My internship at the East Bay Community Law Center during my first year of graduate school was incredibly formative in my conception of the social work profession and in my personal understanding of how I want to serve as a social worker. My role as a Social Work Intern in the Housing Services program provided me with an intimate perspective into the housing barriers and challenges faced by individuals and families living in the Bay Area. Having limited knowledge of the topic, EBCLC provided me with the historical and legal knowledge to contextualize my work and the tools and language to work with clients experiencing housing instability. Although social work often occurs on the individual level, my work at EBCLC demonstrated the importance of better understanding the systems and institutions that impact clients.
I was particularly grateful for the opportunity to work with an elderly client who sought out legal support after facing eviction from her apartment. Every week during my internship, I would visit her and work on various tasks to address her needs, from scheduling doctor appointments to grocery shopping to coordinating a unit cleanout. While she was initially reserved, we slowly developed an amazing connection. She went from not letting me enter her apartment to eagerly opening the door for me. By the conclusion of my internship, her legal case had been settled, and many of her physical ailments were finally under control. Although this client initially sought out EBCLC for legal support, the organization’s emphasis on supporting the whole person helped her reach stability in every aspect of her life. My work with her was extremely special in my development as a social worker, and I will forever be reminded of our work together as I embark on my career.
My time at EBCLC also demonstrated the power of collaboration. In previous work environments, my social work role was often siloed from other systems and stakeholders. Our clients’ lives do not exist in a vacuum, so their care should not either. Working alongside attorneys and law students demonstrated the power of teamwork and will inform my work going forward. Additionally, the endless support of my EBCLC supervisor and social work co-interns provided me with the space to process my work and seek guidance when needed.
As my Master’s in Social Work program comes to an end and I consider my career as a social worker, my time at EBCLC will undoubtedly guide me. I look forward to embedding the unique values that EBCLC centers, such as advocacy, ongoing education, and collaboration, into future roles.
Written by Olivia Tom
University of California, Berkeley, Class of 2024
East Bay Community Law Center, Social Work Program