Jun 20, 2009 By: yunews
Jun 20, 2009 -- As a foster child, Satarra Davis was often told she wasn鈥檛 鈥渃ollege material.鈥 With determination and support, she not only graduated from Brandeis University with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology, but this summer she will receive her master鈥檚 in social work from Wurzweiler School of Social Work.
鈥淭here are many young people out there like myself who never got the opportunity to be where I am today because nobody took the time to invest in their futures or believe in them,鈥 Davis told Wurzweiler Board members and donors at a recent Merit Scholars dinner. 鈥淭his is what I am thankful for and this is my inspiration for going into the profession of social work.鈥
She is also the recipient of a scholarship from the Latino Social Work Task Force with career plans to work with adolescents in her community.
For her field experiences, Davis created and facilitated therapy groups for the Family Development Program at the Harlem Children鈥檚 Zone, counseled and advocated for survivors of domestic violence for the Jewish Board of Children and Family Services鈥 Bronx Domestic Violence Program and served as a Youth Development Counselor for middle and high school female students for the Harlem Educational Activities Fund, where she now heads the Unbreakable Sisterhood Sorority.
She currently works at Inwood House鈥檚 confidential residence in the Bronx, where she counsels homeless, pregnant teenagers and helps them obtain services and learn life skills once they give birth.
While Davis was inspired to become a social worker by her own former case worker, she believes 鈥渢he best role models and mentors are people who realize that they never stop learning and can always learn something new from anybody and everyone.鈥