Build Your Brand with Josie Rosario ’19 | Wednesday, October 16

Join us for an exciting workshop led by CSSW Alumna, Josie Rosario ’19!

Building Your Brand: Strategies to Enhance Your Marketability While in School
Wednesday, October 16, 12:30 – 1:30 PM
CSSW Room 301

Register

This is a great opportunity to learn how to effectively define and communicate your personal brand and increase your marketability for future opportunities.

About the Presenter

Josie M. Rosario, LMSW ’19, MSEd is an NYC-based therapist, who helps individuals and couples improve their self and relational awareness while supporting their journey towards feeling whole and being well. As the founder of the Healing Strategy, a brand and marketing consultancy for therapists, she supports private practice clinicians increase their visibility and impact. Josie splits her time between private practice, leading the Healing Strategy, and a mental health clinic.

Josie earned a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University, a master’s degree in education from Hunter College, and graduated with distinction from Columbia University’s School of Social Work. Josie was an early participant of Business Essentials at Harvard Business School and the Columbia Entrepreneurship Design Studio. She is also a trainee in family and couples therapy at the Ackerman Institute for the Family.

Josie is a native New Yorker, a proud Black Dominican-American woman, a die-hard Golden Girls fan, and deeply committed to continuing to manifest her ancestors’ wildest, most fiercest dreams.

Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program Webinars

The PMF Program Office will be leading a number of informational webinars for prospective candidates on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, September 25, 2019, from 1:00 – 2:00 PM (Eastern Time)
    • This session is open to all disciplines, and will be co-hosted by The Lab at OPM with a specific focus on Design
  • Wednesday, September 25, 2019, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM (Eastern Time)
    • This session is open to all disciplines, with a specific focus on Scientific, Technical, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
  • Friday, September 27, 2019, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM (Eastern Time)
    • This session is open to all disciplines
  • Monday, September 30, 2019, from 2:00 – 3:00 PM (Eastern Time)
    • This is session is open to all disciplines, with a specific focus on Cybersecurity and Information Technology (IT)
  • Wednesday, October 2, 2019, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM (Eastern Time)
    • This session is open to all disciplines, with a specific focus on diversity and inclusion

Here is the link to their webinar and an Adobe Connect Quick Start Guide on how to connect, conduct a connection test, and troubleshoot, as well as a copy of their presentation slides. Note that these webinars are limited to 500 participants. For more information, see their news and events page.

As a reminder, the 2020 PMF application will open at noon Eastern Time, October 3, and close at noon Eastern Time on October 17.

Make sure to check the PMF site for the latest updates and resources, including their Application Tips and Assessment Preparation Guide.

Careers in Development with Angelie Singla ’06

Last Wednesday, we had the pleasure of learning about careers in development from Angelie Singla ’06, who spoke about her own journey in the field and how she leveraged her social work background to secure funding for her organizations. Many social work skills and attributes were discussed, including the ability to:

  • Understand the needs, goals, and mission of an organization;
  • Build and cultivate relationships with both donors and internal stakeholders across the organization; and
  • Persuasively communicate and advocate for a cause and inspire others to invest in the issues, whether through grant proposals or other fundraising campaigns.

Thank you, Angelie, for sharing your story, insights, and tips on this career path!

Want to learn more about careers in development? Conduct informational interviews with professionals in the field and explore resources and associations such as Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFPNET), Chronicle of Philanthropy, and Candid (merge of the Foundation Center and GuideStar).

Coalition of Social Workers for the Defense (CSWD) Conference: Decolonizing Social Work: Can It Be Done Working From Within? | Monday, October 21

The Coalition of Social Workers for the Defense (CSWD) is excited to announce its third annual conference: “Decolonizing Social Work: Can it be done working from within?” Each year CSWD organizes a full-day conference for the growing number of professionals in the defense-based social practices across the country.

This day long training organized by the Coalition of Social Workers for the Defense (CSWD) in collaboration with The Legal Aid Society, The Federal Defenders of New York, and The Columbia University School of Social Work, will create a space for dialogue about the impact of various legal systems on individuals and communities, centering the voices of those directly impacted.

