"The Children's Literature program was more than just a certificate for me, it was preparation for a career in child welfare and advocacy."
The Children's Literature Certificate Program at Pitt has very much shaped me both personally and professionally. While in undergrad, I had the opportunity to work with children all over the city. The coursework and critical discussions I engaged in around children's culture deeply changed my perspective on the role that narratives play around race and gender in terms of children's outcomes, particularly in the face of trauma. In combination with my studies in Applied Developmental Psychology, the Children's Literature program helped to develop my understanding of childhood trauma from a psychological, developmental, cultural, and historic perspective. The Children's Literature program was more than just a certificate for me, it was preparation for a career in child welfare and advocacy.
After graduation, I joined the Children's Corps with Fostering Change for Children in New York City. As a Corps member, I worked in New York's foster care system as a caseworker and children's advocate. I am so excited to begin my career in a position that will allow me to influence systems from the inside out, and I cannot wait to help empower children and families through trauma-informed, culturally, and historically responsive practice.