Casa San José

Biography

Lorena Martinez was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio, being first generation born to parents from El Salvador and Guatemala. Over the years she has come to learn and love the Pittsburgh area for its Latino
community, seeing the need for community resources. She studied Children and Family studies at John Carroll University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Minor in Spanish. While
there, Lorena volunteered in food pantries, elementary schools and in homeless shelters. Since graduating, she has worked as a mental health and SUD case manager with clients of varying needs. During her free time she loves hiking, reading and learning new recipes. She hopes that her work at Casa San Jose will help to reduce the stigmas that often come along with mental health and substance use disorders by building relationships in the community.