Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Noor Morales and Juan Pablo Osorio.
Monica Noor Morales and Juan Pablo Osorio, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Thank you so much for having us. We’re truly excited to share our journey. Outreach In The Barrio was born in the heart of Houston with a simple but powerful mission: serving the most forgotten with consistency, compassion, and dignity.
I (Monica Morales) grew up in the same barrio where we now serve. As a proud Houstonian and Mexican-American Muslim, I experienced the effects of poverty, homelessness, and neglect. I have always believed that real change begins with revolutionary hospitality: welcoming people with warmth, compassion, and dignity.
Alongside me is Juan Pablo Osorio, Co-Founder and Board Member, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, and someone with an unwavering heart for service. His digital media expertise, leadership, and community-focused approach have helped Outreach grow with purpose, structure, and integrity.
Since 2017, we’ve walked alongside Houston’s most marginalized communities through programs such as:
・Sunday Food & Resources Distribution – meals, clothing, hygiene items, and care packages every week.
・Sermon in the Streets – spiritual nourishment for people experiencing homelessness.
・Beauty Under Bridges – hygiene kits, and care for women by women.
・Cuts for Dignity – free haircuts by local barbers.
・Seeds of Hope – long-term community care. Assisting under-resourced families who have housing and are barely making ends meet.
・Youth Program – Creating opportunities for our youth to find purpose in giving, making a difference through small acts, and the joy of contributing to the community.
・Emergency Crisis Response – mobilizing during life-threatening weather.
Every Sunday, under bridges and across downtown, we show up not just with resources, but with presence. We believe housing is not only shelter, but it’s also dignity, belonging, and connection. So we go to where people are, rain or shine, week after week. Our consistency is our promise; our presence is the mercy of the Almighty (God).
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?
It definitely hasn’t been smooth, but every challenge has shaped us. ・Funding has been one of our biggest struggles. At times, we’ve had to pause programs or slow down ideas simply because the resources weren’t there.
・Breaking the stigma around homelessness is an everyday battle. Anyone can find themselves in that situation, yet empathy is not something everyone receives.
・We’ve also faced resistance from people who didn’t want us in their neighborhoods because they didn’t want to see the homeless community empowered.
・There’s also the stigma around Muslims that we’ve had to navigate with patience, resilience, and grace.
・And on top of that, learning how to run a nonprofit was a journey of its own. We began with a simple desire to help, and suddenly we had an organization that required structure, communication, compliance, and leadership. We stepped up because the community deserved it.
Every struggle taught us something, and we’re stronger because of it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I (Monica) see myself as a social entrepreneur and humanitarian. I love turning life challenges into meaningful solutions by creating sustainable programs that meet people where they are. Because of the adversities I’ve had to endure, I can empathize with others’ struggles.
I’m incredibly resilient.
When I started Outreach In The Barrio, people told me I would get in trouble for serving the homeless community because of our city’s ordinance… but here we are, serving humanity since 2017.
I always find a way to make things possible. I do not break the law, but I always look for ways to serve the most marginalized communities while staying in compliance. There is no higher calling than to serve humanity in need.
People come to me and trust me because I’m a visionary leader, and when I believe in something, I make it happen, even when the odds say otherwise. Many people feel close to me, almost like family, because they know I’ll show up and won’t give up on them.
I’m (Juan Pablo Osorio) a business owner, immigrant, and Marine veteran, so making things work is in my DNA. At Outreach In The Barrio, I bring structure, systems, and digital strategy to help us grow sustainably. When I’m around, it’s usually time for business. I love combining grassroots community work with technology to reach more people, donors, and volunteers.
Together, what sets us apart is simple: we started in the barrio serving a few families… and we never stopped. Every idea, every program, every act of service came from real needs we witnessed on the streets.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Running a nonprofit is one of the most significant risks we’ve taken because it requires putting others before ourselves every day, sacrificing our professional careers, hobbies, and family time, with no guarantee of anything in return, but at the end, it’s all worth it, because we do this to serve humanity for the sake of Almighty Allah. In our early days, we were out late at night under bridges, meeting people exactly where they were. Most people wouldn’t think of doing that, but restoring humanity sometimes requires stepping into uncomfortable spaces.
