Hey everyone:) my name is Crystal (she/they), I'm a first-gen 24-year-old Latinx located in the south suburbs of Chicago. My parents reside in Michoacan, Mexico where I lived for most of my adolescence.
I am very passionate about intersectional radical decolonized community-based social work, I hope to reimagine and create transnational spaces for neurodivergent folks of color to connect and where Spanish-speaking individuals, immigrants, and refugees can thrive by eliminating barriers to information, and resources, provide paths towards upward mobility and build frameworks for international collaboration.
I received my BSW from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign in May 2020 with minors in Latino/a Studies and Spanish. I completed my field placement at The Refugee Center, a small but powerful non-profit resettlement agency in Central Illinois where I mainly worked with the Guatemalan community at the peak of COVID-19. After graduation, I was hired on as a case manager where I stayed until October of last year.
Currently, I'm pursuing my MSW at Dominican University through their Advanced Placement program in Global Social Work Practice for Immigrants and Refugees.
This was my first conference and I am in awe of the incredible efforts to decolonize curriculums and integrate multilingual and international research.
Issues of Interest: Latino/a Studies, Immigration Policy, ADHD, disability justice, community outreach, organization, QTBIPOC, grassroots activism, grantmaking, trauma-informed practice, mutual aid, international partnerships, programs, fellowships, research, restorative justice, immigrants, refugees, displaced populations, Trafficking, Victim Assistance Program (TVAP), macro social work
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Crystal Boyas
Aspiring MSW
Dominican University
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Original Message:
Sent: Jun 13, 2022 15:30
From: Kianna Mckenzie
Subject: Welcome Post: Introduce Yourself!
Hi everyone,
Welcome to CSWE Spark! We are super excited to have you here with us.
Whether you've been in Spark for a while, are brand new, or are looking to expand your network and connect with social work educators, you have come to the right place.
Spark is CSWE's online community for educators and social workers to engage in conversation and collaborate among social workers, faculty members and administrators, students, interprofessional care providers, and other professionals around the world. Before you continue to explore, let your peers know who you are by introducing yourself.
Here's how it works:
Reply to this post and let us know who you are, what you do, what expertise you have to share, what you may be looking for in this community, your hobbies... anything you would like to share.
We encourage everyone to get to know members by replying. Feel free to say hello and wish them a warm welcome.
We look forward to meeting you all!
#SocialWorkEducation
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Kianna Mckenzie
Communications and Marketing Coordinator, CSWE Spark Community Manager
Council on Social Work Education
VA
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