25 Women for 2024: Carla Juarez Farley connects with 'incredible people'
When Carla Juarez Farley graduated from Florida State University, she knew she wanted to work in the nonprofit world. “But there weren’t many opportunities at the time,” she recalls, “I was introduced to Americorps, which led to a placement with the American Red Cross. It was the most meaningful experience having 11 months of service with them.”
As a result, Farley has been in emergency management for the past 10 years, a career that brings with it the reward of knowing her work makes a difference in people’s lives.
Being named as one of Tallahassee 25 Women You Need to Know as a result of her professional work and personal volunteerism is a distinction that means a lot to her. “Having the opportunity to help when individuals and families are experiencing their most challenging days and help create solutions to build community resiliency keep me going,” she said.
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In her current role as Communications and Marketing Manager at IEM, Farley brings her front-line experience to the emergency management and disaster recovery consulting world by helping her clients create effective communication programs.
But she hasn’t left the field; as an active volunteer with the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, she currently serves as First Vice Chair and helps plan fundraising events that support disaster recovery efforts locally and beyond. In 2020, her efforts were acknowledged with the prestigious Bob Lotane Service Above All Award.
Farley looks to her family for inspiration and examples of hard work and dedication.
“My mom is my best friend and always my biggest cheerleader. It amazes me to think that she immigrated to this country in her mid-20s to start an entirely new life in a country where she did not know nor speak the language,” she said. “I was only 3 when we immigrated, but I think about it a lot. I cannot fathom how difficult that decision and that transition must have been for my parents. She has dedicated her life to me and my siblings, and I am so grateful and appreciative of her and my dad's sacrifices to give us a better life.”
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As the first Latina President of the Junior League of Tallahassee, she not only breaks barriers but also brings a unique perspective to her role. “When I moved away to Miami and then came back, a lot of Tallahassee had changed. I had to create a new network and I found the Junior League,” she said. “That group of women is just incredible, they are ready to get the job done.”
Her ongoing impact on the League granted her a spot as a Wonder Woman Award Nominee for Girls on the Run, highlighting her ability to empower and support the women around her.
Farley shines when talking about her role with organizations like the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association and Florida Governor's Hurricane Conference, and notably launching HERricane Florida, a program started in Arlington, Virginia, aimed at inspiring teenage girls to pursue careers in emergency management and allied fields.
“Getting to bring together a bunch of rock star women in the field of emergency management in this way is really one of the highlights of my career,” she said. “It’s so important to have more women in emergency and disaster management. We have so many strengths that can be used to make our communities stronger.”
When not volunteering, Farley and her husband can be found taking on weekly trivia with friends and exploring more opportunities to volunteer. “I enjoy spending my free time volunteering,” she said. “It brings me a lot of joy and it's connected me to some pretty incredible people, who truly have the biggest hearts. Tallahassee is genuinely made up of so many individuals and organizations that are doing just that — helping.”
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: 25 Women for 2024: Tallahassee's Carla Juarez Farley builds community
