Policy Leader Interview : A Project Associate For The Center For Social Inclusion

My Introductory to Public Administration class has taught me the range that can come with public administration. Public administrators are employed in all levels of government, across various fields including social welfare, financial administration, and human resources (Denhardt, 2014, p. 1). Despite the various type of public administration jobs that exist, the one thing all public administrators are required to do is to maintain a commitment to public service (Denhardt, 2014, p. 1). In order to better understand how public administrators are responsive to public interests, I was assigned the task of interviewing a professional in public administration. I chose to interview Jeanell Emond, program manager for Central Valley Prevention Program (CVPP) and Mental Health Systems (MHS), because of my future in social work and my interest in developing and managing programs that benefit the community. Through the interview I was able to gain valuable insight on the agency and Mrs. Emond’s role as a public administrator. More importantly, I was able to learn how interorganizational partnerships, financial management, ethics, and leadership and management skills in public administration can help develop stronger communities.

Following college, I moved to Portland, Oregon and looked for ways to continue developing my skills and fostering my passion for social responsibility. I started at Impact NW as an AmeriCorps member, where I served two terms helping run the AKA Science program. In my role, I managed hundreds of volunteers, wrote curriculum, and trained instructors; but above all, I learned how to work with corporate partners. Aided by corporate volunteers, our program served thousands of students each year. I quickly realized the importance of establishing meaningful, long-term relationships. Companies gave back to our community and in return we provided them a chance to hold an engaging experience for their employees. Every committed corporate team we cultivated helped us build capacity and redirect vital resources back into our program. We also encouraged volunteers to share their skills and as a result they would provide us with amazing insights. For example, one group of volunteers from Nike world headquarters helped streamline our processes by sharing ideas from their work in lean manufacturing. These experiences sparked something for me and I realized that my strengths as a creative thinker and a leader and my passion for giving back unite.

Prior to being in graduate school I was not fully aware of all the opportunities and experiences in social work. I have since gained more knowledge of macro level opportunities in the field of social work, such as advocating for human rights, and social justice. I have also been presented with the chance to tackle tough policies that directly impacts clients that I have interacted with through my experience in social work. I plan to continue to identify weakness in various systems to promote social justice, and learn more ways to change social institutions to be more humane and

My interest in health policy has emerged from the desire to empower those who have a lesser ability to change their own personal circumstances. Throughout my life, three characteristics have driven my goals and choices: (1) an appetite for travel and broad exploration; (2) an enjoyment of problem solving; and (3) a deep-seated desire for equity and justice. For as long as I can remember, it has been my goal to integrate these three core values into my career, and they have fueled me to become a more effective researcher, teacher and practitioner.

I was ecstatic when I discovered that the Nelson-Atkins had a job opening for teenagers to work as guides over the summer. As a life-long devotee of museums across the country and here in Kansas City, I never felt more perfect for a job.

Since attending IUPUI my mind has truly been opened to new ideas when it comes to social justice. I have learned new outlooks that I would never have thought about on my own. I’ve been pushed to challenge to pervious outlooks on many issues. I’ve also had to accept the fact that people come from very different backgrounds and will have very different outlooks from me.

Licensed Masters of Social Worker, Kimberley Fleischer, serves as a field supervisor for students obtaining a masters degree in the field of social work. She first attended Iowa State University and obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology. Later, she received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Kansas. She has worked in the field of social work for eleven years and has been with Richland County School District for nine years. Mrs. Fleischer currently serves two elementary schools, Lonnie B. Nelson and Pontiac for the 2016-2017 school year. She has been with Lonnie B. Nelson Elementary for three years and is currently serving her eighth year as a field supervisor. In order to identify her values, practice, leadership and supervision style, I interviewed Mrs. Fleischer 's to better understand her role professionally and personally as a school social worker. The interview was conducted through an open-ended response questionnaire. These responses were used along with information received during supervisory sessions. The combination of two, provided meaningful insight to the significance of an organization 's purpose, structure and effectiveness as well how individual social workers impact their occupational placements.

