INTRODUCING
DUVRASKA MENDOZA
PORTFOLIO
Hi, my name is Duvraska Mendoza. I was born in Venezuela, where I lived for 35 years. I consider myself an artist, poet, performer, and storyteller. I love listening to music while creating my artistic work. I usually listen to classical, jazz, or instrumental music which keeps me calm, creative and curious, although sometimes silence becomes my muse. I also like to listen to different musical styles, particularly those that combine pop with a mix of culture and social awareness along with deep and poetic lyrics. I love walking and being surrounded by nature. I like hugs, especially the ones my son gives me, I love my dog, and I love ice cream.
MY LIFE PURPOSE
Constantly challenge myself to be a better human and mother.
To remain optimistic and trust in myself to achieve my personal goals.
To leave a positive footprint in society, where we can evolve and heal based on values such as love, learning, compassion, solidarity and social welfare.
To always keep hope alive
Artist Statement
As we stand at the precipice of an era marked by increasing neurological disorders, it is imperative that we forge new pathways towards prevention and healing. My approach urges us to reexamine our relationship with the environment, recognizing that our surroundings hold the key to unlocking innovative methods in the realm of neurological health.
Through my work, I strive to illuminate the transformative power that art holds, not only as a means of self-expression, but as a vessel for regeneration that may lead to rewire our perception of the world.
In an exploration of the profound interplay between the intricate designs of mother nature and the delicate complexity of our nervous system through the medium of visual expression, I intend to convey a message of advocacy for hope, preservation of our environment, a fervent plea for the healing of our bodies, and an affirmation of the organic processes that binds us to nature.
My curiosity, creativity and individual experiences have led me to combine the sciences with art and create a visual ode to the symphony of life, a testament to the exquisite balance that sustains our planet's biodiversity as well as revealing the power of the joyous dance of colors, shapes, and energies that spark our neurological system.
It is my conviction that art can transmit messages, both resonant and silent, that transcend linguistic boundaries , thus proving that our nervous systems and immune responses are closely intertwined with the world around us.
My work serves as a meditation and an imploration to consider ourselves as stewards of this wondrous planet and guardians of our own bodies, advocating for change, to inspire action, and to foster healing.
My creative work is inspired not only by who I am as a woman, mother, daughter, and immigrant, but also by my own experiences of loss and resilience, as well as my concerns about trauma and grief surrounding our current society and how I navigate my identity within it.
It is a bridge where bilingualism establishes a connection between two cultures, allowing us to discover that they may not be as different as we imagine.
My goal is to create a diverse space to connect with other voices and open a conversation about grief, ambiguity, immigration, and mental health, highlighting themes such as hope, love, mother nature and diversity as we learn together to acknowledge our feelings, embrace the darkness, and fill our lives with meaning by making our eyes look towards a promising future as we heal and become better human beings. My philosophy is rooted in finding opportunities to collaborate with artists from diverse backgrounds, engaging in collaborative projects not only to learn from others, but also to contribute to collective growth while capturing the richness that resides within each human being.
It is my hope that these works will inspire a collective awakening, a renewed commitment to nurturing both our planet and our physical vessels. A commitment to a narrative of reverence and reciprocity, to cherish and to find solace in the embrace of mother earth, knowing that in doing so, we also nurture the intricate symphony within ourselves. Through my creations, I strive to illuminate the transformative power that art holds, not only as a means of self-expression, but as a vessel for regeneration and restoration. Furthermore, I hope to embody what it means to live as part of a community and demonstrate that it is possible to achieve unity and understanding through the celebration of our differences. In all aspects of my artistic endeavors, I am mindful of the need to respect the complexities of all parts of our community. This involves continually educating myself, being open to opinions, and being willing to adapt my work to best fit the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In doing so, I will strive to contribute to the creation of a culture in which every artistic expression mirrors and reflects a diverse and inclusive community.
Art is healing
I know nothing but love and hope to keep me going throughout my journey.
OBJETIVE
A persistent and inspiring professional with an upbeat attitude, seeking a challenging role where I can leverage my skills to overcome obstacles and contribute positively to the team's success. Eager to bring my proactive approach and unwavering determination to a dynamic work environment that values growth and innovation.
