As an ardent political advocate, I was ecstatic when I opened the email about the Washington Calling program. I thought to myself, “This opportunity is right up my alley. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for.” That being the case, I feel very passionate about the importance of having social workers at the forefront of politics. I will become a political social worker to ensure that social work values are being represented within our legislature and that our voice is being heard. Growing up as an undocumented Latina in an impoverished community, my call to action in empowering others is rooted in the human struggles that I have witnessed and faced. Whether through a micro or macro-level approach, social workers aim to relieve vulnerable populations. At the micro-level, social workers work with individuals and/or families by providing resources to ensure well-being. Although, it is equally as important for social workers to be active within the political realm and work in Washington D.C. As a profession that leads with honest principles, social workers must commit to an ongoing leadership role of influencing the policies that affect many of the communities that we serve. As active listeners with highly emotional intelligence, social workers are needed to work in Washington D.C. to influence legislators because we hold the ability to take a micro-level perspective and apply it to a macro-level scale. Accompanying this, social work values of empathy and compassion are highly …show more content…
By having social workers in Washington D.C. influencing policy, preventative measures can be taken to efficiently help vulnerable individuals and