  • Identify the impact and experiencesof individuals and families in the criminal legal and child protection systems,
  • Describe howthose with with direct experience advocate forjustice-impacted individuals and their families,
  • Deconstruct the roles and responsibilities of social workers and advocates in variousorganizationsrepresenting individuals and families in the criminal legal and family court systems, considering the perspective of those directly impacted,
  • Learn aboutavenues for systemic reform in coalitions seeking to center the voices of those directly impacted
  • Introduce the use of restorative justice circles and how to incorporate these practices into defense-based practice, and
  • Build connections among social workers and advocates working in defense-based settings.

This training is recommended for new social workers, social workers new to the field of defense-based social work, as well as experienced social workers interested in learning more about the role of social work in defense-based settings and gaining skills for working with individuals impacted by various legal systems.

Participants will be provided with resource materials and references and links to more detailed information and specific contacts.

This training is provided without charge to the staff of the Legal Aid Society, other social workers and advocates employed in defense-based settings, and current social work students.

REGISTER HERE. Space is limited!

Agenda

9:30 – 10:00 AM: Registration and breakfast (provided)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Opening statements and keynote address

  • Welcome from representatives from the Eastern District of New York
  • Welcome and introductions from CSWD, Rosa Jaffe, LMSW
  • Keynote address jointly delivered by:
    • Brittany Smith, Director of Education, Fortune Society
    • Marlon Peterson, Writer, host of the Decarcerated Podcast, & founder of The Precedential Group

12:00 – 1:00 PM: Lunch on your own

1:15 – 3:15 PM: Afternoon breakout sessions

A- Systemic Reform in the Child Protection System

  • Panel facilitated by: Caitlin Becker, MSW
  • Panelists: Joyce McMillan & Jeanette Vega (PLAN Coalition)
  • Goals for this session include:
    • Introduce participants to the ways in which systemic reform has been led by parents affected by the child protection system
    • Highlight recent success with statewide legislative advocacy
    • Discuss challenges in forming a coalition of parents affected by child protection, and legal professionals representing parents and children
    • Learn ways in which

B- Transformative Practices: The Use of Peacemaking Circles in Defense-Based Social Work

  • Presented by: Vivianne Guevara, LMSW
  • Larry Williams

C- Neighbors in Action

  • Panel facilitated by: Ron Schneider, LMSW
  • Panelists: staff from Neighbors in Action

D- Deconstructing Mandated Reporting

  • Panel facilitated by: Noemi Cotto, LMSW
  • Panelists: Tiffany McFadden, MSW & Eva Santiago (CWOP)

3:15 – 4:00 PM: Closing remarks by Hope House

  • Vivianne Guevara, LMSW
  • Vanee Sykes & Chastity Michel, Hope House

4:15 PM: Offsite networking event: Park Plaza Diner (220 Bar and Grill), 220 Cadman Plaza West

Building Community through Candid Conversations

Yesterday, at our 2nd annual Communities of Color Networking Night, we had the pleasure of welcoming back alumni, both in person and online, to share their unique stories and perspectives on navigating their careers as professionals of color working in various roles and spaces.

Notable themes included the importance of being open and thoughtful about who you choose to connect with — recognizing that titles don’t always dictate the value others can offer — knowing what you want to learn and being proactive in the learning process, and using your natural ability as social workers to initiate and cultivate relationships.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our alumni who spent their evening with us to share their insights and advice, to James Singletary ’10, Associate Director of Field Education, who led an engaging panel discussion on strategic networking, and to students who participated and helped make the evening a success!

We hope everyone enjoyed the opportunity to connect and felt empowered to continue developing their network.

For tips on how to build on the connections you made after an event, click here.

Kraft Global Fellows | Istanbul 2020

The Kraft Global Fellows Program is an initiative of the Kraft Family Fund for Intercultural and Interfaith Awareness and the Office of the University Chaplain. Applications are now being accepted for the January 2020 Kraft Global Fellows research trip to Turkey and the Columbia Global Center | Istanbul. The group research project will focus on the religions, cultures, and communities of Istanbul. The project is designed and directed by Jewelnel Davis, University Chaplain, and Associate Provost.

