Virginia Ballantyne, MSW, is currently employed as a social worker with Santa Clara County Adult Protective Services. Virginia developed her interest in social justice as a result of being on the receiving end of service provision. She attributes her empathy and dedication to providing quality service and advocacy for vulnerable populations to her lived experience as an at-risk youth, victim of domestic violence, and consumer of mental health services. Virginia previously worked for a nonprofit agency serving victims of domestic violence by providing direct services, developing community resources, and engaging in local and statewide policy efforts for nearly 14 years. Virginia was a 2012-2013 Fellow with the Women’s Policy Institute, sponsored by the Women’s Foundation of California, and helped pass statewide legislation to extend early lease termination to victims of domestic violence, elder abuse, and human trafficking. Prior to graduating with an MSW from San Jose State University in May 2015, Virginia led an online campaign to protest the University President’s decision to drastically reduce future social work admissions and managed to secure additional seats for incoming classes. She has also participated in local policy efforts related to social worker title protection and trauma-informed systems change efforts for criminal offenders.
It is with great honor, passion, and enthusiasm that I respectfully submit my candidate statement to serve on the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification (CNLI) representing Regions E & F. My involvement in the NASW began while working on my BSW at Pacific Union College. I had the privilege of interning with the Consulate General of Mexico in Sacramento and assisted the NASW-CA Chapter at their Annual Conference and Lobby Days. After graduating, I continued to be actively involved in NASW-CA chapter by photographing at their annual conferences and award ceremonies, allowing me to meet many awardees and hear their stories. I also continued to attend Lobby Days where I visually documented and advocated for change alongside many amazing social workers. Academically, my commitment to learning led me to enroll in a MSW Program at Loma Linda University, which I will start in the summer of 2016. I am committed to continue serving the NASW to make sure the best candidates chosen not only reflect our diverse community, but also reflect the mission and values that this great organization stands for. I appreciate your support, and I am excited to be part of this organization. Thank you.
I am honored to be part of a profession that encompasses a code of ethics that confronts social issues on all levels by empowering individuals and communities to act as agents of change. The macro aspect of social work has particularly captured my attention because it guides how society and organizations function. In 2012, I was diagnosed with cancer. During this point in my life I reflected on my past, present and future. As a result of this life changing experience I made one of the wisest decisions of my life, to join the profession of social work so that I could provide a voice for the voiceless in an effort to build resilience and improve the well-being of our communities. I am specifically passionate about child welfare, criminal justice reform, and challenging the oppressive measures of patriarchy. It is my belief that as social workers we will lead the fight for social justice through advocacy. My hope is to contribute to the quality of our profession so that we may continue to lead by example by providing effective comprehensive services throughout all aspects of social work.
“Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics” — Jane Addams
As a first-year MSW student at the University of California, Los Angeles, I will be proud to represent the Southern California region of social work students to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Social Workers. Having served as a leader and manager in previous occupations, I know that I can bring an experienced voice of communication and collaboration to the Student Director position. Establishing connections and relationships, as well as identifying skills and strengths among colleagues and potential leaders, are all tasks that I know I can achieve in the NASW sphere. The schools of social work to which we students belong are the proving grounds for the future of our industry. I hope to bring many of the skills that we are learning at school to bolster NASW’s presence among students, and to help NASW better represent concerns that students have within our industry. Furthermore, I hope that I can be deeply involved in problem solving on behalf of students, working with the board of directors to address any potential issues of representation or advocacy, and creating informed and balanced solutions. I am truly honored to be a nominee for the Student Director South position, and I trust that the NASW board of directors will choose a candidate that can bring expert, respectful and balanced communication to the table of this very important organization.
I am honored to be nominated for the position with the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification in Region B. I currently serve on the board of directors as the Student Director-North and I look forward to my continued involvement with the Association. Additionally, I currently serve as president of the Social Work Graduate Student Association at San Jose State University. I have worked with Court Appointed Special Advocates of Santa Cruz County and I am currently with the Department of Family and Children’s Services in Santa Cruz County as an Emergency Response/Investigations Social Worker. As a member of the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification I look forward to working with chapter and region staff to identify and select future candidates and to work to ensure ballots and procedures are in accordance with Association guidelines. Thank you for your support.
I am running for the CNLI Region G, H & I position because I strongly believe in the continual investment in the next generation of leaders within the NASW. Currently, I am the Student Director of Southern California and have the privilege of representing MSW and BSW students through relaying their interests, needs and concerns to the board of directors. It would be an honor to continue my service to NASW through the CNLI position to contribute to the future of Social Work and NASW by nominating exemplary individuals committed to upholding the values and fundamental ethical standards that were foundational to its establishment and will ultimately ensure an equally bright future for NASW. Thank you for your consideration.
