Meet the (A)typical Social Work(er)
Founding creative of (A)typical Social Work(er) LLC, Shawnte Wilson is a MSW prepared social worker and 2012 graduate of the University of Buffalo school of Social Work.
She has worked in the field of social work for over 8 years. Her experiences have centered around working with youth, adults with intellectual impairments, group home quality management, community organizing, and higher education.
Throughout her time in the MSW program her focus centered around macro level social work. Unlike many of her peers Shawnte's professional curiosity centered around policy, advocacy, and community organizing. As the first person in her immediate family to obtain a Masters, Shawnte often felt the push and pull of passion versus that of job security. Many urged her to venture into clinical social work as a means for accumulating a higher level of income within the social work profession.
Despite the validity of these sentiments, this was not where her passion laid. Instead post grad Shawnte moved to NYC and worked with the Juvenile Justice Academy on their "raise the age" campaign; which focused on bringing awareness to the need to raise the age of criminal responsibility in New York State.
After this opportunity ended, she moved back to her hometown of Buffalo, NY where she worked for several local non profit organizations and later began recruiting future MSW students at her Alma Mater. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for working in higher education. Since then she has held roles specializing in grants management and retention services within the higher education field.
Her professional passions include equity in education, development of identity based programs in college settings, and grants management.
With her diversity of professional experience, much of which was deemed atypical based on her educational path, Shawnte felt it was important to bring awareness to the opportunities available to future social workers. Thus the development of the (A)typical Social Work(er) podcast. The podcast is the creative element of a much larger goal to continue to pursue her passions professionally and push the envelope while using her skills as a social worker.
The (A)typical Social Work(er) brand offers organizational and professional trainings, customized business consulting services, educational and professional coaching services, and is home to the Project L.Y.F.E. Academy which assists youth 5-25yrs of age to explore identity, heritage, and civic awareness.
Shawnte is the eldest of three children. She has two younger brothers, 2 nieces, and 2 nephews. She was inducted into the Gamma Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 2006, where she served in a variety of leadership roles. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, volunteering, spending time with her family, writing poetry, and cooking.
She has worked in the field of social work for over 8 years. Her experiences have centered around working with youth, adults with intellectual impairments, group home quality management, community organizing, and higher education.
Throughout her time in the MSW program her focus centered around macro level social work. Unlike many of her peers Shawnte's professional curiosity centered around policy, advocacy, and community organizing. As the first person in her immediate family to obtain a Masters, Shawnte often felt the push and pull of passion versus that of job security. Many urged her to venture into clinical social work as a means for accumulating a higher level of income within the social work profession.
Despite the validity of these sentiments, this was not where her passion laid. Instead post grad Shawnte moved to NYC and worked with the Juvenile Justice Academy on their "raise the age" campaign; which focused on bringing awareness to the need to raise the age of criminal responsibility in New York State.
After this opportunity ended, she moved back to her hometown of Buffalo, NY where she worked for several local non profit organizations and later began recruiting future MSW students at her Alma Mater. It was during this time that she discovered her passion for working in higher education. Since then she has held roles specializing in grants management and retention services within the higher education field.
Her professional passions include equity in education, development of identity based programs in college settings, and grants management.
With her diversity of professional experience, much of which was deemed atypical based on her educational path, Shawnte felt it was important to bring awareness to the opportunities available to future social workers. Thus the development of the (A)typical Social Work(er) podcast. The podcast is the creative element of a much larger goal to continue to pursue her passions professionally and push the envelope while using her skills as a social worker.
The (A)typical Social Work(er) brand offers organizational and professional trainings, customized business consulting services, educational and professional coaching services, and is home to the Project L.Y.F.E. Academy which assists youth 5-25yrs of age to explore identity, heritage, and civic awareness.
Shawnte is the eldest of three children. She has two younger brothers, 2 nieces, and 2 nephews. She was inducted into the Gamma Kappa Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 2006, where she served in a variety of leadership roles. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, volunteering, spending time with her family, writing poetry, and cooking.