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Peer Power Partners (PPP) is a transformative peer mentoring program grounded in direct, peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. Designed for first-year and second-year MSW students, PPP aligns participants based on shared personal and professional interests, fostering supportive relationships that transcend traditional academic structures.
Experience
Nonprofit
Schools
ILC (independent living centers/non medical disability justice
Tribal government
Community organizing
Grief/loss
Populations served: Youth: education equity, immersion language program, recently resettled refugees,Tsétsėhéstȧhese (Northern Cheyenne) and Apsáalooke (Crow) nations, school mental health services, queer youth, justice impacted minors. People with disabilities across the lifespan: employment support, independent living support. Sitka tribe of Alaska: intergenerational healing, opioid use prevention, suicide prevention, prevention programming, created a regional conference on MMIP/MMIW, DV/IPV healing program,other projects that served tribal citizens, Sitka's Decolonization Discussion Group
Bio
Hi! My name is Caroline and I grew up in New York, but I moved here from Southeast Alaska where I've been living for most of my adult life. It's because of Sitka that I'm really interested in community healing from intergenerational trauma, and especially interested in programs that engage whole communities across the lifespan. (Watching teens and elders interact is potentially my greatest joy in life.)
I am a yapper (unfortunately? fortunately?) and I'm barely joking when I say talking is my favorite hobby. I also love to amble around, hike, bike, swim, run, and play outside in general. You can just as often find my in lizard mode, laying in the sun with a book or a fun craft. I'm a big fan of spiders and they're (to use a Kevin phrase) "the basis of my politic".
I use Living Proof's curly hair shampoo line which I recommend for the 2C/3A girlies. It doesn't have shea butter though which is a bummer (but works better with shea butter curl creams more than the curl cream from the Living Proof line imo)
Community is the basis for my sense of purpose and meaning in the world, and foundational to my approaches to social work (mezzo baby!!!) I'm so grateful for the countless times my community in Sitka came together to work towards decolonization, to name intergenerational harm and make space for healing, to protect the land water and natural life from commercial interest, to support our community members after each death in the community, to demand justice from our city and state governments, to celebrate all elements of life in the quirkiest possible ways (salmon release party at the hatchery? monthlong pothole community art contest?), and to see each of these elements as deeply related. I'm (literally) here because of my friends and neighbors in Sitka who loved me into the person I am, and for one neighbor who had the intention and curiosity to stop me on the street and say, "Have you ever thought about moving to Berkeley, California?" Hoping to hold all of those experiences very intentionally, and keep on weaving webs of connection in the ways I was invited into :)
I'm allowed to say more??? This is too much power. If it feels like we might be a fun and funky fit, pick me pick me!
Experience
Nonprofit
Hospitals/medical settings
Populations served: AAPI/AANHPI, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, unhoused/homeless, immigrants, disabled, and formerly incarcerated adults and older adults
Bio
Hi! I am Angelina Huynh (she/her), and I am a first generation Vietnamese American, a Bay Area native (born and raised in Oakland), and eldest daughter/sister. I graduated from San Francisco State University with a major in Health Education with an emphasis on Community-Based Public Health and a minor in Women's Health Issues. Since graduating from college, I worked at non-profit community-based organizations in San Francisco for the last 10 years, as a medical case manager and housing case manager, before I went back to graduate school to pursue a MSW. It was my personal and professional experiences that ignited my passion to be an advocate for our BIPOC community. And this is reflective of my internship placements. Starting with my first year placement, it was at Laguna Honda Hospital as a medical social work intern where I helped provide case management and psychosocial support. Then, my 2nd year placement is at Chinatown North Beach Mental Health Services as a behavioral health social work intern, providing case management, psychosocial support, and therapy. I am looking forward connecting and building community.
