LEAD 2026 was my second LEAD experience. Although last year was technically LED, long story. But what matters is how different this year felt compared to last. Not just the event itself, but me, and the political landscape we were stepping into. Walking back into the Capitol this year felt familiar in a way I did not expect. It also felt heavier, clearer, and more intentional. Who I Was Then A year ago, I attended LED unsure of my macro social work goals. I knew I liked commu

My time in school social work has been short, but I am already finding my values and identity. To a lot of the adults in the building, when a kid blows up, storms out, yells, or just won’t sit still, it looks like aggression, attention-seeking, or straight-up avoidance. The response is usually fast: consequences, office referrals, being sent out of class. But as the social worker, I have to start somewhere else. Why is this happening? And once I understand the why, what can I

Exercise is a privilege, not a punishment. Somewhere along the way, skinny became romanticized at any cost, as if thinness itself were proof of discipline, health, or worth. What we do not talk about enough is that there is a very real price tag attached to being thin or even just being perceived as healthy, and that price tag is privilege. Capital shows up in multiple forms. Financial capital is the obvious one. Healthy food costs more. Gym memberships cost money. Fitness cl

Spending the last year at RISE Community Solutions / CAC Osceola has been an unforgettably formative experience. Leaving almost feels like a breakup. Packing my office to move back to Tampa, I am excited for this next chapter but forever grateful for the learning and experiences I had here. I will always hold other organizations and jobs to the standards this one gave me. I had a Executive Director who was consistently honest, prompt, and vulnerable about the political landsc

Disclaimer:  The ideas shared in this post are a synthesis of lessons from mentors, insights from peers, and my own personal reflections. They represent an effort to unify the valuable teachings I’ve received throughout my professional and personal journey. While not all concepts are original to me, I’ve gathered and presented them here as a collection of the wisdom, guidance, and “golden nuggets” I’ve absorbed from others. The Bigger the Boat, the Slower the Movement One of

Currently in therapy I am learning the difference between capability and capacity. As social workers, our hearts are large, and our instinct is to say yes . We are capable, competent, compassionate people. But just because we have the capability to do something does not mean we have the capacity to do it. Understanding Capacity vs. Capability Think of capacity like a glass of water. The capacity  of that glass determines how much water it can hold. How much it can “handle.” C

I am 24.Wild. The life I have is far from what I ever imagined, which I think is true for most people. When I look back on this past...

A raw and introspective reflection on navigating the “birthday blues,” healing from past trauma, and learning to celebrate survival and self-worth amid lingering guilt and societal pressure.

RISE & Shine: Standing with Families in Uncertain Times, a community event centered on hope, advocacy, and prevention. It explores Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the harm of the “bootstraps” mindset, the weight of stigma, and the financial case for prevention. It also highlights the role of social workers as navigators, advocates, and sources of hope. At its core, this piece is a call to action: survival is not enough—every family deserves the chance to thrive.

Recently, I had the opportunity to reflect on one of the experiences that shaped my journey to social work while applying for a School of...

One of the hardest adjustments to make as a high-achieving, fast-thinking person is receiving feedback that goes against your very...

Being a leader is a lot like stepping into the role of a coach. Yesterday, you were on the field as a player: gritty, competitive,...

You don’t have to learn the hard way. But if you’re like me, that’s where most of the lessons seem to come from. My biggest growth has...

I have been wrestling with something lately: why do I feel so compelled, not just wanting but feeling like I have to, fix other people’s...

“The rat is always right” comes from B.F. Skinner’s work on operant conditioning. The principle reminds us that a subject’s behavior is...

Ever since high school I have said, “I am not sensitive, I am highly susceptible to feeling a lot.” I am a feeler. I feel things deeply....

After spending a week serving at Camp HOPE , a camp for children who are survivors of domestic violence, I came home with more than...

“But Tori… why are you even there if you’ve been so vocal about your critiques of the organization?” Simple: The power of AND. Not...

Do You Know What a CAC Is? If you don’t, that’s actually a good thing. When 1 in 4 girls  and 1 in 5 boys  experience sexual abuse before...

What CS/SB 254 Really Means—and Why You Should Be Paying Attention Let’s be clear about what CS/SB 254  is—beyond the sterile legislative...

I always knew pageantry carried a stigma—at one point, I even perpetuated the harmful discourse myself. I knew people would have...

Before the NASW-FL Annual Conference officially began, I found myself in an unexpected moment of leadership. Encouraged by a peer, I...

If your protest sign were someday printed in a history book, what would you want students to see? More importantly, what kind of world...

This semester has been a rude awakening. Taking on my first true “adult” leadership role as President of the Social Work Society—our...