I am honored to be nominated for the Committee on Nominations and Leadership Identification Regions G, H and I. In this role, I would nominate well-qualified and diverse social work leaders who embrace the NASW goals and Code of Ethics and are committed to collaborating with colleagues in Regions G, H, and I and the overall California chapter in promoting the value of the social work profession. My goal is to identify candidates who are highly motivated to support these regions in educating the public about social work values, strengths and issues and developing plans for supporting chapter conferences, networking events and resource development to ensure our California chapter continues to be a strong, effective and valuable association. Through my managerial and consulting work in social services over the past 30 years, I have successfully recruited and retained many highly qualified staff, administrators and volunteers. I worked with statewide and national nonprofit agencies directing services such as in-home family support, out-of-home placement services and innovative parent partnership initiatives to prevent child maltreatment. Currently, I am a senior consultant with the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Funds and direct projects to engage parents as partners with staff and policymakers in decisions to improve child welfare policies and practices.
Bruce Friedman
Since becoming an NASW member as a student, I understand the value of affiliating with professional organization that represents us. Over that time there have been some landmark changes in the profession that have increased the public’s awareness of us. Yet, there is more to be done and I look forward to the opportunity of being able to serve California NASW to help continue to grow the profession. I have served in a variety of social work leadership roles throughout my career. I was the President of the Michigan Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Programs, the Past President of the Network for Social Work Management, and currently the co-convener of Social Work and Health Inequalities Network. Through these roles, I have been able to advance the vision and mission of social work while energizing people to be excited about the profession. Now in my ninth year as a professor of social work at California State University, Bakersfield, I see a need to energize professional pride in the San Joaquin Valley. Through my role as the Assistant Regional Director, I hope to be able to contribute to strengthening the image and pride of the profession in the Central Valley.
Tracy Harrison
It is an honor to be nominated for my second term as Region D director. My first term was given to me by my predecessor a few months into the term; I was able to step up from my Assistant Regional Director role to complete this term. Prior to this, I completed two full terms as Assistant Regional Director and have chaired the Chico Unit leadership for many years. I am still very much a part of the leadership team here in Chico. I feel prepared to continue service to the Region D area. Moreover, I feel I have just started my efforts in this region to facilitate and coordinate regional activities while supporting local NASW activities. My main goal is to help create and facilitate more local units within my region as I firmly believe this is an important visible value of our membership. I currently work as a LCSW therapist for a Tribal Health Clinic and am currently teaching a class at CSU, Chico. I look forward to this opportunity, thank you for your support.
I have had the pleasure of serving as the director of Region A for the past four years. Previous to that I was the chairperson of the Sonoma unit. As a volunteer leader with the California chapter, my goals have been and continue to be: 1) to engage and build the membership of the NASW; 2) to strengthen our professional association work with unit chairpersons within Region A; and, 3) to organize timely, interesting, and sometimes provocative CEU events and other meetings such Social Work Month activities and celebrations. I am an active participant at the chapter’s quarterly board of director’s meetings. In addition, I volunteer to help plan annual leadership retreats, work with chapter staff on website updates, and chaired the committee responsible for establishing the Birdwoman Scholarship. Going forward, my goals include continuing on the path of membership engagement and building membership in Region A and statewide. In addition to my volunteer work with the NASW, I am employed as a medical social worker at Kaiser Hospital and as the site coordinator for California State University—Long Beach Distance Education MSW Program in Sonoma County. Thank you in advance for your support. I look forward to working together with you during the next four years to expand and strengthen the membership and activities of both Region A and the statewide chapter.
I am honored and excited to be a nominee for assistant director of Region D North. I am dedicated and committed to the furthering of both the social work profession and social work issues in pursuit of social justice. I have a rather broad range of experience within the field of social work. I have experience interning at Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, working at an in-patient dual diagnosis center, providing case management services for families receiving subsidized childcare services, and upholding a leadership position at the same agency helping to manage a team of trainees while working to streamline workflow processes for better outcomes. Currently, I am in the last semester of the MSW program at Chico state and am interning with NASW-CA and also working as a research assistant on a study that aims to understand the experiences of low-income families in regards to child care and their management of government subsidies. Although I do have a passion for children and families and advocacy, my passion is rather broad. I truly love everything about social work and the values speak to me professionally, as well as personally. I am hoping to be as involved as possible and to incorporate “outside the box” thinking into this position to ensure that the voices of everyone in the profession are collectively heard and addressed.
CNLI is an important task for the California Chapter. The task is to discover volunteers to run for the elected offices of the chapter. I have been and NASW member since 1978 and have been involved with the California Chapter since 1999. I served as the Region D Director for four years and the Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs for three years. I have lived and worked in Southern and Northern California. I know social workers all across California. I am up to the task of finding recruiting NASW CA’s leadership.
