Four Childhood Friends Complete Western Colorado MSW Program Together
Gladys 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补, Rocio Andrade, Rosa Gamboa and Alma De Lara
More than 100 miles from the 快活app, in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, a room full of students are preparing for rural social work. From their vantage point in Glenwood Springs, they are learning about how to address the particular needs of communities outside the state鈥檚 metroplexes.
For most in the 2021 Western Colorado Master of Social Work cohort, their journey together started in fall of 2019. But for Alma De Lara, Rosa Gamboa, Rocio Andrade and Gladys 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补, who will claim their MSW degrees this month, their journey together started over a decade ago.
The students met while in middle school in Eagle County. De Lara and 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补 were in the same grade, as were Gamboa and Andrade. They shared a bond as members of the Latinx community and as daughters of immigrants. They completed every educational milestone in tandem, which led them to the MSW program at 快活app鈥檚 Graduate School of Social Work.
All four students received bachelor鈥檚 degrees from Colorado Mesa University. While they didn鈥檛 pursue the same degree programs, a common thread weaves through their college experiences: a passion for social justice and a desire to provide social services to the Latinx community.
It was De Lara鈥檚 dream to have a master鈥檚 degree and to feel more confident in her job at Bright Future, an organization that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
听鈥淚 remember my mom, she told me it cost what it cost. We have to make this happen for you if this is a dream for you,鈥欌 De Lara says.
De Lara finds inspiration in her mother. On weekends, she recalls, her mother spent hours reviewing flash cards. When she immigrated to the U.S., she had the equivalent of a sixth-grade education. After starting her life over, she took English as a Second Language classes; she completed her GED; she became a U.S. citizen and a certified nursing assistant.
De Lara hopes to break down social services barriers for the Latinx community and become a familiar face to people negotiating various social and economic challenges.
鈥淧roviding services in one鈥檚 language goes a lot further than that. It means a lot more when it鈥檚 not just in their language but when you can relate to them. Be unbiased because you understand their feelings and their struggles,鈥 De Lara says.
Gamboa and Andrade made the decision to pursue an MSW together. 鈥淚f you do it, I鈥檒l do it,鈥 they promised.
From the beginning of the program, the women found community in one another.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 been great,鈥 Gamboa says. 鈥淲e split up some of our assignments to support each other. Whenever we have questions, we are open to reaching out to each other.鈥
Gamboa was introduced to social work through her first job out of college as a child abuse and neglect prevention case worker. Passionate about the work, she wondered what else she could do. She says she knew her opportunities would be limited unless she earned a graduate degree.
鈥淚 really liked the Western [Colorado] program of 快活app. There were just a variety of instructors within different professions within the field of social work. They were coming in with different examples to share. I think it was very helpful to understanding social work,鈥 Gamboa says.
Before starting a job at the Department of Human Services, Andrade never pictured herself pursuing a career in social work.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e helping these families by addressing all their needs,鈥 Andrade says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I made my decision to go to get my MSW.鈥
She grew up with a negative stereotype of social workers, but now, a social worker herself, she鈥檚 hoping to change public perception.
鈥淚n Eagle County, we don鈥檛 target the Latinx community,鈥 Andrade says. 鈥淲e need a lot of people who look like the community working for the community.鈥
罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补 always knew she wanted to go to graduate school and ultimately give back to a community that helped build her.
听鈥淚t鈥檚 not about knowing more; it鈥檚 about ignoring less,鈥 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补 says.
Women dominate the social work profession, but not even 11% identify as Latinx.
De Lara, Gamboa, Andrade and 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补 are already breaking those barriers in their current community-based roles.
听鈥淭here is such a wide range of opportunities to serve and to build those trustworthy relationships with communities that have been oppressed and marginalized,鈥 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补 says, noting that she hopes to inspire other women of color to pursue higher education.
鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in college you don鈥檛 really think what it鈥檚 going to be like after college,鈥 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补 says. 鈥淚 think just being a Latina and coming from different backgrounds and what our families have been through. We鈥檙e all daughters of immigrants. It鈥檚 surreal.鈥
While this chapter is closing, the four women look forward to new chapters as professionals invested in helping others. De Lara, Gamboa, Andrade and 罢茅濒濒别锄-痴颈濒濒补 plan to become licensed clinical social workers 鈥 another milestone to complete together.