongside.

I believe what sets me apart is my ability to combine professional experience with genuine compassion and a personal understanding of the struggles many people face. I lead with both accountability and empathy. I am not afraid to step into difficult situations, have challenging conversations, or work alongside my team to find solutions.

Most importantly, I am proud that my journey demonstrates that our past does not have to determine our future. I have learned to transform adversity into purpose, and I strive to use my experiences, leadership, and voice to create opportunities for others to believe in themselves and build a better future.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Over the next five to ten years, I believe the nonprofit and human services sector will experience significant changes. The need for services will continue to grow, particularly as communities face increasing homelessness, housing costs, mental health challenges, and economic uncertainty.

I believe there will be a greater emphasis on prevention rather than simply responding to a crisis. Organizations will need to focus more on helping individuals and families before they lose their housing or reach a point of complete instability.

Another major shift will be the need for stronger collaboration. No single organization can solve these complex issues alone. I believe nonprofits, businesses, healthcare providers, churches, government agencies, and community leaders will need to work together more intentionally to create long-term solutions.

I also believe donors and supporters will increasingly want to see measurable impact. It will no longer be enough to simply provide a service; organizations will need to demonstrate how their programs are creating lasting change in people’s lives.

Technology will also play a larger role in how we connect people with resources, communicate with supporters, manage services, and measure outcomes. However, I believe one thing should never change: the importance of human connection. Technology can help us become more efficient, but it cannot replace the compassion, relationships, and personal support that people need when they are experiencing a crisis.

For organizations like ours, I believe the future will require us to become more innovative, collaborative, and proactive. The challenges may become more complex, but I also believe there is an incredible opportunity to rethink how we serve our communities.

My hope is that over the next decade, we will move beyond simply managing homelessness and other social challenges and become more focused on helping people achieve long-term stability, independence, and a genuine opportunity for a new beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sfvrescuemission.org
• Instagram: josie.casarrubias