Global aid worker helps raise money for mission from Black Hills

Raphael starts his mornings with a fresh pine scent from the Black Hills outside his window. Throughout his day, he enjoys a view of Custer from his office as he works remotely for a faith-based nonprofit raising money to help people around the world.

In 2021, Raphael and his wife, Aimee, moved to South Dakota from the West Coast and brought his work along with them. Using his Golden West internet service, he works in data analytics for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). For Raphael, having a reliable connection made it easy to transfer his work to where he wanted to live.

“The organization does a lot of work in Latin America, Africa, and Asia,” Raphael says. “It’s about getting food, water, medicine, shelter, and more to people in need. I work for the charitable giving side that raises money from donors to save lives.”

Raphael works with a team of a dozen people in his department, but the organization based in Baltimore, Maryland, employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. His work requires precise communication and teamwork, as CRS raises over $1 billion dollars each year to serve over 200 million people in need around the world.

History of aid and academia

Remote work for Raphael looks different from many office jobs, but it aligns well with his expertise. Prior to CRS, Raphael earned a PhD in history from the University of California, Berkeley, and worked in academia for almost a decade before switching careers.

“Just a few positions become available in my field throughout the United States each year,” Raphael says. “When I saw this position posted, it sounded like a great opportunity that I had experience with from my research, and I’m eager to help do good work.”

Making the jump to South Dakota

When Raphael’s wife received a promotion to work for Jewel Cave National Monument, the family seized the chance and made the trip halfway across the country. Raphael says Custer is a great community where it is easy to connect with others, becoming involved at the YMCA and Southern Hills Bible Church.

In the process of moving, Raphael needed to ensure he had fiber-optic internet he could rely on for work. His Golden West connection allows him to conduct video call and attend meetings with his coworkers without worry.

“I’m from California where internet was always expensive and surprisingly slow,” Raphael says. “In Oregon, sometimes our internet would just go out for an entire day or more. Golden West provides reliable, fast internet, and I have been very happy with my service.”

Connecting with family

Instead of losing days of work to unreliable service like he once did, Raphael now enjoys a dependable connection that supports his career and family’s lifestyle. He enjoys having flexibility and the ability to be there for his two young sons at a moment’s notice.

“Working remote has been great,” Raphael says. “It cuts down on unnecessary time spent away – instead I can just be done with work and finish my day being with my kids.”