Aleezah McKenna
I am humbled to be nominated for NASW California Student Director North. I am currently a junior in the BSW program with a focus on gerontology at California State University, Chico. I have been employed full time and enrolled as a full-time college student since the age of 17; throughout my work experience I have learned the importance of human connection and relations. I was recently promoted to a medication technician position at the memory loss facility where I am employed; this promotion will allow me to grow as a mediator and a supervisor. My experience working with the older population has fueled my passion for social justice, especially for groups who are often overseen and unmentioned. I come from a Hispanic family that constantly struggled financially; because of my upbringing I am particularly aware of the many injustices and daily challenges minorities face. As a social worker, I am driven by the opportunity to help the vulnerable obtain safety. If elected to the NASW California Board of Directors as Student Director North, I will work to ensure that social work students feel motivated to express their concerns and opinions. We social workers have the innate desire to advocate for others and I would be honored to be the liaison for my fellow colleagues.
I am a student at Humboldt State University and will graduate with my BSW in 2018. At a young age, I found myself wanting to help others reach their goals and overcome any barriers they may have. Throughout my professional experience, I have had the opportunity to see people change their lives for the better. My life is dedicated to empowering people of all backgrounds to realize and reach their full potential. As a full time worker in Child Welfare Services, I recognize the need to motivate others to become engaged with organizations. If elected, I will collect input from student groups regarding social work issues and make an effort to increase student participation. I am looking forward to being able to give back to the NASW organization and to represent my fellow social work students by sharing their interests with the Board of Directors. My commitment to social justice and enthusiasm for the social work profession will show through in my service as a Student Director. I appreciate your vote of confidence.
By being a current MSW student, I can share knowledge about current issues that impact the population social workers serve. By understanding the most recent issues in policy, and practice I can bring forth innovative ideas toward the implementing new ways to help those in need. Aside from being a current MSW student, I can bring forth my experience working as a Youth Care Worker/Residential Counselor for Crittenton Services, and working with at-risk, underserved youth. Currently, as an Emergency Response Senior Social Worker Intern for Orange County, I have been able to experience firsthand the type of adversities unprivileged families face. I strive to make a difference in people’s lives, no matter how small, by providing them the resources to feel empowered. Furthermore, my interest in policy has led me to be a part of Lobby Days 2016, in order to be a leader and represent those voiceless individuals. I would like to ensure that everyone is treated with care and respect, which is why I chose the profession of Social Work. Finally, I believe that I would be a great candidate to represent the needs of my community and help make resources readily available to clients in my region. Martha Negrete, MSW Candidate (2017)
My name is Melissa “Elle” Ortega and I am an MSW and MPH dual degree candidate at the University of Southern California. Having grown up on the cusp between the Inland Empire and Inland LA, it is truly an honor to be nominated to work with my community as the Assistant Regional Director, Region F. As a dual-degree graduate student at the University of Southern California, it is my greatest pleasure to pursue two masters in public health and social work. As a clinical social work student, I aspire to achieve my LCSW, promote the integration of complementary and alternative treatment options with conventional treatment; and ultimately begin my career in mental health by providing individual, group and family therapy in a health care setting. It is my hope that this work will ultimately aid in informing my decisions and work within health care policy reform and the de-stigmatization of mental health care utilization. I’m particularly passionate about working with and for women’s health and empowerment, health care policy reform, my Latino community, and families with ASD individuals. I am honored to have been offered this opportunity to work with the NASW and my community as the Assistant Regional Director, Region F and look forward to seeing how my journey in social work unfolds in the future.
I am in the final stages of completion for an MSW at the fine institution of University of Southern California (USC). My concentrated areas of study are mental health with a sub concentration of Military Social Work. With my invaluable education, level of knowledge and expected competencies, I am now looking forward to the future title of social change agent. Within my pursuit to become a social change agent of my era I received my BSW from La Sierra University of Riverside California. Prior to receiving my BSW I accomplished my Associates of Arts in social and behavior science and an Associates of Science in human services, both within the Riverside Community College District. I am inspired to achieve the position of co-chair to Region F because it allows me an opportunity to learn and grow as I step into the role of a social change agent. I am inspired to offer the highest level of support and teamwork as I work alongside the chair and other top officials. My recent yearlong internship in the field of social work at Riverside County Department of Public Health, Early Intervention program (EIP) HIV/AIDS gave me the opportunity to tackle some of the department’s most difficult cases. The population the program serves identified as “at risk,” yet over the course of my internship, I came to realize the complexity of this oft-misunderstood population. Their need for support, counseling, medical attention, and education is critical, yet all too often they are merely viewed through the lens of negative stereotypes. My perspective deepened in empathy as well as my knowledge of medications, treatments, nutrition, and available resources for HIV/AIDS patients. I became a better listener and I learned the importance of stepping outside of my comfort zone. It is very important for social workers not to ‘judge’ patients based upon their current circumstances but instead help them move forward into the future. A social worker must put him or herself into the “shoes” of the person he/she is helping to understand what motivates the client: what their values are, what their cultural perspective and needs are in the moment.
