Social Work Interview

This month's advocacy article is a little different! We decided, with it being social work awareness month, that HOPES would shed some light on our amazing social workers and what their experiences have been working in this particular field. This past month, we interviewed our University of Chicago Social Work Interns, Shamrim Yousef, Erica Ramos, along with our program director Erica Walker, LCSW, to share with us their thoughts related to the field of social work and the work they do here at HOPES.

1. What drew you to the field of social work? What do you hope to achieve through your journey?
   

• Erica Ramos: “Well, I wanted to work with people and feel like I was putting something good into the world. As I was looking through the various fields to study while in undergrad at University of Chicago, I discovered The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice. My entire perspective of social work changed as I delved more into the graduate school’s coursework. I was drawn to all the different areas of social work and I saw that either micro or macro level work was a possibility for me. Throughout my journey, I hope to continue building relationships with clients and go into individual therapy with my degree. Overall, I hope to keep working with people and seeing what we can do for them.”
  

• Shamiram Yousef: “I have learned from my network that everyone has personal draws to the field. For me, I always knew I wanted to work with people and use my skills to be helpful to others. In undergrad, I was a psychology major and sociology minor. I was drawn to both but felt like something was missing. What was missing, which I found in social work, is the micro and macro awareness. When working with individuals, I learned that there are a lot of different ways and levels that individuals are impacted. For instance, in education, I care a lot about education, I have had many different experiences with education. Schools were important for me but I knew I did not want to be a teacher but still support learning. That’s when I realized I wanted to go into school social work. I wanted to make changes at the policy level and support public school students in Chicago. In my journey, I envision myself moving social work forward to become more proactive versus reactive in the school setting to support SEL learning. 
  
• Erica Walker:  “A very strong sense of community drew me to the field of social work. You know, an afterschool program while in college gave me an opportunity to work directly with children in an academic setting and support as well as see their growth both academically, emotionally and socially. I enjoy creating opportunities for people to dream, envision and grow in their belief and confidence in themselves while empowering them to shape their own lives in the way they want. Also, I can shape their community and world to fit their vision. My career goal is more than to give myself a purpose but to empower others to be better people in their environment. I learned that working with youth is impactful in a sense that allows you to share something that can stick with and change the course of their life positively is important. My hope is to help people improve their lives as to how they see fit and want for themselves, that will make her feel as if she has succeeded.”
  

1. What is special to you about Chicago HOPES and the work we do?
   

• Erica Ramos: “The relationships I have been able to build have been most special to me. You know, in the beginning of program or when a new student enrolls, they often keep to themselves over time. However, overtime, they begin to open up and I firsthand see the development of trust between the HOPES team and other students. So, being able to see that growth and trust has been very special to me.”
  
• Shamiram: “I believe building relationships and holding space with everyone at HOPES is special. In some instances, there is so much similarity in the positive interactions I have and simultaneously, I am gaining something new from each interaction. I believe having that experience is an important component of social work. Also, there is a lot of power in how the program is curated with the emphasis on taking the time to meet each individual student's needs. The work of providing resources to children and families experiencing homelessness really humanizes a population that is often overlooked and HOPES really works to make that impact and difference in the lives of those underserved.”
  
• Erica Walker: “The fact that this organization was founded by a social worker has shaped every aspect of how it operates. The values that social workers apply to clients are values that we seek to apply to our curriculum and even ourselves. We take into consideration that the macro-contact of the population we serve allows us to provide a holistic application of the HOPES mission and values. We carry it both in program and throughout the organization.”
  

1. How do you define social work in your own terms?
   

• Erica Ramos: “My understanding of social work has changed over the years. I first thought of it as poverty alleviation and case management-which is an aspect of it. Then, I was introduced to the term social justice and I feel like it completely embodies the work of social work. So, I now define social work as an opportunity to encourage positive changes while simultaneously implementing the understanding that everyone deserves equal rights and opportunities through my work.”
  
• Erica Walker: “I define social work as uniting what is divided and facilitating connections. On an individual level, it is working with a client and connecting them to resources to empower them to help themselves, removing obstacles and barriers for people and overall breaking cycles. From a macro perspective, it involves advocacy and connecting disempowered people and communities to resources of power.”
  

1. What have you gained from your internship so far?
   

• Erica Ramos:
  
• Shamiram: “I feel like it can be hard to articulate in words because I have gained so much! I will say that I have been able to gain an immense amount of knowledge and hands-on experience throughout my internship-from the orientation to training to being in program and applying all these tools. I believe the greatest thing I have learned is the importance and power of authenticity in your work. I don’t want to fall into the stereotypical ‘Social Work Savior’ because that is not what social work is about. I am part of a network of professionals that are here to be a resource and to empower those as they see fit.”​