My Story

Where the work began

My path into social work did not begin in a classroom. It began at home, in Sierra Leone, in a community where people looked after one another because that was simply what you did. I studied Community Development at Milton Margai College, and I later worked with the Special Court for Sierra Leone, where I saw both how much pain people can carry and how much healing is possible when someone chooses to show up for them.

That belief followed me to New York. Over more than eight years here, I have worked alongside children, seniors, and people with developmental disabilities in schools, homes, and community programs. I earned my Bachelor of Sociology and my Master of Social Work from the College of Staten Island, and I trained as a certified CPR Instructor and a New York State Mandated Reporter along the way. The credentials matter, but they are not the point. The point is always the person in front of me.

I speak English, Mende, and Krio, and I have learned that meeting people in their own language, in every sense of that word, is where trust begins. Whether I am helping a child through a hard day, coordinating care for an older adult, or standing beside a family as they navigate a system that was not built for them, the work is the same. Protect dignity. Build independence. Make sure no one feels invisible.

What Guides Me

The values behind the work