Fun fact about me: I have 2 dogs, Atticus (Australian Cattle Dog and Dachshund Mix) and Beatrice (American Staffordshire Terrier aka Pocket Pittie), that I adopted 2 years apart, but they happen to be the same age, and they just turned 9 years young
Experience
Nonprofit
County (government)
Populations served: Last year worked with survivors of domestic violence, this year general Medicaid population including many immigrants
Bio
Hi! My names Emilia and I’m originally from Washington DC and have also lived in Maine and Spain (it’s funny cuz they rhyme). I’m interested in community mental health and restorative justice! I worked with domestic violence survivors last year and am working with kids and teens at contra costa county this year. I am also a restorative justice practitioner for the Berkeley co-op system where I do mediation and lead workshops on community building. For fun I like to make art, watch movies, thrift and be outside in almost all capacities! Let’s b friends with mentorship benefits lmaoo
Experience
Nonprofit
community organizing, labor/union organizing
Populations served: incarcerated folks, BIPOC, and immigrant communities - mainly connecting them with resources and supporting their advocacy efforts
Bio
Hiii, I'm Sarahi (she/her). I'm a queer Texan from El Paso (shoutout to El Chuco <3) who moved to the Bay for school. I'm really interested in abolitionist social work and organizing to abolish these oppressive systems we live under, while we build better world where we can thrive and not be struggling to survive. I'm also really passionate about labor organizing - I think it's so important that we all advocate for better working conditions and a liveable wage! I'm a big foodie, love going on food & coffee adventures, spending time in nature, and everything astrology.
Experience
Nonprofit
Schools
Hospitals/medical settings
Legal Aid
Populations served: Schools: low-income elementary school girls (STEM-based afterschool sessions)--learned a lot about grief, community violence, and oppression/discrimination in that space. Legal aid: LGBTQ+, HIV+, AAPI, immigrants, disabled, older adults, etc. Therapy: unhoused/housing-insecure adults--POC and survivors of abuse; adolescents who identify as POC, low-income, LGBTQ+, disabled, survivors, and/or immigrants.
Bio
Hi! My name is Alli (she/her), and I am a second-year MSW student excited about school social work and community mental health. Much of my experience revolves around working with people who identify as low-income/unhoused, LGBTQIA+, survivors of sexual assault/abuse, POC, immigrants, and/or disabled through legal aid, teaching, and mental health sectors. I'm hoping to stay in the school social work realm after graduating, and I'm currently interested in advocating for health centers in public schools, especially for reproductive and mental health.
I grew up in the Bay Area and have lived in a few different parts of the US (Los Angeles, Portland, Boston). I love hiking around the Bay Area, crafting little doodads, reading (if my brain can handle it), playing videogames, and singing (poorly) in my car. I am being prompted by the team to share the brand of shampoo I use as well as whether it contains shea butter (very important information!) -- I recently started using Function of Beauty's wavy hair stuff, and I like it so far. I don't think it has shea butter in it. :-)
Experience
Nonprofit work
County (government)
Hospitals/medical settings
Populations served: Practicum: adults and older adults, including people experiencing homelessness and people who are newly housed, adults living with complex mental health challenges and co-occurring conditions, people in the rare disease community, especially those from underserved and diverse backgrounds. Medical field: people across the lifespan, including children, adolescents, adults, and older adults; people from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds; people experiencing homelessness; immigrants; individuals with mental health and substance use challenges; people with chronic conditions; and people facing limited access to care.
Bio
Hi, I’m Rob (he/him), a second-year MSW who values practical, systems-level work. My focus is on macro/admin, leadership, program design and implementation, and identifying and fixing systemic gaps across nonprofit and government systems. I have a background in medicine and behavioral health and a strong commitment to expanding access to care, especially for people experiencing homelessness and those living with complex mental health challenges. I’m also interested in international humanitarian aid and relief, and I’m excited to mentor this year. Outside of school, I enjoy tennis, sailing (beginner), keeping a saltwater fish tank, cooking and grilling, watching documentaries, and volunteering. Languages: Spanish (intermediate), Russian (conversational), and Laughing (always).
Experience
Nonprofit work
County (government)
Schools
Hospitals/medical settings
Populations served: Former foster youth, disability, unaccompanied immigrants, systems involved, formerly incarcerated
Bio
Hiiii!!
My name is Alishba and here is a little bit about me :
I was born in Pakistan and immigrated to the Bay Area, and I’m also a former foster youth. Both experiences have shaped my commitment to advancing educational equity for newcomer and foster youth and to creating spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and connected across systems.
I currently serve as a Diversity & Community Fellow, supporting incoming and current graduate students in finding community and navigating campus resources. I’m also Graduate Student Researcher at the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare Initiative, I study how schools can better meet the psychosocial and academic needs of newcomer and unaccompanied immigrant youth. Over the summer, I interned at Child Trends, working on the Hilton Foundation’s Foster Youth Initiative, and this year I’m interning at UCSF Benioff with the Cal-MAP program, focusing on pediatric care coordination and behavioral health access.
