Chamber Insider Blog

Thank you to Valerie Pisierra, Executive Director of Loudoun Cares, for being our spotlight for Jewish American Heritage Month this week!

Where were you born and raised, and if it was someplace else, when and why did you come to Loudoun?

I was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado and mostly raised in Tucson AZ. I landed in Loudoun in 2015 after living overseas for 16 years as a military wife.

Tell us about Loudoun Cares and how long you’ve been in your industry. 

Loudoun Cares is a nonprofit in Leesburg that serves Loudoun County. We are an umbrella organization that supports our nonprofits, county volunteers, and some of our most vulnerable residents. We serve the county through our two programs.

Our Volunteer Center portal is what I like to call the “match.com” of volunteering in Loudoun that matches those who want to help with the organizations that could use it! Our ConnectLine serves our residents in need of health and human services. We help to connect them with local programs and agencies that can help meet basic needs like food, clothing, and job services.

Since the beginning of COVID, we have been one of the major distributors of financial assistance in the county. To date, we have been able to distribute and secure over $2.5 million in rent and utility assistance. We could not have done all of this without the collaborative spirit of our nonprofits and our Faith Network.

How did you get into this line of work?

As a military spouse living overseas, volunteering was one way I kept my foot in the business world. I can’t begin to tell you all the jobs I have done from handing out cheese to working for two major airlines. But it was the volunteer work that spoke to my heart.

Helping people find what they need. This was the work that let me be a part of leadership for many nonprofits as I made my way to Loudoun. After coming to Loudoun I began working with Loudoun Cares as a part-time program coordinator. One thing led to another and in 2017 I was named Executive Director. What an amazing journey it has been and with the help of our board of directors we are thriving and helping folks in ways we never imagined.

Have you had any special mentors or inspirations that guided your career?

That is hard to say. Without hesitating I would say my mother and father but I find inspiration and mentors everywhere I go. Everyone has a story. Everyone has ways they have faced challenges and come out the other side. It is those stories that truly inspire me. Many of my mentors are on my board of directors. Their dedication to our mission and talent is why we are where we are today. It takes a village and a board of directors to help our community. It is such an important part of a nonprofit and the impact it can truly make.

What is the best part of your job and why?

Hands down when we scramble to help a family that is struggling. Getting them connected to the resources they need to stabilize their situation. Looking at them and knowing they are going to be ok. That is the best feeling in the world when I get notes from them telling me how well they are doing and the impact we have had on their lives. Second, is getting to get to know our nonprofits and their great work. I still love volunteering and try to get out and lend a hand when I can.

What is it like doing business in Loudoun/Northern Virginia?

I love it. I love that we have so many small businesses, it really is what makes our County so special. Many are home grown and that means they also want to see their community thrive. They are the best to work with they understand that although many see us as the richest country in the nation, we still have needs, we still have families suffering, and we still need to come together as a community to support them.

What does Jewish Heritage Month mean to you?

This month reminds me of my time growing up. Although we were raised Jewish, my mother was Christian. Our family learned about what it meant to be Jewish while also understanding that everyone has different beliefs. It also reminds me of all that has happened and is happening in the world. I have always been of the philosophy that we can respect others’ beliefs without violence. It pains my heart when that isn’t accomplished. These are worldwide long-standing issues and nothing I can say will change all of that. But it does give me pause and allows me the space to remember and reflect on events. My parents instilled in me the concept of family whether that is by blood, choice, or circumstance. They also taught me that education should be something we seek every day, not just through school. These are the things I think about.