Dr. Quinton Cotton, Dr. Lexy Brown and Dr. Melvin Cherry, from Pitt’s School of Social Work, volunteered to connect with local high school students at the IGNITE Career Exploration Event, held at the Homewood Community Engagement Center on April 2nd. Organized by graduate students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, the event aimed to supplement existing career development and expose Westinghouse Academy students to diverse allied health professions.
The event consisted of speed networking, career assessment & exploration and a career fair. Our faculty engaged in meaningful conversations with students, sharing their expertise on the impact of social work in communities, the variety of career paths available, and the educational steps needed to enter the field.
Dr. Alexus Brown states, "I was able to share both what I do in my role as Senior Social Scientist, the Center of Race and Social Problems, and the Racial Equity Consciousness Institute. Through these connections I was able to meet with students and I was able to expose them to the meaning of Racial Equity and why it is necessary to understand the world around us."
Dr. Quinton Cotton states, "What makes career exploration so powerful is the chance to connect with others, imagine new possibilities, and really see how a social work degree can be used to create change. These events help make the field feel real and reachable—showing middle and high school students in Pittsburgh that social work is a meaningful path if they want to give back and make a difference in their communities."
Events like IGNITE are a great reminder of the importance of early career exposure. By connecting with young people in community spaces, Pitt Social Work continues to inspire the next generation of leaders dedicated to social work values.
