At Doctors Without Walls (DWW), our mission is centered around compassion, service, and providing care to the most vulnerable members of our community. While our medical work is essential, it’s the dedication of individuals like Josh Monroy—a peacekeeper who has been with us for 10 years—that truly defines the essence of what we do. His journey with DWW is not only about safety and security but also about being a calm, supportive presence in the lives of those who need it most. As we celebrate Josh’s decade of service, we reflect on his impactful role, as well as the journey that brought him to DWW.

From Santa Barbara to the Mountains: A Background Rooted in Service and Design

Josh was born and raised in Santa Barbara, where he attended local grade schools before his family moved to Vandenberg Village as his sister was born. He attended Vandenberg Middle School and Cabrillo High School, but his adventure didn’t stop there. After high school, Josh moved back to Santa Barbara, where he attended Santa Barbara City College. He pursued environmental horticulture—landscape design—and developed a lifelong passion for the profession. Over the past 25 years, Josh has worked as a landscape designer, drafting and designing plans for various projects, from city parks along the waterfront to high-end estates in Montecito and Hope Ranch. Whether it’s designing a flower pot or large outdoor spaces, Josh’s design expertise is as varied as the outdoor spaces he shapes.

But Josh’s journey also took him to the mountains, where he spent seven years in Park City, Utah. Originally planning to stay for just one ski season, Josh ended up falling in love with the mountains, the alpine lifestyle, and the sport itself. Becoming an avid skier, snowboarder, and even a telemark skier, Josh immersed himself in mountain culture before returning to Santa Barbara for good to focus on his career.

The Call to Serve: Joining Doctors Without Walls

While Josh had always been familiar with Doctors Without Walls through his family—his aunt Mimi Doohan, one of the founding members of the organization—it wasn’t until a few years after the program’s founding that he became directly involved. Josh’s mother, Maggie, played a pivotal role in the financial and organizational aspects of DWW, and when a peacekeeper position opened up in 2014, Josh’s mom encouraged him to step in. At first, Josh wasn’t sure what to expect, but he was willing to give it a try.

“I didn’t know what I was supposed to do,” Josh laughs as he recalls his first clinic experience. “It was November, cold, and dark, and I had no formal training. I just showed up with a flashlight and a lantern.” While Josh’s official title was peacekeeper, he quickly realized that his role evolved to something even more valuable: that of an ambassador.



A New Kind of Peacekeeper: Beyond Safety


While Josh’s initial understanding of his role was to provide physical safety at the clinic, it soon became clear that his presence was also about creating an emotional space for connection and comfort. “I would go out and meet people on the outskirts of the clinic, bringing them in instead of waiting for them to come to me,” Josh explains. “It wasn’t just about security; it was about being approachable and making people feel welcome.”


Josh also emphasized the importance of de-escalation as a core part of the peacekeeper role. “We’re there to help remove outside distractions or potential conflicts so the doctors and nurses can focus on patient care,” he explained. “It’s about keeping the environment calm and creating a safe space for healing.” By addressing issues before they escalated and offering reassurance to patients or passersby, peacekeepers like Josh ensure that the clinics run smoothly and effectively.


Josh found himself connecting with individuals who were often overlooked or unheard. Many of the patients at DWW’s clinics were living on the streets, and their stories were often filled with hardship. “I spent a lot of time listening,” Josh recalls. “People would come up to me and tell me their stories. I wasn’t always able to give them my full attention, but I never turned away from a conversation. There’s a kind of healing in simply listening.”


The Healing Power of Listening


Josh’s ability to be a calm, non-judgmental listener became a vital part of his role as peacekeeper. For many of the unsheltered patients at DWW’s clinics, simply being heard was a form of healing. “People who live outside often don’t get to have a lot of conversations. Just having someone listen to them—it lightens the load,” Josh says. “It’s not about offering solutions; it’s just about being a sounding board. That alone can make a huge difference.”


