Community is key, according to Isabel. “I grew up with a strong sense of community involvement.  I think it is important to get people more involved in their communities.”

At the Brown School, Isabel is combining her passion for community organizing with her desire to help women who are victims of violence or abuse.

“My first job out of college was in community organizing in Chicago, and later I worked in organizations that help battered women. I learned it is hard to find agencies where participants can have a voice.  Long-term transformation can only happen if people receive needed services and have a place where they can be agents for change.

“I was taking some classes in Chicago and was encouraged to visit Washington University.  It was clear that an MSW from Brown would give me everything I wanted.  My ideal job is to work in direct practice with women who are victims of violence or sexual abuse.”

Today, Isabel is completing her foundation practicum at Let’s Start, a St. Louis agency that supports women who have been incarcerated.