Volunteer Uplifts Her Community Through Service and Advocacy

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Karla Valentin. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

When the call goes out for help in Boston, Karla Valentin is often the first to answer. A long-time volunteer with Embrace Boston since 2024, Karla has become a cornerstone of the organization’s efforts through her proactive, agile spirit. Whether it’s a last-minute request or a high-stakes event, she arrives with an eagerness that transforms the energy of the room. Karla is a natural community builder who has recruited a network of friends and neighbors into the fold, ensuring that the spirit of service grows exponentially through the people she inspires.

Having been present at the city’s most significant cultural milestones, Karla’s been a tireless force within the 2024-2025 Signature Series, contributing hours and hours of service to both the 5e Freedom Rally and the annual Juneteenth celebrations. To her volunteer manager, who began leading the team in April 2025, Karla represents the ideal volunteer, showing up not just when it’s convenient, but when the community needs her most. Her reliability in time-sensitive situations has made her an indispensable asset to the city.

However, Karla’s heart for service is felt in many other corners of the community, stretching back nearly a decade. For over eight years, she has dedicated herself to the protection of the vulnerable, serving as a board member and monthly volunteer for Enough Abuse. In this role, she works to raise awareness around the critical issues of child sexual abuse and trafficking, proving that she is as comfortable in a leadership boardroom as she is on the front lines of a rally. Even with such heavy responsibilities, Karla remains grounded in the basic needs of her neighbors. On the third Saturday of every month, she can be found at the Hyde Park Food Pantry, personally distributing food to families. Her outreach continues through Greater Love Health Ministries, where she spends every other month advocating for community health awareness.

Read on to hear more of Karla’s inspirational story: how it all started, and why she does what she does.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

I got involved with Embrace Boston through Michael Curry, who used to be the NAACP president. I’d volunteered around Boston, and I realized it was something I love and cherish. I got involved with volunteerism in the first place through my father’s activism work that he did in Boston. I saw something so powerful in Embrace. The organization talks about how we are all one. And it’s the truth. At the end of the day, we are all one, and we all want the same things to move forward. That’s how I became so involved. I did the rallies, and as I kept volunteering, I realized I wanted to do more and more of it.

Tell us about your volunteer role.

A lot of times I’m ushering. Making sure people know where they’re going, just spreading awareness. Like, “Here’s the brochure, we’re talking about this,” and just making sure people are guided the right way. I follow my leader’s plan. Embrace is always keeping us involved in things. They always keep you updated with emails and things like that when it comes to different actions. For the whole MLK weekend, there’s always something to do, every day. And even through Juneteenth, I’m involved with that. I volunteer at the receptions, the marches, the parades. It’s pretty dope

Why is this issue so important to you?

I think for me personally, it’s being a Black woman. As far as Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife and what they stood for—what he stood for was equality, being a part of something, having your voice raised. And I think Embrace is so important, even for now and even for our future. They hold a standard. And they truly involve and embrace everybody of all cultures and backgrounds, and I think that’s so important especially right now.

Of course, the City of Boston is more liberal, but you still have certain people who don’t believe equality. I really believe that Martin Luther King was about that. I’m originally from Memphis, Tennessee. My father was involved in that activism in Memphis, and then he moved to Boston. I think activism is just so important, and that’s why I love what I do with Embrace. Like I said, they always keep you up to date with different information.

What have you learned through your experiences volunteering?

For me, learning is listening to different people speak about the different statistics that are going on in the world—not just in Boston, but everywhere. Things related to equality, regarding race, how to deal with these different things. I’ve learned a lot of history too, even with Juneteenth. You know, it’s so funny, because I’ve been in Boston all my life, since I was three years old, and even when I started with Embrace, I didn’t realize how many Black people were doing so many things around the Boston area until Embrace came about.

Of course, I’m part of the NAACP, but Embrace really breaks it down and they invite everybody to the party. When they have different things, they’re not asking you for tickets or anything like that; it’s free. It’s information about rallies, about freedom, about history. They get everybody involved, and it’s just something that people should embrace. That’s what I feel.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

Meeting people. You know, you live in Boston all this time, you just don’t know who these people are. And you get to have these conversations, and I think that’s really important. I know a lot of people; my father was a bishop here in Boston and had over eight churches under him, and also my family, we have a beauty salon in Boston. So I know a lot of people. But when you go to some of the Embrace events, you meet so many powerful people—Black, White, Latino—and you get to meet these people and learn their journey. They just didn’t pop up overnight; they’ve been doing this in the background for a long time. They’ve been fighting the fight, and they continue to fight.

I tell people a lot about Embrace. Even my friends. I’m like, “You need to get involved in Embrace.” One of my friends—she’s so funny because I went to an all-white school. Three of my friends actually signed up for Embrace because they wanted to know more. I think that’s so interesting, because when I was going to school, they didn’t talk about Black history like they do now. I learned Black history from home and the NAACP. Like I said, I learn a lot from just meeting new people. I think volunteering is just the best, because you learn so much.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

I think it’s so important to volunteer because you get to you get to meet people and, you know, rub your elbows with people. You’re like, “Oh my god, I see you on TV. I didn’t think you’d ever talk to me, have a conversation.” But you have these conversations and you find out “Oh, you’re just like me.” We’re all the same people, regardless of color or status or whatnot. We’re all learning from each other, and I think that’s so important. I love volunteering. I know some people are like, “Why do you do that?” and “Isn’t it a lot of work?” It is. But you know what? It’s all for a good cause, and that’s why I love doing it.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

I say take that time out and do it. You know, people are always on this kick about self-care. Well, this is self-care, too. When you’re volunteering, because you know you’re doing some good for somebody else, you’re reaching out and you’re finding out what the organization is all about. Then you can be aware, and then you talk about it, and then you share it with other people. It’s self-care. It makes you feel good.

I say take that one step. It’s one step at a time. And it’s so funny, because when I became a volunteer with Embrace, I was never scared about doing it. Even though I remember one of the rallies it was raining and I’m like, “Oh Lord, I just got my hair done, I don’t want to get my hair wet!” But you know what? That day was so powerful because I learned so much. Take that chance and go for it. Take a leap. Just take a leap.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

I think that Embrace is powerful, and it’s for the future. Embrace is peaceful, and it’s protection. You feel protected, and you feel like you know what’s going on. I think there is something powerful in this organization, for everybody around the country, especially with what’s going on in the world. You know the saying, “Keep on keeping on.”

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Karla? Find local volunteer opportunities.