SUMMARY
Versatile and dedicated educator with a strong passion for teaching, bringing several years of professional experience across customer service, auditing, administration, and accounting. Proficient in both English and Spanish, with a solid foundation in various software tools, including Microsoft Office, Google Drive suite, Canva software, social media management, and web administrator.
SOFT SKILLS
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Creativity
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Teamwork
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Perseverance
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Problem Solving
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Public Speaking
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Passion for learning
TECHNICAL SKILLS
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Auditing
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Bilingual
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Digital Design (Canva)
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Social Media Management
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Storytelling
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Troubleshooting
EDUCATION
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New York University MFA Creative Writing in Spanish
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Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado Bachelor of Science, Accounting
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Instituto de Estudio Superiores de Administración Advanced Management Program
Training and Professional Development Programs
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Rutgers Youth Mental Health Summit 2025
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Community Health Worker Certification - 2025
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Certificate of Attendance Community Awareness, Resources and Education (CARE) ECHO Fall 2024
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Substance Use Disorder ECHO Series 2025
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Online Pedagogy Certification - UCNJ
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Mental Health First Aid USA
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Design Thinking Bootcamp – NYU 2023
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Teaching to Engage – NYU 2022
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Technical Support Fundamental Google – Coursera - 2020
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Becoming a Change Maker: Introduction to Social Innovation – Coursera - 2020
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Covid 19 – Contact Tracing – Coursera - 2020
Adjunct Faculty
Union College of NJ
- Manage education in digital format through Canvas, Cengage, and other learning systems.
- Create and disseminate course content.
- Provide timely and personalized feedback to students.
- Plan and deliver face-to-face and online classes.
- Report student progress to the advising team in a timely manner.
- Manage classroom workload.
- Encourage students to achieve satisfactory results
- Encourage interpersonal communication
- Grading student assignments
- Develop course syllabus
Spanish-speaking
Emotional Wellness Presenter and Interventionist
Cornerstone Marriage
& Family Intervention
- Create and deliver workshops and presentations
- Provide emotional wellness education and training to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
- Support immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers through intervention sessions to rebuild their lives in a new land, while rediscovering resilience, new hope and fostering new coping skills that enable them to overcome change, loss, as well as adapt to the new culture and challenges around them to reduce their distress in their daily lives.
Tutor/Facilitator
Study Smart Tutors
- Creating and conducting workshops and presentations.
- Support students in high school by facilitating workshops focused primarily on both assisting them in the college application process and fostering academic success.
- Promote both academic success and college enrollment by facilitating bilingual educational workshops for students' families.
Public Speaker
MGD Transformaciones Exitosas
- Deliver face-to-face workshops and seminars.
- Design workshops and presentations oriented to both emotional well-being and success.
- Manage social networks.
- Create networking opportunities.
- Organize public and private conferences.
Member Service Representative/ Teller
FDU Federal Credit Union
- Provide professional, prompt, and courteous service to members, in person or by phone.
- Make transfers, deposits, advances, loan payments, withdrawals, account opening, check cashing and other routine member transactions.
- Assist members with electronic banking.
- Ensure confidentiality of all information and transactions related to FDU FCU and its members.
- Assist with loan underwriting.
- Support other departments and co-workers in a variety of functions.
Supervisor / Route Inspector /
Mail Carrier
​United States Postal Service
- Workload management and control
- Analyze and implement operational improvements based on quality and performance models.
- Supervise and perform route inspections.
- Communicate verbally and in writing with customers, employees, and internal departments.
- Collect and analyze data to produce internal and external reports.
- Use a variety of software applications.
- Manage sales force performance.
- Optimize letter carrier performance and efficiency.
- Report inspection results for stakeholders.
- Drafting inspection results as required.
- Manage and supervise Amazon delivery operations on Sundays
INTERNAL AUDIT MANAGER
Central Banco Universal
- Performing evaluations in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
- Analyzing balance sheets and other related financial statements.
- Evaluating, recommending, and authorizing changes in internal controls.
- Evaluating and identifying risks and control deficiencies in branches and departments.
- Supervise and coordinate the activities of the internal audit team.
- Detect fraud and money laundering.
- Drafting audit reports
- Report to the audit committee on departmental progress, scope, and planning.
- Foster interpersonal communication
- Communicate audit results to all areas involved.
- Design annual audit plans as well as sample tests.