Welcome to our family page. We created this page so you can learn more about us. This page is hosted off our family business, Walk It Out Recovery Services. Feel free to check it out to learn more about the work we do. If you want to learn more about us, please contact Andrea Stryd at astryd@bethany.org.
Check out our Linkedin pages to learn more about our professional experiences: Katherine and Robert.
Robert loves music, especially hip hop and rap. Check out his music video Here’s the Situation.
Robert’s music is rooted in his lived experience of going from hopeless to hopeful, taking the mess of his life and using it as a message of hope. Check out this clip of his speaking engagement at Northampton Community College called A Life of Turmoil to A Life I Treasure.
For Katherine, the most meaningful achievement she has earned was an award she never won. In 2021 she was nominated as a Champion for Children by the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Berks County. You can read her nomination below.
2021 CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN NOMINEES
DR. KATHERINE DIAZ, NOMINATED FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AWARD
“WOW” “I’m tearing up” exclaimed Dr. Katherine Diaz when she learned she was nominated for the Champions for Children Award, “I am humbled and honored.” Dr. Diaz is the supervisor of the Transitional Living Program at Bethany Children’s Home. She has been there for three years. “It’s my job to help kids learn how to ‘adult’. I focus on both the hard skills like food and money management as well as the soft skills like decision making and working with a team.” “I could talk all day about these kids,” said Dr. Diaz during our interview. She talked about the 4 teens who got their first cars, about the kids learning to cook and clean, about teaching kids to look for jobs with benefits and why medical insurance is important. Her first love is education, and she inspires her kids to attend college or trade school. “Moving kids into their college dorm is a special day.” She recalled, “I had two kids apply to the AmeriCorps program. lt was a HUGE deal when one of them fully completed the program.” Dr. Diaz has a jar on her desk labeled “Bethany Blessings”. When something positive happens, she writes it down and puts it in the jar. One day she found a note that had been placed in the jar by a teen who was leaving. lt said, “You made me feel beautiful and wanted.”
“Her genuine care for the children she works with can be seen in her daily actions and comforting but truthful words.” Dr. Diaz was nominated by Sabrina Andrieux, who wrote, “I nominate Dr. Diaz for her tireless work with teens who’ve struggled with all kinds of challenges. From encouraging them to stay in school to guiding them towards college and beyond, Dr. Diaz’s tireless efforts have benefited so many children who have no other positive role models, supportive parents, or strong and caring individuals in their lives.” Wrote nominator Sabrina Andrieux, “I recommend her for this award [Champions for Children] as she is worthy of the accolades in many ways.” For more information on Bethany Children’s Home and its Transitional Living Program, please visit their website: Programs I Bethany Children’s Home (bethanyhome.org). CASA Berks will be honoring the Champions for Children nominees throughout the month of May. Winners will be announced in June.
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