Her Story
About Sonia
Sonia Camargo is a case management, community support, social services, reentry support, sociology, interdisciplinary studies, student leadership, advocacy, and program coordination professional with experience supporting individuals through service-based case work. She currently serves as Case Manager at Restoring Citizens. In this role, she assists individuals in re-entry by helping them obtain housing, employment, and basic identification documents such as IDs and birth certificates. Sonia brings personal insight to her work, having been previously incarcerated herself. Her academic background includes two degrees from Southwestern College in business and sociology, along with a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies from San Diego State University, which she is completing. During her time at Southwestern College, she served as ASL president, proposed a safe parking initiative for homeless students, and arranged for Dolores Huerta to speak on campus. She is a recipient of the San Diego Police Department Community Service Award for her work supporting re-entry populations and maintains active involvement with the Restoring Citizens nonprofit. Sonia is also a member of COLEGAS, an organization for Hispanic professionals in education.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sonia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would definitely have to say the president, the vice president of Southwestern College. Both vice presidents and the president. And then my old boss at Restoring Citizens. When I began there, I was just a woman who had been out of prison for a while, but was still somewhat of a thug, I guess you could say. And they got me, once I became president, to change and blossom as a woman, you know, as a professional. And they accepted me for how I was, and they didn't judge me, but they taught me how to speak properly. And my old boss of Restoring Citizens, well, he just had faith in me, and that faith entrusted me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
There was a time when I first started in this position, where I wasn't doing so well personally. And they had told me that I couldn't help anybody until I got my own house in order. I think it was the best advice that I had gotten, because it was true. You know, I was having a really hard time, and once I got everything right and straight, I started to blossom at work, even more than I already had.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up. Don't take these personal. And be yourself.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Loyalty, respect, and honesty.
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