I began working for ABCD Head Start as a Family Advocate because I have always had a passion for social justice. This passion was what pushed me to work in an environment where I could commit myself to making meaningful change in people’s lives. It wasn't until I was pursuing my bachelor’s degree that this passion became fully realized. During the course of my education I took classes in sociology, such as Working for Social Justice, psychology and cultural studies, that provided a unique comprehension of the various issues that underprivileged people face. I learned the mechanics behind their oppression, as well as the key roles that non-profit institutions play behind eradicating them. It takes more than passion to be able to navigate the various systems that are complicit in poverty and those that are in place to help eradicate it. Thanks to my education I am now keenly aware of the intersectionality between socio-economic status, race and gender, and that acute understanding allows me to use my passion and the resources provided by ABCD to make lasting change.

Dr. Richard Martin Ruiz, MD, FACS has the background that can influence health policy at the local, state, and national level. The information that is gained through the research projects, he shares through national publications as well as through oral presentations at state and national conferences. By being a voting member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)/Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) Minority Affairs Committee, Dr. Ruiz can influence health policy. UNOS is “the private, non-profit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government” (UNOS, 2017). OPTN is the “public-private partnership that links all professionals

My interview with the Director of Special services provided me with a unique viewpoint related to our student learning problem, both from the perspective of current district-wide policies and their influence on the current state of things and potential improvement plans, and the reasons that the CSI department is encountering difficulties.

On September 18, 2015 I interviewed Mrs. Anisha Nix at Ted’s Montana Grill in Downtown Decatur, Georgia at 5:48pm. Mrs. Nix is a Family Consultant Supervisor at the DeKalb County Child Advocacy Center. I interviewed Mrs. Nix, not only for the position that she holds but also because she did not start off with a degree in social work or sociology. Before Anisha took an interest in social services, she gained her masters in Biology from Spelman College. Once done with her undergrad Ms. Nix decided that she would pursue and ultimately gain her Masters in Social Work at Georgia State University, then continue on to become a licensed Social Worker. As the Supervisor of the Advocacy Center, it is her job to supervise the Family Consultants at the

My Social Sciences service-learning project was place in the office of the Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo. Commissioner Bovo represents District 13 which includes the vibrant and diverse communities of Hialeah, Miami Lakes, Palm Springs North, several other unincorporated neighborhoods and including where I live. Also, Commissioner Esteban Bovo stands in for the community and the County Government providing services, programs, and pertinent legislation. Therefore, in my experience as a volunteer and student I was able to determinate the connection between my Social Sciences class and the government.

According to Morgaine and Capous-Desyllas (2015), this viewpoint acknowledges that individuals cannot by fully empowered until society is transformed. However, my manifesto deviates slightly from Malcolm Payne’s vision in that I will be working within existing systems—the federal government—to enact this change rather than organizing individuals to overhaul the current system. By working to incorporate anti-oppressive practices, cultural competency, family systems theory, positive youth development, and practice-informed policy, I will gradually change society by designing and implementing policy that pursues social justice and challenges individuals to change their systems so that those most marginalized and oppressed in society can gain power over their own lives (Morgaine & Capous-Desyllas,

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program, accredited by the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA), is designed to prepare students for careers in public administration and policy work in diverse areas such as non-government organizations, industry associations, and, of course, the public service. MPA students are exposed to core concepts in policy formation and analysis, and have the opportunity to explore substantive areas such as social policy, health policy, innovation policy, trade and immigration policy, resource and environmental policy, and public sector management. This combination of theory, application and research ensures that our

Primarily working with the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy Committee on the Affordable Transit Pass Pilot Program, I had the opportunity to refine my research, communication, and analytical skills. With the pilot program coming to a close, I helped the team administer and analyze surveys in order to draft long-term transit strategies for Peel’s low-income residents. To complement these surveys, I helped facilitate focus groups where I developed the ability to communicate in an audience-appropriate manner that helped grow the trust and relationship between Peel and its residents. In order to translate the program participants’ stories into meaningful and cohesive insight, I helped organize data points according to demographic segments and key themes. The quantitative and qualitative results generated from this analysis helped the team understand the impact affordable transit can have on low-income residents’ ability to access education, health care, employment, and community engagement. I believe this experience has prepared me well for the work an AC at Bain might do in regards to conducting robust research, communicating in a client friendly manner, and analyzing data to drive meaningful