Josh’s approach to being a peacekeeper wasn’t just about ensuring physical safety—it was about offering an emotional lifeline for people who often feel invisible. His presence helped create an atmosphere where patients could feel safe, respected, and valued. In Josh’s words, “There’s real healing in being heard, and I’m proud to have provided that space.”




Growing Up in Santa Barbara: The Early Exposure to Homelessness


When Josh reflects on his youth in Santa Barbara, homelessness was a familiar and prevalent issue. He recalls that in the past, homelessness was often referred to using terms like “hobos,” and many members of the community saw people experiencing homelessness as lazy, unwilling to work, or addicted to substances. Josh, however, has always viewed the situation differently.


“Growing up in Santa Barbara, homelessness was prevalent. Half the community sees people experiencing homelessness as being lazy, just wanting to drink, use drugs, and sleep all day. I’ve always taken that with a little bit of a smirk,” Josh says. “I don’t think anyone would want to spend their day looking for food or a bathroom or a place to sleep. It’s a frightening, difficult, and frustrating situation. I don’t think anyone chooses to live that way.”


He points out that there was a time when homeless individuals camped in areas such as the “Hobo Jungle” across from the beach, long before the area became developed with hotels and parks. “The reality is, these people weren’t being shaken down by the police—it was just normal for that time,” Josh adds. He acknowledges that in the past, it was a time when hitchhiking was legal and Santa Barbara’s streets were full of those facing hardships, but it wasn’t until he joined Doctors Without Walls that he started to see the healthcare side of homelessness and gain a deeper understanding of the struggles people endure.


Building Meaningful Connections: An Ambassador for Change


Over the years, Josh has been integral to the success of DWW’s mission. His role has expanded far beyond what he initially imagined. In addition to ensuring the physical safety of clinic attendees, Josh’s efforts as an ambassador have helped connect people with the resources and care they need. He’s become someone the clients can trust—a friendly face who not only listens but helps guide them through the process of receiving care.


In his ten years of service, Josh has seen the profound impact of his work. One patient who stands out to him is Don, a man who frequently attended the clinic. “Don didn’t need medical care, but he needed someone to talk to,” Josh recalls. “He just needed a connection, and we built that over time. That’s what we do here—give people a sense of belonging.”


Looking Toward the Future: Continuing to Adapt


As DWW continues to grow and adapt to the changing needs of the community, Josh is focused on maintaining the core values that have guided the organization from the beginning. Reflecting on the future, he says, “I don’t think we need to seek too much out. We just need to keep showing up and let the community tell us what they need. Our mission is clear, and we just need to stay the course.” The world around us is constantly shifting, and Josh acknowledges that as the needs of the unsheltered population evolve, so must DWW. “The reality is, we have to be flexible. We adapt as we go along, whether it’s because of changes like food distribution or other external factors. But we always show up,” he says. “We always make sure that we’re there for the people who need us.”


Josh also envisions the peacekeeper role expanding to include individuals who are trained to be social workers or ambassadors—someone who can meet patients where they are, offering a sense of stability and compassion. “It’s about being present for people, not just in a physical sense but in an emotional way too,” he explains. “Having more trained individuals who can help patients work through life challenges would be incredibly valuable.”


A Lasting Commitment to Service


Looking back on his 10 years with DWW, Josh shares a commitment that resonates deeply: “As long as I have breath in my lungs and I’m living in the Santa Barbara area, I will always be a peacekeeper with Doctors Without Walls if they’ll have me,” he says, reflecting on the deep connection he has with the organization and its mission.


Celebrating a Decade of Service


Josh’s 10-year journey with Doctors Without Walls is a testament to the power of service, compassion, and human connection. Whether through his landscape designs or his work as a peacekeeper, Josh has always found a way to bring people together, to create spaces for healing, and to make people feel valued.


Today, as we celebrate Josh’s decade of service with DWW, we honor his dedication and commitment to those in need. His role as an ambassador, listener, and peacekeeper has shaped not only the organization but also the lives of countless individuals. We are grateful for his 10 years of service and look forward to the continued impact he will have on the DWW community in the years to come.


BY BLAKE SANCHEZ, DWW Communications Coordinator