Rosalyna Felix, the Founder and Creator of Be Like Water Initiative created the idea after her week-long service trip to Los Angeles, California with St. John's University. In LA, she stayed with a group a volunteers at the homeless center, St. Vincent's Cardinal Manning Center on Skid Row. Not only did she help serve members of the Skid Row community at Midnight Mission, a human service organization, but gathered resources like water, snacks, sandwiches, etc to pass out to those living outside the shelters.

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Community service has always been an important part of her life growing up and experiences like helping the community on Skid Row inspired her to continue to get involved. She grew an emotional connection during her time on Skid Row because of those she met and the stories they shared. The names she remembers and keeps close to her heart: James, Dale, Mama Pat, Ralph.  

 

Her experience motivated her to create  the Be Like Water Initiative. It is for those whose voices are silenced and too often forgotten because of their homelessness or other circumstances. Being like water is being a source of energy that encourages growth and renewal. It is about acknowledging the reflection and the existence of those who are ignored and outcasted. Her goal is to encourage more humanity and compassion by creating a  platform for those experiencing homelessness to be heard and collaborating with other non-profits who are working to help in the cause so that resources are equally distributed inside and outside the shelters to ensure every community member is taken care of.​