Outside of work and school, I love hiking and long walks through Temescal and Oakland, and I share my home with two cats and a bearded dragon. I’m excited to connect.
Experience
Nonprofit work
Research
Populations served: Older Adults, Survivors of Family Violence
Bio
Hi, Future Mentee!
I'm Anissa (pronounced uh-NEE-suh) and I use she/her pronouns. I'm originally from New York -- the city, not the rest of the state -- but I also lived in Houston for a few years before moving here for grad school. I'm also a combined student, so I'm finishing up my MSW this school year and also working towards my PhD. In my personal time I really enjoy being outside (nature & nightlife), exploring new venues I find on TikTok, coworking in cafes, and discussing all things Love Island USA (if you have the right opinions)! And umm yes to the shea butter question lol, gotta keep the locs hydrated ofc! As I mentioned in the other questions, I'm happy to talk about my experience in my practicums working as a sleep therapist and on the development team of the Family Violence Appellate Project, but also super excited to discuss doing research in social welfare, the process of applying for/pursuing a PhD, the transition from undergrad to grad, and anything else that comes up! Also, I'm uploading a personality pic because I feel like that's more important in this context lol. Looking forward to meeting!
-Anissa
Experience
Non profit work
Clinical social work
DV shelters, health clinics, primary care associations
Populations served: Unhoused adults and families, first generation youths, transitional aged youths, justice involved individuals, survivors, people with co-occurring disorders
Bio
Hi friend-to-be! I’m Katie (she/her/她), a second-year MSW student with a deep interest in unhoused communities, collective healing, and social reintegration. These passions trace back to early memories of handing out bánh mì in San Francisco’s Tenderloin with my dad—learning, in small ways, what it meant to show up for others within my capacity. Before grad school, I spent several years working in San Francisco’s housing nonprofit sector, taking on roles in outreach, case management, and program coordination. These experiences continue to ground me, especially as I explore macro social work, where change often moves at a different pace. Currently, I’m interning at Futures Without Violence, a nationally recognized organization dedicated to shifting narratives around domestic violence and building safer communities through partnership, universal education, and capacity-building. While intimidating initially to "switch," I love the idea of being a multilevel social worker as it affirms the responsibility we share in shaping, protecting, and uplifting our communities in more ways than one. Outside of school and work, I love spending time with my two dogs, known as the Nosy Gals, collaging, and thrifting for hidden gems.
Experience
Schools
Crisis textline
Populations served: Academically disengaged/ chronic absentee (aka identified at promise /"at risk"), Gang involved/impacted, Queer and questioning, foster care system involved, youth w/ incarcerated parents, juvenile hall involved, PTSD, disordered eating, General Anxiety Disorder, Major depressive disorder, annoying ass admins
Bio
Hi I'm Sylvia ("MJ")! Born in LA, raised in San Bernardino, immigrated to S Korea, immigrated back in 5th grade to Inland Empire. I have C-PTSD (childhood dv survivor) and I do trauma healing work with youth, zooweemama! My vision is to become a children's rights advocate, juvenile hall abolitionist, and developmental trauma expert. My north star is eradicating school-to-prison pipeline and ending racial and class segregation in all public schools.
I came to Berkeley to do school social work and school-based therapy after doing restorative justice work at Title-I schools in San Diego for two years! All my students are my greatest teachers showing me what abolition and culture of care in school setting looks like. (even tho they told me multiple times they saw me in Squid Game and called me Ms. opp <3)
I studied sociology at UCSD for my undergraduate, and I love bringing my sociological lens. (specifically symbolic interactionism) I love ripping apart institutions, systems, norms, and labels. I am a big fan of utilizing Use of Self in our work, and would love to support you developing your Use of Self. Fuck blank slates!!!
I was also a student journalist for The Triton and have been finding myself utilizing a lot of my journalism skills in my student lead position, MSW student organizing, and in narrative therapy at my current practicum. This is my fourth year in public education world, and by the end of this year, I will have experience in supporting K-12 students. (1 year in ES, 1 year in MS, and 3 years in HS)
Imposter syndrome is weirdly normalized yet we don't do enough to address it! As a gemini sun, leo moon, and scorpio rising, I got your back. Whether to escalate things on your behalf, or to yap away together, I'm here to listen!
i use fenty hair from Ross lmao it smells like coconut yummm thanks for asking
