Talk Story with Marilyn Toribio Cocchia

This month, we are honored talk story with Marilyn Toribio Cocchia the Youth Circle Manager. Marilyn shared what inspired her to be a part of EPIC.

“My family and I moved back to Hawaii in 2010 and I saw a job opening for 'Ohana Conference Coordinator at EPIC 'Ohana. What drew me to EPIC were its core values, solution-focused approach, family group decision-making model, and being rooted in native and indigenous practices. All resonated well with my Marriage and Family Therapy background.

I applied and completed a phone interview with the OC Supervisor, then learned she passed on my application. I was disappointed, but understood that maybe the position wasn't a good fit. A few weeks later, I got a call from the HR Manager who asked if I would be interested in working in a different program with teens and young adults. I jumped at the opportunity. Even though my job duties weren’t solidified, as all the Youth Circle Facilitator positions were already filled, I was assured we would figure out the details together.

I will never forget my first day, walking down the hallway and going towards the kitchen. I could hear the buzz of multiple phone calls going on, people conferring in the doorway of each office, and yet, everyone took time out to say hello to me. There was a magical table in the kitchen that had never-ending snacks on it. I bumped into the President/CEO Arlynna Livingston in the hallway and she greeted me with a big welcome hug and lei.

I realized I had stepped into a family and not just a job. The connections and family at EPIC are what has kept me here for the last 14 years. As Youth Circles celebrates 20 years this year, I look back at all the youth and young adults who have been uplifted by the hard-working YC Staff who have taken the charge of empowering youth to follow their dreams and become leaders in their own lives, and I am confident that there will be another 20+ years of Youth Circles for our young people to have their voices heard.”