In our highly anticipated Year-End "Ask Paula Anything - Vol.3" Episode, Paula dives into an array of questions submitted by our vibrant and supportive community of listeners. She shares her unique perspectives and offers a wealth of personalized feedback covering a variety of topics that resonate with many. Paula provides insightful suggestions and diverse strategies, serving as a catalyst for achieving even greater success as we eagerly anticipate 2025!

Social Work Professional Development - 10 CEUs
Retreat, Remix, Revive - Mar 21, 2025 - Mar 23, 2025
For More Information: https://bit.ly/4gzTkTW

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Cristino, a first-generation Salvadorian social worker, discusses his diverse roles, including forensic social worker and PhD student among others he currently holds. He emphasizes the evolving use of social media as a tool for connection and information dissemination. In addition, he critiques the social work licensing exams, arguing they perpetuate inequality and hinder entry into the profession as well as highlights the need for systemic change and the importance of social workers in leadership roles. Cristino shares a call to action, emphasizing the ongoing revolution in social work and the need for continuous transformation.

Guest Bio:
Cristino N. Chavez Jr. (he/him/his) is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Certified Trauma Professional (CTP) and currently holds several roles including forensic social worker, adjunct professor at NYU Silver School of Social Work, board member, and an immigration court mental health consultant. Cristino received his BA in Psychology at SUNY Old Westbury and MSW at Adelphi University. Cristino is currently a doctoral student at Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work, on his journey toward earning his Ph.D. in Social Welfare. His research, teaching, and practice focuses on criminal & juvenile justice, immigration, and social policy.

Contact/Socials:
Email: cncsw.consulting@gmail.com
Instagram: @cnc_lmsw
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/cnc_lmsw

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Erica discusses the importance of mentorship in her career and the upcoming third volume of "Latinx in Social Work," which focuses on mentorship. She highlights her journey, including support from mentors referred to as Madrinas and the challenges she faced, including toxic work environments and betrayal. Erica emphasizes the role of community and collective action in overcoming these challenges. She also shares her transformation through holistic practices and the launch of Siembra Today, a nonprofit providing accessible mental health and wellness tools for BIPOC communities.

Guest Bio:
Erica Priscilla Sandoval is an award-winning mental health practitioner, speaker, executive coach, entrepreneur, podcaster, philanthropist, and author.

Erica is most recently the Executive Director of Siembra Today, a women-run, BIPOC-led nonprofit devoted to providing accessible mental health and wellness support through narrative storytelling, books, workshops, healing circles, conferences, and social media campaigns. Siembra Today’s goal is to destigmatize and promote mental health and wellness for the Latino/a/x/e and BIPOC community, so that they can plant seeds of hope for themselves and future generations.

Erica is also the founder and CEO of Sandoval Psychotherapy Consultation—known as Sandoval CoLab—which provides talk therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), and holistic offerings. She is the creator of the book series Latinx/e in Social Work, personal narratives available in both English and Spanish that amplify the voices of Latinx/e social workers.

Erica holds a Post Master’s in Clinical Adolescent Psychology and a Master’s in Social Work from New York University, Silver School of Social Work. As a proud immigrant from Ecuador, her passion is fueled by supporting her community.

Contact/Socials
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericapsandoval/
Instagram: latinxinsocialwork, sandovalcolab, siembratoday
Websites: https://www.latinxinsocialwork.com/, https://www.sandovalcolab.com/, https://www.siembratoday.org/

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It's been 100 episodes and what better day to share how thankful we are for the show than Thanksgiving. (United States Version) Paula and everyone at Fonzie-Try Media appreciate everyone who been a guest, listened, followed, and shared. Enjoy and thanks for listening to our show!

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Joe shares his transformative journey from gun violence and incarceration to becoming a social worker. He highlights his motivations, including the birth of his daughter and the desire to break the cycle of crime as his “Why?” while uplifting the importance of lived experience in therapy, advocating for more clinicians with similar backgrounds and his work with the alternative-to-incarceration program CASES.

