GRACE CRUZ
FAMILY RESOURCE SPECIALIST
It’s a pleasure to introduce Grace Cruz, our senior Bilingual Resource Specialist at H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection. She is originally from Los Angeles, California and is the oldest of her six siblings. After graduating from South Gate High School in Los Angeles, Grace wanted to become a Social Worker.
In 1993, she moved to Bakersfield to obtain a better living situation for her four children, one of which (Gracie) had special needs. In 1995, Grace gave birth to her fifth child, who was born with a medical condition. She currently resides with her husband of 12 years, Angel, and her youngest son. They have three grandchildren - Nahla, Gabriel and Adeline.
Her biggest joy was being a stay-at-home mom for many years while she raised her five children. During that time, she worked and volunteered at their schools and looked for resources to support her two children with special needs. She found KRC, who referred her to H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection and that is when her journey with us began. After contacting H.E.A.R.T.S. for resources and support, she started attending parent support groups and volunteering for H.E.A.R.T.S., which she continued to do for 6 years. In 1999, she was employed with a respite agency and provided respite services for HE.A.R.T.S. Connection supports groups. During one of those support groups, she was informed of an opening for a Resource Specialist at H.E.A.R.T.S. and applied for the position. Now here she is!
To know Grace is to love her. She has endured the most profound losses in death that no one would want to go through. Her kind heart, endurance, and perseverance is just one layer of her personality. She is a loyal and trustworthy mother, sister, friend, and employee.
Fun fact about Grace: she is extremely shy until she is completely comfortable. Many call her Amazing Grace and she lives by those words. One of her wishes is to eventually retire, work on her gardening, and travel.