Navigating geopolitical, bureaucratic, and legal compliance has also been risky and challenging, but we continue to stay on top of new laws and requirements that affect our community.
Ultimately, the risk is worth it. People’s lives are worth it.
-We have made it easy for people to plant their seeds with our mission and to send recurring monthly donations as low as $10, or whatever fits their budget, to help us sustain our programs year-round. Please check out our membership tiers at outreachinthrbarrio.org (http://outreachinthrbarrio.org/) for ways to support or take a look at our memberships direct links at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/yourmembershipbringshope and https://secure.qgiv.com/for/comembersh
Pricing:
- Our memberships, that will keep fund our programs: Sustainer $100/month: Your help sustains our mission and sponsors those we serve Your benefits include: ・“Proud Supporter” digital certificate. ・Access to our WhatsApp members-only group. ・Early access to information for seasonal campaigns and event registration. ・Invitation to one annual “Members Serve Together Day”. ・Outreach In The Barrio t-shirt (must be picked up at our storage unit on Sundays). ✔︎ Feeds 40 people every month, and it also helps us sustain all of our programs.
- Nourisher $50/month: A more profound commitment to community and service. Your benefits include ・“Proud Supporter” digital certificate. ・Early access to information for seasonal campaigns and event registration. ・Access to our WhatsApp members-only group. ・Invitation to one annual “Members Serve Together Day” ✔︎ Feeds 18 people every month, and it also helps us sustain all of our programs.
- Supporter $10/month: A simple but powerful way to show you care. Your benefits include: ・“Proud Supporter” digital certificate. ・Access to our WhatsApp members-only group. ・Early access to information for seasonal campaigns and event registration. ✔︎ Feeds 4 people every month, and it also helps us sustain all of our programs.
- Community Guardian $300/month: You become a pillar of dignity, compassion, and consistency. Your benefits include: ・“Proud Corporate Supporter” digital certificate.・ ・Helps fund community engagement and mental health support initiatives. ・Option to host a private collaboration volunteer day with your company/friends/team, twice a year, if desired. (you must organize with admin@outreachinthebarrio.org to facilitate your service date) ・Recognition on our website as Corporate Member. ・Featured partner highlight on social media with your branding, if desired. ・VIP invitations to our annual dinner or special events. ・Early access to campaigns, projects, and new pilot initiatives. ・Invitation to our annual Visionary Circle gathering. ・Option to dedicate any distribution, in honor of, or in memory of. ✔︎ Feeds 100 people every month, and it also helps us sustain all of our programs and operations.
- Heart of the Barrio $1,000+/month: Fuel long-term change from the heart Your benefits include: ・“Proud Corporate Supporter” digital certificate.・ ・Helps fund community engagement and mental health support initiatives. ・Option to host and sponsor a VIP private collaboration volunteer day with your company/friends/team, once a month, if desired. (you must organize with admin@outreachinthebarrio.org to facilitate your service date) ・Recognition on our website as corporate member. ・Featured partner highlight on social media with your branding, if desired. ・VIP invitations to our annual dinner or special events. ・Option to co-brand an outreach initiative. ・Early access to campaigns, projects, and new pilot initiatives. ・Invitation to our annual Visionary Circle gathering. ・Option to promote your business in our social media platforms, if desired ・Option to dedicate any distribution, in honor of, or in memory of. ✔︎ Feeds 400+ people every month, and it also helps us sustain all of our programs and operations.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://outreachinthebarrio.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outreachinthebarriohouston?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/outreachinthebarrio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/outreach-in-the-barrio/?viewAsMember=true
- Other: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/yourmembershipbringshope – https://secure.qgiv.com/for/comembersh