I am extremely excited to be running for Assistant Director of Region B and I would like to thank each of you for your time and consideration. I have spent a large majority of my career working in social services and nonprofit organizations. The reason for this is because of my passion to help those who need it most. Every day I see my community suffering with homelessness, substance abuse, mental illness, domestic violence, gang violence, poor education and living conditions— the list goes on! I want to take charge and be the change I want to see in this world. I take pride in my personal values that co-represent the NASW Code of Ethics, the most important of which being integrity and valuing human dignity and worth. I am a well-organized, personable, and responsible person. I am competent in the quality of my work and my ability to produce results. Although my career will be focused primarily on clinical social work, I plan to be very active in the community at both the macro and mezzo levels and I can’t think of a better organization to make a difference than with the National Association of Social Workers!
As a future social worker and an MSW first-year student at CSU Northridge, I am interested in bridging the gap between students, community and policy. With several years of studying and working in policy I have a clear understanding of the importance a person has in establishing, equality, change and social justice. I have volunteered for organizations in Los Angeles County and in Ventura County. I am knowledgeable in issues which affect many people in our community, such as homelessness, domestic violence, foster care, poverty and I continue to learn about other issues which concern our field. As a future social worker, and serving in the role of student director, my goal is to bridge the gap between future social workers and policy.
I am a first year MSW student at CSU Northridge. I first realized that she was passionate about social justice as an undergraduate at the University of California Los Angeles while minoring in education. It was then that I learned how the education system is a source of institutionalized racism. Currently I am interning at CSUN’s Pride Center where I am learning the true meaning of “ally.” I have realized that calling yourself an ally and wanting to help is not enough. Similarly, calling yourself a social worker and wanting to help others is not enough. When I understood that my privilege is linked to someone else’s marginalization, this is when I was truly ally-ning (aligning) myself with the LGBTQ community. I believe that we are called social workers and not social helpers because we do more than help: we take arms, we fight and we work for social justice. Earlier this year, I developed, executed and led the student track of the first annual Cal-State University Resource Centers Conference. I also researched and wrote the manual and supporting documents for the Pride Center’s Volunteer program. My most recent endeavor is advocating for more support of LGBTQ student-athletes. I am interested in researching the needs of the transgender community from housing, employment, discrimination, and health care. As a woman of color from an immigrant family and low socioeconomic status, intersectionality is also an area of study that Lainey is invested in. I recognize that people are multidimensional and the effects of identities intersecting might make marginalized populations even more vulnerable. I am excited to share my personal attributes, professional experiences and eagerness to fight for social justice with the NASW Delegate Assembly.
I am humbled and honored to be nominated as the Assistant Regional Director for Region D North. I became connected with NASW-CA during my completion of the MSW program at CSU, Chico and through my participation in the Chico Unit. Eight years later, I am proudly a member of the Chico Unit leadership and have enjoyed learning more about NASW-CA through attending board meetings, Lobby Days, and the leadership retreat. Over the past year I have observed and taken note leadership responsibilities in regards to budgeting and the planning and execution of chapter programs and activities. My professional social work experience includes child welfare case management for public and private agencies, teaching parenting classes, and providing supervision to social work students completing their internships. Additionally, I have taught a child development course at CSU, Chico and will facilitate trainings for the California Department of Social Services during the spring of 2016. I am excited and hopeful to expand my service as the new Assistant Regional Director for Region D North.
I am self-nominating for the position of Nomination and Leadership Committee member to help seek out potential future leaders for NASW CA. My intent, if voted into this position on the committee, is to help identify, develop, evaluate and engage social workers who demonstrate leadership within the profession and with their peers.
As a member of the committee, I will be attentive to developing and enhancing relationships with area and state social workers and help determine if they are sound candidates for leadership roles within the association.
I an adjunct supervisor at the Relational Center and a PhD student at Pacifica Graduate Institute. I am delighted to be considered for the Region H Assistant Director Position. Practicing social work amidst our current historical, political and social epoch is not only an ethical care-response but a subversive act. Social workers are not only asked to serve the vulnerable and the marginalized but also attend to the roots of this suffering, promoting both as Dr. King’s rhythmic alternation between attacking the causes and healing the effects The work in the field has transformed me in the way I experience my relationships, community and world and as I embark in my eighth year as a social worker I feel emboldened to continue my service not just as a Social Worker but a Cultural Worker, with a renewed sense of vitality, inspiration and compassion. This dynamic energy that has sustained me in this work would not be possible if it were not for the supportive people and conditions in my life. If I am elected for this position, I aspire to help build a beloved community to meet and sustain each other and to creatively imagine how we may embody social, environmental, economic and political justice.
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