Volunteer Spotlight: Siouxrita Clarke, Director of Payroll
"Growing up as one of 11 children, helping out just comes naturally to me," said Siouxrita Clarke, Director of Payroll at Bridgepoint Education. "If you don't learn to help each other, you don't get anywhere."
Instilled with the desire to lend a helping hand at a young age, Siouxrita quickly developed an instinct to volunteer. The list of projects and organizations where Siouxrita has donated her time is impressive. For the last several years, she has worked with Oceanside Supporting Urban Neighborhoods (SUN) to enhance and beautify the city of Oceanside, California. She has volunteered with two different troops of the Boy Scouts of America. Through the organization StandUp for Kids, she has helped to care for homeless children living on the streets. Siouxrita has also participated in numerous beach clean-up events over the years.
"I like to get involved," Siouxrita said. "I think volunteering helps people to get outside of themselves. It makes them more empathetic and less selfish."
She also likes to use her skills, education and training to help others in the community. Many of Siouxrita's volunteer efforts have called upon her extensive background in the areas of Human Resources and Payroll. For the last five years, she has served as the Program Director for the North County Chapter of the American Payroll Association (APA). In this role, she helps other payroll and tax professionals expand their knowledge by arranging pro bono speaking engagements and other educational events. She also volunteers on the APA's hotline offering her expertise to answer payroll questions from colleagues.
"Giving back is important from a holistic perspective," Siouxrita said. "If you want to help, you're going to be a better resource at work and a better resource to your family and friends."
At her church, Siouxrita has been using her extensive Human Resources knowledge to assist people who are looking for employment - a vital service in today's difficult job market. She volunteers her time to coach job seekers through all facets of the job hunt, from building a resume to honing interview skills. Siouxrita has helped people who were unemployed and living out of their cars to find jobs and get back on their feet.
In short, Siouxrita is changing lives with her volunteer work.
"It's important for all of us to help one another," Siouxrita said. "We really succeed when we help others to succeed."