What is your role at the Partnership and what does it involve?

I am a project coordinator for the Partnership where I’ve helped on several projects over the last 7 years. I am currently working on two projects:

Virginia LEND (Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities)

Virginia ECCS (Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems)

As a project coordinator, I take on different roles that help progress the project, keep the project team and activities organized, ensure due dates are met, and assist with communications between team members, the community, and project oversight.

What inspired you to join the Partnership?

The Partnership was my top choice for an internship during my time as a MSW (Master of Social Work) student at VCU. It was a dream when this internship turned into a job, as I saw the Partnership as a place where I could give back to my community by helping others navigate the disability system, better understand disability, and make improvements to the policies, programs, and practices that support our communities.

How does your work contribute to the mission of the Partnership?

My work has varied contributions to the Partnership’s mission. However, I always think about how we are fostering a community where we all live, learn, work, and play together. Through LEND, I am helping shape leaders from many different fields through interdisciplinary learning, modeling, and practice. Likewise, through ECCS, I am helping strengthen family-professional partnerships to work collaboratively in efforts that shape responsive maternal and child health programs, policies, and practices.

What’s something you're proud of accomplishing in your role?

Accomplishments that I’m most proud of are those I have to wait to see. Two of my favorites are ones where I learn about the impact of helping someone on their journey or witness the positive impact of system-level improvements that I had a hand in.  

What does a typical day look like for you?

My typical work day isn’t glamorous. It’s typically me behind my laptop completing tasks, planning out next steps, curating resources and information for LEND trainees, prepping for class, advising trainees, documenting progress, developing products, coordinating teams, scheduling activities, attending Zoom meetings, and forever learning. On more interactive days, I can be found running meetings in the community, facilitating clinics with trainees at family homes, or attending and presenting at conferences.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do here?

The most enjoyable parts of my job are when I’m helping others or getting creative. The great thing about my work is that I’m always helping someone, whether it be along their personal journey or at a systems improvement level. 

How do you collaborate with other team members or partners?

I collaborate with others in many ways but since I work with team members and partners near and far, I am often using technology to connect. You can be sure that I’ll weave in a way for face-to-face contact whenever I can.

What experience or background do you bring to the team?

My personal experience as the parent of a child with disabilities has led my work. Through our journey I have learned so much from my daughter and about formal and informal systems of support, advocacy, collaborating with professionals, networking, decision making, and generally navigating life with a disability.

What excites you about the future of this work?

What excites me is having the opportunity to make the path of raising a child with a disability a little easier and a lot more supportive and accepting.

What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the work we do?

That real change takes time. Although we can create all sorts of plans, programs, and policies, it’s through relationships and communication in ever-changing circumstances that the real work happens to successfully implement change.