News Archive
Alumni
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Thirteen years ago, Nils de Mol van Otterloo never could have imagined that he’d have the title of “Fulbright scholar” on his resume, let alone a career in social work. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, he had just moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music production and recording. Then something unexpected happened. He had a stroke at the age of 27.
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For J. Scott Watt, his sister Sally Oxley and his daughter Nadine Watt, building homes has been their family’s business since 1947. To understand their devotion to resolving the homelessness crisis, simply look to the man who founded that business – Scott Watt and Oxley’s late father, Raymond Watt.
“My father was always philanthropic,” Scott Watt said. “It was his philosophy to give back.”
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Festus Webley, MSW ’71, former director of staff development at the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services and longtime supporter of USC and the School of Social Work, died Feb. 29, a couple of weeks shy of his 90th birthday.
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Alumni, family and friends of the USC School of Social Work focused their efforts on helping the homeless during the 2016 USC Alumni Day of SCervice. The event gave thousands of Trojans the opportunity to participate in local service volunteer projects organized by USC alumni club chapters and other affiliated groups. There were more than 110 projects worldwide this year.
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Since 1932, the USC Alumni Association has paid tribute to distinguished members of the Trojan Family. The USC Alumni Awards are one of the highest honors presented by the university, recognizing each recipient’s significant contributions to their chosen profession. In 2016, Suzanne Dworak-Peck will become the third graduate of the USC School of Social Work to be honored in the history of these awards.
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A writer who shined a bright light on challenging social issues throughout Southern California, a longtime advocate for vulnerable children and families, and an innovative social work education program received laudatory recognition from the California Social Welfare Archives during its annual awards reception.
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In a time of frequent budget cuts to music and arts programs, many schools might resign themselves to thinking “that's the way of the world.” But come “September,” Erielda Casaya-Wright will choose the “shining stars” at local schools who will receive new instruments or funding from the Verdine White Performing Arts Center’s music foundation, turning their classrooms into “boogie wonderlands.”
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Carla J. Thornton had always been involved in community work, but it took being part of a class on community organizing to change her life. The light bulb moment came while she was obtaining her master’s in social work at the University of Southern California. “I realized I could do social work at the macro level and directly impact individuals,” she said.
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When David Bond learned that suicide is the second-leading cause of death for teenagers and young adults nationwide, he felt spurred to action.
That passion only increased when he discovered that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youths are approximately four times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual teens and young adults.
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For some of South Los Angeles’ neediest kids, getting a college degree can seem downright unachievable.