Funding for the program is from the Kraft Family Fund for Interfaith and Intercultural Awareness and the Office of University Chaplain; covered expenses include round trip airfare from NYC-JFK to Istanbul and return to NYC-JFK and lodging. Students must have a current passport that will not expire before June 2020. Dates of the trip are Jan 02 through Jan 11th, 2020. Students will travel together to and from NYC.

For more information, click here.

Strategies for Successful Student-Alumni Networking

Networking and informational interviewing are critical tools for career success, whether you are a student or seasoned professional.

Specifically, they can help you:

    • Learn about different careers and industries
    • Gain insider knowledge about specific positions or organizations
    • Discover “hidden” opportunities
    • Build a network of contacts for information-sharing, mentorship, and partnerships
    • Gain visibility in the field

Student-Alumni Networking Events are particularly valuable because they provide students an opportunity to connect with alumni who have an interest in sharing their insights and advice and can relate to their educational experience.

Whether you are networking in a formal or informal setting, consider the following strategies:

    1. Keep the goal in mind. The objective of networking or informational interviewing is to gather informationnot to ask for a job. If done effectively, it can lead to valuable contacts and information regarding potential opportunities.
    2. Conduct a self-assessment of your goals and interests. It’s okay if you’re not exactly sure what you want to do; however, you should have a general sense of your skills, goals, and interests so that you can ask targeted questions that can help you move forward.
    3. Prepare an introduction. How you introduce yourself will influence how you’ll be remembered. To make a strong first impression, be ready to share a quick introduction on who you are, what you do or have done, and what you hope to learn. Be sure to bring business cards if you have them.
    4. Do your research. Learn as much as you can about your prospective new contacts using online resources such as LinkedIn. They have invested time out of their schedule to meet with you; invest time to learn as much as you can about them.
    5. Develop a list of questions. Conversations will be more productive if you prepare a list of relevant questions in advance. Examples:
      • How did you market your social work skills and experience to land your current role?
      • What classes were most valuable for the work you’re leading? 
      • What recommendations do you have for those interested in following your career path?
    6. If you’re in a group setting, provide opportunities for others to engage. You can learn a great deal from listening to and showing interest in others. It is also the courteous thing to do!
    7. Follow up. Make sure to send a thank you note to the contacts you made and stay in touch with any updates, especially if they provided specific advice or leads that were helpful. Go a step further and offer to serve as a resource for them in the future. Ultimately, meaningful networking is about cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship.

Career Talk with Angelie Singla ’06 | Wednesday, September 18

Learn about one of many careers you can pursue as a social worker at this first in the series of a number of career talks led by alumni and professionals in the field.

This month, we will be featuring Angelie Singla ’06, who will be discussing her career path in the field of development.

Career Talk with Angelie Singla ’06
Wednesday, September 18, 12:30 – 1:30 PM
CSSW Room C06

Register here

Angelie Singla is currently the Director, Corporate, Foundation & Government Relations at South Nassau Communities Hospital.  Previously she was the Vice President of Philanthropy at Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC. Prior to that, as the Assistant Director of Program and Resource Development at the Fund for Public Health in NY she submitted several successful government, foundation and corporate grant applications ranging from $40K to $15.5M.  Prior to graduate school, she was a Site Director at the Queens Community House, where she facilitated programs for students and parents.

In addition to her professional experience, Angelie has taught continuing education courses, graduate social work courses and has given presentations at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, Columbia University’s School of Social Work, Stony Brook University’s School of Social Welfare and the Network for Social Work Management Annual Conference. She is the Co-Chair, Scholarship Committee of the NYC Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has been a Selection Committee member for the NYCT Nonprofit Excellence Awards, has been a volunteer mentor for the Network for Social Work Management, and a volunteer Career Coach for Women in Development. She has served on the Board of Directors of Community Mediation Services and as a Team Leader for the Grants Advisory Committee of the New York Women’s Foundation.