Guest Bio:
Joseph (Joe) Williams, LCSW, is a formerly incarcerated Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and Lyfe-Chess Strategist. Joe grew up in the Brownsville & East New York sections of Brooklyn. He received his Bachelors from Bard College’s Prison Initiative (BPI) in 2013 while incarcerated, and shortly after release, received his Masters of Social Work (MSW) from Columbia University. Joe is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Social Work (DSW ‘25) at NYU, with over a decade of experience providing trauma-informed talk-therapy, counseling, and success mentoring to youth, young adults, families, and communities from all walks of life.

Contact/Socials
Email: joewilllcsw@gmail.com
Instagram: joe4gi
Website: lyfechessynk.com

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Gabi and Paula converse about her career trajectory, starting out as a foster care social worker, transitioning to Founding Social Worker & Director of Social Services at Mott Haven Academy Charter School and involvement with launching a program at NYU Silver School of Social Work designed specifically to train school social workers. She highlights need for specialized training for school social workers, noting the complexity of their roles and the lack of consistent support. They emphasized the importance of community, data utilization, and professional development as well as discussed the challenges of advocating for oneself in the school system and the need for increased quality professional development opportunities.

Guest Bio:
Gabriella McBride, LCSW, DSW, earned her MSW degree from CSSW in 2006 and DSW from NYU in 2023. Following a supervisory role at New York Foundling, she joined Mott Haven Academy Charter School in 2009, where she served as a Founding Social Worker and the Director of Social Services until 2021. Gabriella has supervised MSW students since 2007 and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at NYU Silver since 2016. Gabriella's teaching is influenced by critical pedagogy, aiming to transform social work practice both within the classroom and in practicum placements. Gabriella's doctoral capstone was on using simulation in social work education and dialogic pedagogy in classrooms as an anti-racist teaching practice. Currently, Gabriella is involved with launching the School Social Work Training Academy at NYU Silver School of Social Work, a program dedicated to training school social workers serving youth and families in New York City. Gabriella is also a proud mama of two beautiful children.

Contact/Socials
Email: gc85@nyu.edu
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabriella-mcbride-6a73b069/

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Jaran shines a light on his experiences as a Functional Family Therapist and discusses some of the challenges he has observed in his work with youth and families, particularly during the early days of the pandemic, highlighting rising truancy and violence among youth. He reflects on the impact of societal and personal expectations as well as the value of self-compassion and creating safe spaces to foster growth and reflection.

Guest Bio:
Jaran David Manzanet, MSW is from The Bronx and is now a resident of Harlem. He works as a Functional Family Therapist, helping youths between the ages of 11-18 build support systems with family members and their communities. He has been in Social Service since 2014 and has helped on Community Board projects for Harlem’s District 10. Currently awaiting to retake the License Exam, Jaran David is also deciding on the best options for continuing education in the field of social work.

Contact/Socials:
Email: jmanzanet@fordham.edu
Instagram: atlasrum_87
X: @atlasrum

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Paula is joined by an awesome panel of dedicated social workers Ancy, Cindy, and Emily who discuss the origins and impact of their annual retreat for school social workers and youth mental health providers. The retreat, which began in March 2024, aims to address burnout, provide continuing education units, and foster community among professionals. Despite personal challenges, such as health issues and grief, the organizers emphasized the importance of collaboration and self-care as well as the significant positive changes identified by participants. The next retreat is scheduled for March 2025, with a focus on the youth mental health crisis.

Contact/Socials:
Ancy & Cindy
Email: velocityvisions@gmail.com
Website: www.velocityvisionsinc.com

Emily
Email: emily.george@nyu.edu
Instagram: emg.sw.ed
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-george-lcsw-ms-ed-a4b4ab88/

Retreat, Remix, Revive
Email: retreatremixrevive@gmail.com
Instagram: retreatremixrevive
More Info & Waitlist: bit.ly/retreatremixrevive

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