Kia Levey

Kia Levey is a second year MSW policy practice student from New Haven, CT. Kia earned a BA of Communication in 1999 from Central Connecticut State University with a minor in Sociology. Her focus of study concentrated on the function of organizations in society and how institutions impact communities. Since finishing undergraduate school, Kia has worked in the nonprofit sector in New Haven. Some of the organizations included the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven where she was a philanthropic officer and worked on initiatives to build the capacity and effectiveness of nonprofit organizations, increasing the engagement and development of donors of color in institutional philanthropy and connecting philanthropic giving to local community needs. Additionally, Kia served as a program director for Empower New Haven an organization created to invest funds from the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development into the federally designated empowerment zones of New Haven. There she managed two initiatives funded by the U.S. Department Health and Human Services providing training to nonprofits in the areas of board development, fundraising and strategic planning. Kia has a background in grant writing, grant management, and review.

As part of her civic engagement in New Haven, Kia participated in the City of New Haven’s Democracy school, a civic engagement program for residents and she also serves on the board of directors for two local nonprofits: Youth Rights Media, a media and youth advocacy organization that gives young people to the tools to speak out and organize around issues that are meaningful for them; and the Greater New Haven Help Alliance, a faith based nonprofit in New Haven that addresses issues of poverty.

Kia’s first year field placement was with the Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance where she was able to work toward her goals to improve juvenile justice policies and processes. As a MSW Kia intends to be pivotal in the development of new policies and models for juvenile diversion and alternative to incarceration programs as well as working the change the “School-to-prison” pipeline. As an intern in the NAHIPSW, some of the things Kia will be responsible for will be introducing Connecticut’s Legislatures, legislation process and its relationship to Social Work to first year students, planning the Jane Adams panel and lecture, serve as the liaison to the Women’s Campaign School at Yale, Keep the Promise Coalition and CT Chapter League of Woman voters. To date, Kia considers her greatest accomplishment to be her four-year-old son, Seth.

Brian Jud

Brian Jud is a second-year student at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, concentrating in Policy Practice. He will be graduating in May 2012 and hoping to enter the workforce thereafter. He has a strong interest in promoting social justice through political means, and also hopes to achieve this goal through utilizing new media, particularly the Internet and social media

Brian earned his Bachelor’s of Arts from the University of Connecticut in 2010. He double-majored in Communication Sciences and Political Science, and minored in Sociology. In the summer of 2009, Brian interned with the Jewish Federation Association of Connecticut (JFACT). On behalf of the organization, he attended and lobbied at sessions of the Connecticut General Assembly; contacted state and federal legislators to advocate for JFACT’s official political positions; attended meetings for such groups as the Connecticut Association of Nonprofits; worked on interfaith efforts to promote good relations between varying religious groups and organizations; and assisted in the formation and operations of Passing the Torch, a group bringing together descendants of Holocaust survivors to keep their legacies alive and promote Holocaust education in the present and future.

Brian’s first year field placement was at the United Way of West Central Connecticut (UWWCC) in Bristol, CT. He largely worked with local organizations on early childhood issues to ensure equal access and success in preschool education for all children in the area, and also to improve the health and environment of these children and their families. Specifically, he calculated the body-mass indices of local preschool students in order to guide future work to combat childhood obesity.

Presently, Brian will be working for the NAHIPSW, focusing largely on media and social media campaigns, a voter registration drive, and an electronic newsletter. He will also take part in a study of political social workers across the nation with Dr. Shannon Lane. Additionally, he will serve as the NAHIPSW liaison to the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office, as well as Hartford Votes and the NAHIPSW National Board of Advisors.

Kelly-Ann James-Haynes

Kelly-Ann James-Haynes is an Advance Standing Policy Practice student at the University of Connecticut, School of Social Work. Kelly-Ann graduated magna cum laude with a BSW from Bowie State University in Bowie, Maryland. While she was an undergraduate, Kelly-Ann was President of the Spanish Club La Familia Española and coordinated weekly sessions with Spanish speaking mothers learning English.

Kelly-Ann has worked for Whitman Walker Clinic’s Bridge Back Program as the Senior Residential Counselor serving triply diagnosed individuals for seven years. She provided leadership to residential counselors by coordinating and delegating duties. Kelly-Ann also contributed to treatment team meetings, formulating client treatment plans, and providing supportive counseling and crisis intervention. Her most recent experience has been working as a counselor in therapeutic group homes primarily with youth of color in the foster care system.

Kelly-Ann developed a strong interest in political social work and policy practice after attending Advocacy Day in Annapolis, Maryland in 2009 and 2010 along with Lobbying 101 at Social Policy Day on the Hill at the United States Capital in Washington, D.C. Her experience working with youth of color in the foster care system is the driving force behind her passion for Policy Practice.

Kelly-Ann is currently involved in a number of projects at the Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work. As an intern, she will be the Editor of the Institute’s Legislative Scoop Sheets, leading the collaboration with the Armenia Social Work Project, updating the Institute’s webpage, and participating in staffing a fund-raising committee to benefit the NAHIPSW.

Brittany Kane

Brittany Kane is a second-year student at the University of Connecticut School of Social Work, concentrating in Policy Practice. She will be graduating in May 2012 in hopes of enrolling in law school full-time.

Brittany earned her Bachelor’s of Arts in Administration of Justice from Salve Regina University in 2009 while enrolled in the Pell Honors Program. While at Salve Regina, Brittany participated as a youth mentor for both her student peers at the school, specifically incoming freshmen, and for juveniles incarcerated at the Rhode Island Training School. Brittany also worked for the Rhode Island Public Defenders’ Office of Newport County as a legal intern. She was responsible for client intake and often accompanied the attorneys while in criminal court. During her senior year, Brittany composed her senior thesis analyzing the sex offender registry and the hindrances preventing a positive reintegration into the community for sex offenders upon release from incarceration.

Brittany’s first year field placement was at the Office of Congressman Chris Murphy in New Britain, CT. She recorded and documented opinions to later formulate policies, interacted with constituents via direct casework, researched policy issues, organized and implemented the nomination selection process for students interested in attending the U.S. Military Academies, and staffed the Congressman at events.

Presently, Brittany is working for the NAHIPSW and Rep. Toni Walker and the Appropriations Committee at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford. Brittany is responsible for coordinating the Institute’s annual Campaign School, as well as assisting Dr. Shannon Lane with the study of political social workers in Connecticut. She is also responsible for composing the NAHIPSW annual report in 2012. Brittany is serving as the NAHIPSW liaison to the both the Connecticut Coalition for Choice and the UCONN Women’s Center in hopes of a possible upcoming collaboration. Lastly, Brittany is also an active member on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut chapter of the National Organization for Women (CT-NOW).