Why Pitt School of Social Work?
I was interested in attending The University of Pittsburgh to earn my Master of Social Work because one of the specializations the program offers is Community, Organization, and social action. At Carlow University, I was a member of Alternative Spring Break where I promoted personal leadership development, team building, critical thinking, reflection, and had the opportunity to work side by side with a community and organization in need of assistance. With this experience, I knew that I wanted to learn how to successfully navigate the systems that are impacting historically underinvested communities the most.
Where are you doing your field placement?
My field placement is with Manchester Citizens Corporation.
What kind of work did you do in your field placement?
My specialized field placement granted me the opportunity to participate as a ride coach for a Guaranteed Basic Mobility Pilot. During this process, I made suggestions for different recruitment strategies and advocated for people in the community who could have benefited from the study but did not due to non-inclusive requirements. I also assisted with community engagement efforts such as building strong relationships with partners to bring more resources to the community and will continue to do so.
How did your task supervisor LaShawn Burton Faulk help you in your position?
LaShawn has been in community development for the past 10 years and her expertise and the relationships she has built over this time is the reason for successful housing development in Manchester. She was welcoming and willing to share her knowledge to help me grow professionally.
What do you hope to do with your degree?
As a macro practitioner, I hope to engage with different systems to build effective and high-performance organizations to build strong communities (i.e, policy, community engagement).
How does your field experience prepare you to achieve your goal?
From both my generalist and specialized field placements, I learned that it is important to engage with clients and organizations on the micro, mezzo, and macro levels to effectively provide resources to each community.
Memorable experience in your Field placement
Being a part of a research study and engaging with different professionals already in the field engaging in transformative ongoing efforts.
Fun Facts
I applied to the Congressional Black Caucus for a career development opportunity and to expand on my policy skills to make sure that the most pressing issues are higher on the agenda.