Social Work Narratives: Career Pathways and Practice Wisdom

Be inspired as you explore the career versatility social work provides through unique narratives shared by social workers with careers of more than 50 years to those newer in practice. Interviewees were asked to share their social work journey, including education, work experience, practice wisdom, advice, and self-care tips. Stories are pertinent for all social workers, including those thinking about becoming a social worker, new social workers, those seeking to change their social work career direction, and those who want to reflect on their accomplishments and contemplate future goals.

You will be reminded how social work values and ethics are the foundation for practice.

Hope Horowitz, MSW, LSW, began her career in social services as a VISTA volunteer. She earned an MSW from the University of Michigan and has enjoyed a distinguished career as a practitioner, administrator, trainer, and educator for more than 42 years. She coordinates the Social Work Program and is Professor of Social Work/Sociology at Northampton Community College (NCC). Her passions include social justice issuesand global education. She co-developed and led seven service-learning trips to help rebuild in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Hope has taken students to Ecuador and Israel. She co-developed the Mindful Travel for Faculty trips and traveled with a group of NCC faculty to Finland. She co-led a Mindful Travel Mentors trip to Finland for social work students, alumni, faculty, and professionals. Hope has served as the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Eastern Division Chair and held various leadership positions for the local division. She has presented at numerous conferences nationally and internationally and provided training workshops for nonprofit organizations throughout her career. Hope continues to serve on the Advisory Board of the Phoebe Institute on Aging, and, and she reviews grants for AmeriCorps.