Nice to Meet You: Lauren Ritta

Meet Lauren, a community disaster program manager. She is committed to supporting and strengthening communities within her work. Her responses demonstrate a love of her community and an appreciation of people and their life experiences.

Q: Could you explain what your title means and take us through your workday, or what projects you work on?

A: I'm a community disaster program manager.  I work on community readiness, response and recovery. 

Lauren Ritta

Q: How long have you been with the Red Cross? Is this your first position with the Red Cross? If not, what was it?

A: I've been with the Red Cross about a year-and-a-half. Before the Red Cross, I worked in hunger relief, organizing a big volunteer program. But I volunteered with the Red Cross as a teen. I was a blood drop mascot in Kansas City!

Q: What do you like about your work?

A: I love connecting people who really want to support their communities with the tools and opportunities to do it. I like that it's dynamic and challenging. 

Q: What do you like to listen to during the workday?

A: I made a special playlist to help my hunger relief volunteers stay upbeat while they worked. It still puts me in the right frame of mind. When I play it, I'm reminded of the awesome volunteers who put in recommendations. There's a lot of 90s hip hop and 70s rock on there. 

Q: In what part of the region are you located, and what do you enjoy about your community?

A: My chapter is Southeast Nebraska, including Lincoln and the surrounding areas. Lincoln is a refugee city, and all these cultures show up in great ways (and in great restaurants). Rural Nebraska has a special beauty, and people still come together to protect it. The central ethos is one of hard work and care for one another. 

Q: How do you spend your time when you aren’t working?

A: I spend a lot of time at the ice arena, feeling grateful my kiddo chose an air-conditioned sport! I love to read, and vacations usually involve exploring cool, clear rivers and caves.  

Q: What has most surprised you while working for the Red Cross?

A: The most surprising thing has probably been how broad it is. What most people know about the Red Cross is just the tip of the iceberg! It reminds me to slow down and provide context when I'm doing community engagement. 

Q: What is a Red Cross moment that sticks with you?

A: We were called to help with an assisted living facility evacuation, and I sat with a lovely woman after dinner for a bit. She mentioned that she was a high school student during the Civil Rights Movement, among other life and global changes. When it was time for medication, we offered her an electrolyte drink to wash a nasty-tasting pill down. And she loved it. She was so grateful not just for the drink but for the opportunity to try something for the first time. She had a sense of adventure about her own life and gratitude for change. It's difficult to have gratitude for change, but it's not impossible.