Today we’d like to introduce you to Mirjana Rakasovic.
Hi Mirjana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My unique upbringing and life experiences have prepared me for the work I do today.
When I reflect on where I started and where I am today, it feels like a full-circle moment. The best experience in a job is lived experience. My journey didn’t just shape my life—it shaped the work I do, and I feel honored to do every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Some of the struggles along the way was establishing and renewing partnerships post COVID. Reminding partnering agencies it’s a team effort to support a participant in their journey towards self sufficiency.
One challenge that impacted me the most was seeing how something as basic as a driver’s license could become such a major barrier. I began noticing participants who had government-issued IDs but had suspended or revoked licenses, often carrying a complicated history tied to not having a valid license. It made me wonder, how difficult can it really be to obtain or reinstate a driver’s license later in life?
What I discovered was eye-opening. Depending on which side of the river in the FM area, obtaining a permit can actually be fairly straightforward. But the road test—that’s where things become tricky. Participants need access to a vehicle to take the test, and for many, that’s the biggest hurdle. Who is willing to lend their vehicle? Renting isn’t an option without a valid license. In many cases, even purchasing a vehicle—sometimes even with cash—can be difficult without one. Can’t rent a vehicle with out a driver’s license. I also can’t submit a referral for a donated vehicle unless the participant already has a valid driver’s license.
It really made me realize how a simple rite of passage in life can turn into a significant obstacle.
This is where I try to think a little outside the box. Sometimes the solution is as simple as encouraging participants to ask someone in their circle—a coworker, a family member, or even a child’s friend’s parent—if they might be willing to lend a vehicle for the road test. It’s about helping participants explore possibilities they may not have considered before. With each unique circumstance I am presented with, I do my in exploring a guided resolution.
Watching that growth—seeing someone go from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered—is one of the most rewarding parts of the work I do.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am an advocate and case manager, though my official title is Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator. In this role, I administer Section 8 and Public Housing programs while also providing supportive services such as case management, referrals, and connections to community resources. Participants in the program sign a five-year contract in which they set personal goals and work toward self-sufficiency—whatever that may look like for them and their families. Along the way, they also have the opportunity to build a savings account through the program. It may sound too good to be true, but the program does exist and is available in communities across the country. What is unique, however, is my approach. My philosophy is simple: I meet people where they are. I often say that I’m riding the tidal wave with my participants. Sometimes we wipe out—but we get back up and try again because I am that advocate that does not give up easily. As a sole provider for my own family, I am committed to to participants strengthening independence and creating better futures not just for them but for their families too.
Helping participants map out the unknown, navigate uncomfortable situations, and overcome unforeseen challenges is something that comes naturally to me. Witnessing their growth along the way is truly priceless.
I see myself as a pioneer when it comes to navigating the unknown, unfamiliar, and sometimes uncomfortable terrain of advocacy. I approach each situation through a unique lens. Rather than telling participants what they must or must not do, I believe strongly that they are in the driver’s seat while participating in the program. My role is to walk alongside them and offer thoughtful suggestions along the way.
At the heart of my work is the belief that participants already possess the strength and ability to navigate their own paths. My role is simply to help illuminate the options before them, offer guidance as needed, and celebrate alongside them when they find their way forward.
Advocacy is not a one-size-fits-all approach where the same method produces the same results every time. True advocacy requires navigating each circumstance as it comes, adapting to the unique challenges and strengths of the individual. That perspective is what makes my approach unique.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I would not necessarily describe myself as a lucky person, either personally or professionally. What may appear as luck to others often comes after overcoming many obstacles that were never visible to those on the outside. Every opportunity, achievement, and step forward in my life has required persistence, resilience, and determination. Now, looking back, I am lucky in that sense because it has prepared me for what I do today.
Contact Info:
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/mirjana.rakasovic
