When encountering someone vulnerable, Ramirez asks herself, “If I was in that place, what would I want someone to do for me?” Ramirez recognizes that “we’re all one paycheck away from homelessness” and that some people have a stronger support network than others.

During Ramirez’ senior year as a psychology major at Texas Tech University, Professor Craig Crabtree asked her why she wasn’t majoring in social work. Ramirez replied that she wanted to work in a children’s hospital.

In response, Crabtree handed her a phonebook and challenged her to call the hospitals to find out who was on their staff. The answer: social workers.

So Ramirez entered the master’s program in social work at the University of Texas at Arlington. There she met Heather Reynolds, the only other master’s student writing a thesis.

While at UTA, Ramirez interned with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigating high risk homes with children under age 4. After graduation, she took a job with the same team. 

Two years into that job, Reynolds contacted Ramirez about a job opportunity with Catholic Charities Fort Worth at an assessment center for children who could not return home due to severed parental rights. 

Ramirez started the job in 2004 with some trepidation, but then she realized, “I know what needs to be done. I know how to treat people. We can do this.”

This was Ramirez’ “Dream Program.” A year later, she found herself directing all five child welfare programs at CCFW. “That’s when I fell in love with Catholic Charities,” she said. The consistent ethic of Catholic social teachings intrigued her, and she wanted to find out more. So after being married to a Catholic for four years and working for Catholic Charities, Ramirez decided “to learn more about the Catholic faith.”

At Easter 2010, Ramirez entered the Catholic Church. 

When Ramirez joined CCCTX in 2013, the mission had 25 employees, two office locations, four programs, and served about 4,000 people a year. Today, CCCTX has 89 employees (including about 20 student interns), seven programs, and four office locations (with plans to open a fifth). And they serve over 18,000 people a year, she said.

Looking to the future, Ramirez hopes for increased volunteer engagement. Parishioners are invited to help families through CCCTX programs such as throwing baby showers for expectant parents and building home starter kits for folks who are experiencing homelessness.

Allison Cavazos has worked at CCCTX since 2011. She was excited when Ramirez joined the team as director because of her “robust experience” and she was “familiar with the Catholic Charities mission.” Cavazos has appreciated working with Ramirez as a mentor and friend. She emphasized how “down to earth” Ramirez is, from asking colleagues how they are doing as a person to having Gatorade dumped on her head at a staff event.

Paulist Father Bruce Nieli first met Ramirez at a Catholic Charities luncheon shortly after she had joined the CCCTX team. He immediately felt “a bond” with her. Years later, while serving on a panel with Ramirez, he realized they shared many values. 

Ramirez and Father Nieli have an enthusiasm for evangelization and for promoting Catholic social teaching. Now serving as CCCTX’s spiritual director, Father Nieli is collaborating with Ramirez to bring the Catholic Charities’ message to parishes throughout the diocese. 

Ramirez sees this as an opportunity to live out Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:35-36: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” 

“Christ is actually in every single one of us,” Ramirez said.